Dry clutch use

[hrdwrguy]

So I'm a newby to Guzzis, and dry clutch bikes. I don't own one yet and I'm looking at V7iiis and 850s and reading through here and learning. I live in an urban area where every ride involves 15-30 minutes of stop and go traffic. On my Vstrom I slip the clutch quite a bit crawling in traffic (think parade pace...). How does the Guzzi dry clutch handle this and any tips from other city bound folks? I don't mind warming the bike for a couple minutes while gearing up if that really helps shifting and what not (used to have to do that on carb bikes).
Second question, how do Guzzis handle clutchless shifts. Once out in the open roads I often fall into the habit of putting a little upward pressure on the shift lever, and then rolling off the throttle for a moment to upshift.
Thanks all!

 

[scottmastrocinque]

Dry clutches behave very much like wet clutches in my opinion. If they are properly adjusted, their operation is identical even though the lever pull force may be different.

As to your “shifting technique”, I don’t recommend your method. It will cause excessive wear on the shift forks, dogs, and synchros in your transmission.

Instead of a power off, smooth transition and gradual application of power again, you are literally slamming the gears at power every time into full power demand instantly. It was never designed to be operated like that.

Do that type of forced shifting enough, and it will eventually suffer premature failure.

 

[FrankBlank]

On my Griso, I do find that the dry clutch gets snatchier with extended bouts of stop and go traffic, relative to wet clutch bikes that I own. Nothing terrible, but definitely noticeable when the weather is hot. But it's also a completely different setup (engine, transmission, hydraulic actuation, etc) to a V7, so I'm not sure it's a helpful comparison. I know a guy with a V7 who uses it as a commuter in the city, and he loves it, so it can't be causing him too much aggravation.

Clutchless upshifts definitely aren't going to be advisable on a Guzzi, though. I don't agree that clutchless upshifts are harmful on all bikes, if you have good technique - though, that last part (good technique) is important. i do it in the upper gears on a GSX-R that I own, and its smooth as silk. But, on my Guzzi? No way. The nature of the engine, clutch and transmission just aren't agreeable to it. If it doesn't feel good when you do it - smooth, effortless, "clunk" free - that's because, like Scott said, it isn't good.

 

[tobinh]

So I'm a newby to Guzzis, and dry clutch bikes. I don't own one yet and I'm looking at V7iiis and 850s and reading through here and learning. I live in an urban area where every ride involves 15-30 minutes of stop and go traffic. On my Vstrom I slip the clutch quite a bit crawling in traffic (think parade pace...). How does the Guzzi dry clutch handle this and any tips from other city bound folks? I don't mind warming the bike for a couple minutes while gearing up if that really helps shifting and what not (used to have to do that on carb bikes).
Second question, how do Guzzis handle clutchless shifts. Once out in the open roads I often fall into the habit of putting a little upward pressure on the shift lever, and then rolling off the throttle for a moment to upshift.
Thanks all!

the dry clutch on my Breva11 has been handling urban duty just fine since 2008

 

[Mayakovski]

I've put almost 20,000 KM of city use on my V7 III and have never had any clutch trouble at all. Even when stuck in heavy traffic on a hot day.

 

[hrdwrguy]

Thanks for the quick replies guys. Maybe I’m just getting hung up on a dry clutch here vs the wet clutches on the Japanese bikes I’ve owned. I’ve old had short test rides on a V7ii and 2 BMWs a long time ago as comparisons, not enough time to get what I would call a good feel for things. It is interesting that while much “motorcycle wisdom” suggests a dry clutch is only suitable for rt66 type roads so many of these bikes live in the city.

FrankBlank, dumb question but do you think your left hand getting tired in traffic is related to the change in clutch feel? I know that has hit me before. Snatchy in heavy slow traffic is exactly what someone with a dry clutched BMW described to me.

Scottmastrocinque, I agree that any mechanical movement that feels clunky, rough, or otherwise forced has to be bad for the hardware involved. That said, the clutchless upshifts I’m describing from my past bikes are very smooth feeling events. The shift happens in the unloaded spot/moment between acceleration and engine braking, and gets followed by a gentle then stronger roll on, no clunking or jerking. Guzzis, I think, are a different beast and have a different character Suzuki or Kawi. As I go to look up Guzzi clutch adjustment are there any substantive differences to other cable actuated clutches?

 

[scottmastrocinque]

No differences really.

What I shared with you about power shifting your transmissions was truthful.

When you’ve held as many transmission pieces in your hands like I have, you realize how delicate these things really are in truth, and you see the self-inflicted trauma people have done to their transmissions.

Still, you and others are going to do what you are going to do regardless of the warnings.

Just be prepared for a transmission failure/rebuild in your future, when you keep doing this.

Most likely, it will develop the symptom of jumping out of gear when it starts to go.

Good luck!

 

[Vagrant]

You're really over thinking this. Ever see a car with a wet clutch? Go to countries other than the US and every car is a stick shifter. Truth is the unit construction with a clutch using the same oil as the engine is most likely way cheaper to make.