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One little nit-pic about the 2016's

5K views 44 replies 19 participants last post by  sonicboom 
#1 ·
We've got our long asked-for twin rotor front brakes. We got fly-by-wire throttle control. We got aluminum swing arms, Monza-style fuel caps, switchable mapping and Ohlins/Showa suspension.

So, why no hydraulic clutch? Well, I guess there's always the aftermarket.:grin2:

/M
 
#3 ·
A lot nicer - smoother, so much lighter, don't give you cramps on longer rides, and no worries with snapped cables.

The best one I've tried lately was on the 2015 Ducati Multistrada - one finger job - very nice.
 
#5 ·
Mine's two-finger on the M796. Must be "old age" and arthritis.. :cool:
 
#6 ·
Not saying the clutch caused it, but I have terribly painful tendonitis in my left wrist that developed during a 4k trip on my '06. Cortisone shots (doctor says only 2/year) help, but wear off after a month or so. So yes, I wish I had a hydraulic clutch.
 
#9 ·
The only clutches on any motorcycles I have ever found difficult were a Moto Morini, a few Ducatis and a few Meridens. No standard modern clutch has been anything other than easy and smooth. Hydraulics are fine until the seal goes on the slave, depending on where it is they can be a chore to replace. All my Hinckleys were dead easy, my FZ1 and FZ 09 are effortless.
 
#10 · (Edited)
The clutch on my Bonneville is far easier to pull than is the hydraulic clutch on my ST1100, maybe there are simply heavier springs to accommodate the HP. Apples and oranges, I guess, but putting a juice clutch on the Honda didn't make it any easier to pull the lever.
 
#12 ·
Americans use clutches?? Triumph invented the slick shift. Just slick it into higher gears. use the clutch lever to go down a gear. I thought you had long endless roads where you stay in top gear. Or are people just getting soft. hydraulics - suffer a tiny leak and your clutch is history.
 
#16 ·
I can't see how a hydraulic system could be any easier; you need to move the clutch plates the same distance and the lever movement would be the same so the mechanical advantage will remain the same with either system. True, there is virtually no friction with hydraulic systems, but there isn't anything noticable with a decent Bowden cable.

Bowden cables are a light, simple solution and don't break without giving lots of warning signs. Can't remember the last time a Bowden broke on me since I reached the stage in my life when I could afford to buy new ones when they started to fray!
 
#19 · (Edited)
I can't see how a hydraulic system could be any easier; you need to move the clutch plates the same distance and the lever movement would be the same so the mechanical advantage will remain the same with either system. True, there is virtually no friction with hydraulic systems, but there isn't anything noticable with a decent Bowden cable.

Bowden cables are a light, simple solution and don't break without giving lots of warning signs. Can't remember the last time a Bowden broke on me since I reached the stage in my life when I could afford to buy new ones when they started to fray!


when they start to fray!

I guess that explains why my car's six pot front disc brakes are not cable operated Patrick.:wink2:
 
#18 · (Edited)
The cable clutch on my SE is really easy.

Long term might be different.

Sophie,

Yes, you can and I usually do shift up clutchless on a ride but it is the clutch operation in traffic that is the issue if the clutch is heavy.
As you know neutrals can be elusive on a Bonneville but easier to find than on a Ducati.
 
#20 ·
Clutch cable Tricolour -clutch cable! You're exerting colossal force on the brakes, as much as you can generate sometimes, whereas the effort applied to a clutch is much lighter and remains a constant. Also, the mechanical advantage is far greater and a failure would be catastrophic! Can't say I'd be too excited if we had to return to cable brakes again.

I just think that anyone who carries on using a fraying Bowden cable would carry on if there was a pool of hydraulic oil under their bike- and still complain when it failed! But it looks as if they are still using that naff piece of badly-plated pressed steel to secure the clutch-end of the cable. They've just tried to hide it under the engine this time; they could have painted it black at least.
 
#21 ·
I don't own a bike with an hydraulic clutch. My son owns 2 of them--a Ducati and an Aprilia. BOTH have suffered seal failures at the slave cylinders. Well, of course the seals don't fail on the master cylinder! That would be much too easy to get at. Both repairs were complicated because neither has easy access to the slave cylinder.

$10 for the seal, 4 to 5 hours labor to replace it. Nice!!

Having seen that, I'll stay with the cable operated clutch.
 
#23 ·
GAD!!! And I thought that I was the curmudgeon here! :D

Have had numerous bikes with hydraulic clutches over the past ~ 30 years. None failed. They are as likely to fail as your brakes! When did THAT happen last?! :confused:

As for Ducatis, the slave is on the side of the case in plain view in most situations, hardly buried somewhere. Were a slave to fail, good time to replace with a Ducati Performance accessory or Oberon slave with even lighter effort. They CAN be a pain to bleed which is a good reason to buy a Mityvac since rear brakes can be an equal pain to bleed.

Bottom line..., a light hydraulic clutch in bumper-to-bumper traffic is a delight! :applause 1/2 hour in traffic with my T-100 and my wrist goes numb. NEXT... :(
 
#28 ·
Saw recently they're forcing all the cameras to be painted yellow again? Whew! ;)

Sofia needs ABS for the cow pats, sheep @%#&%#. :D Not much golden orb up there either..., but lots of drizzle/snow. Small wonder they invented Laphroaig. :D
 
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#27 ·
I have 2 Ducati (1996 and 2002), and a BMW (2002) with hydro clutches with no problems. You do have to change the fluid now and then to prevent any surprises. That will save you $$$ thinking an aftermarket product is the answer. My Thruxton feels much the same. Either one is fine with me. An eye on maintenance is the key.
 
#30 ·
My Ducati GT1000 has a hydraulic actuated wet clutch. Smooth, light and silent. I'm still on the original 2007 factory fluid!

There is an aftermarket hydraulic clutch cover kit out there for the current generation of 790/865 twins.

My arthritis is really making operating the cable actuated clutch on my Bonnie's a real painful chore. I'm making the switch to hydraulic on a Harley winter project for exactly that reason.

/M
 
#31 ·
My Ducati GT1000 has a hydraulic actuated wet clutch. Smooth, light and silent. I'm still on the original 2007 factory fluid!
Wow retro, that is a long time for the original fluid on your GT. My fluid starts getting dark on my SC's after about 6 months. Most think since the line runs near the engine that it heats the fluid up turning it dark.

I have no problems with either of my cable operated thruxton or my hydraulic brakes on my other bikes but every once in a while on my thruxton, it does feel like its kinking a little. Plus, with cables you do get stretching.

As far as changing out the slave cylinder, it is as easy as lambroving says. It's right there on the left side of the engine in front of the front sprocket.
 
#32 ·
On my 796 the rear brake reservoir turned black rather quickly when new. Thought it might be rubber from the seals and lines. Had everything bled after 2 years. Fluid was replaced with a long-life, anti hygroscopic DOT 4. Seems to discolor a LOT slower...
 
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