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Further Details on Application of Slipper Clutch OFF TRACK

829 Views 7 Replies 7 Participants Last post by  carlsoti
I read a bit and searched before I asked this question, but still have some unanswered's.....I plan on a KTM 690 Duke 3, so it has a slipper and I want to learn a bit more about this.

1. When downshifting 2+ gears does it reduce engine braking and end up causing rear wheel to slide around, or just disengage engine for rear wheel to point of chatter?

2. When does the slipper end up taking effect?

3. If i'm coming to a light and downshift through 3 gears like I used to with engine braking, is that eliminated almost, so its mostly brake I'd need to use to stop?

Any more details on how it changed your riding experince? I guess I'd have to ride it to feel difference, but I don't want to do it wrong, and end up sliding sideways in the HOV lane in traffic!? :eek:
Thanks guys,
Wannabe Hooligan on a twwofiddy:bike:
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Engine braking is just toned town in some regards to the point where the rear wheel won't chatter and hop. That's about it.

All slipper clutches are different. It depends how they're adjusted. On my ZX6R I still had loads of engine braking, you could still back it in easily. My friends sv650 on the other hand, you'd go bombing into a corner expecting engine braking to help you out only to find there was none -(pAnick!)- :laughingr Just depends on the bike. Not sure about the 690, you may want to ask one of the riders how it's set. You know, one of the ones that know it comes with one... :rolleyes2:
Why dont you just blip the throttle?
I've got a slipper clutch on my ZX10... don't really ever notice it... in fact it probably needs to slip a little more, but never looked into it.

I do NOT have a slipper on my '07 450SMR, and my buddy's '08 Yamaha YZ450 DOES have a slipper.

Engine braking is still there... the difference between his and mine is mine hops sliding it in, his doesnt.

the slipper simply acts like you feathering the clutch out instead of dumping it.

so, if you're doing 70 and drop three gears and dump the clutch, normally this would break the rear wheel loose and either slide around or start hopping... with a slipper, it just feathers out for a split second till the engine comes up in RPM's as the bike is slowing (it DOES slow the bike as it works the bike against the engine) and then once the rpms sorta match it becomes full engaged and full engine compression braking continues.


on my ZX10, the engine compression braking is a constant amount whether the clutch is slipping or its fully engaged... i.e. its the amount of braking you can achive just before the tire brakes loose... it does NOT feel like its slipping and all of a sudden it grabs... not at all.

Hey johnny park - you'de understand why a slipper is sooo much nicer if you ever rode a bike with one and tried backing it in.

On the street, its not real necessary... on the track its a life saver.
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Do you mean rolling the bike backwards to park? Or skidding into park?
Do you mean rolling the bike backwards to park? Or skidding into park?
Your joking right?
I have a quick question, slightly off topic but I didn't want to start a whole new thread. Does engine braking (without a slipper clutch) harm the engine at all? I didn't think it would, but a friend claims that it destroys the valves, and will cause backfire to get really bad. I'm not sure on this, any validity? I like engine braking just to add to slowing down with the brakes, keeps from wearing brakes down to much.

I just want to make sure I don't destroy the engine, or at least make sure I know what to check for mantinence.
If I recall correctly, "motoman", the "break it in hard" guy, claims hard engine breaking can suck oil up past the rings into the combustion chamber. I don't know if that'd kill the valves, but I'm sure it's not that good of a thing, as far as deposits in top end.
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