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Slipper clutches:MW and Surflex

1303 Views 8 Replies 4 Participants Last post by  LA
G
Is ther much difference between the Surflex and Motowheels versions of the slipper clutch? Also, does anyone have experience wit the MW slipper? I'm entertaining the slipper clutch packages.

Also, is there much difference between the 12 and 48 tooth packages or is 48 overkill?

What are the downsides to a slipper?

Thanks.

R.
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Re: Slipper clutches:MW and

The Motowheels slipper clutch is a ball bearing ramp design like most of the others (STM, Yoyo, Bucci,DP...).
The Surflex is a unique endless screw design that releases when you are off the throttle. It uses lighter clutch springs so the effort is much lower. Some say it is easier than a cable clutch. It has no feedback to the lever like the other designs and there is no maintenance.

The 48T basket is supposed to last longer. I've used 12T baskets and 48T baskets. There does not appear to be that much difference. The convenince of being able to use ant 12T friction pack in a pinch is something I prefer with the 12T set ups.

I have not experienced any downsides with a slipper. Some say the plates don't last as long--but I've found them to be about the same.
G
Re: Slipper clutches:MW and

moto said:
The Motowheels slipper clutch is a ball bearing ramp design like most of the others.
The Surflex is a unique endless screw design that releases when you are off the throttle. It uses lighter clutch springs so the effort is much lower. Some say it is easier than a cable clutch. It has no feedback to the lever like the other designs and there is no maintenance.

The 48T basket is supposed to last longer. I've used 12T baskets and 48T baskets. There does not appear to be that much difference. The convenince of being able to use ant 12T friction pack in a pinch is something I prefer with the 12T set ups.

I have not experienced any downsides with a slipper. Some say the plates don't last as long--but I've found them to be about the same.
Great feedback. Thanks, I appreciate it. I have more questions though. What maintenance are you referring to?

Would the MW version benefit from lighter springs and the use of an aftermarket slave cyclinder?

Thanks again for the detailed response.
Moto=Motowheels

Agent47 said:
What maintenance are you referring to?
You have to grease the ramps and bearings every so often or you loose the slipper action. I think if you would use the lighter springs of the surflex, you may have engagement issues (slipping with heavy throttle).

I bought the surflex from MW about two year ago and couldn't be happier. The clutch is two finger once installed, if you do a gp master and lager slave it's one finger.
the surflex DOES NOT, in any way, need lighter springs. any clutch you can actuate with your pinky is borderline too light to begin with. ;D

the moto/yoyo/stm, on the other hand, need the heavier (than the surflex) springs to make the clutch work. you can do a radial clutch master and an aftermarket slave, but you'll be hard-pressed to EVER get surflex-light clutchpull with that design.

but, as moto said, the design that allows the light clutchpull comes at the expense of feel at the lever.
derby said:
but, as moto said, the design that allows the light clutchpull comes at the expense of feel at the lever.
Actually what I meant to say was that the lever (when using the Surflex) does not click when disengaged like on the ball bearing ramp designs. Except for the lighter lever effort, you don't know that the Surflex slipper clutch is even there.

As for lever feel, I don't have any problems finding an engagement point.

I have Surflex on 4 of my bikes but I put a ball/ramp design slipper on the 98 900SS FE because I wanted the bike to have a more mechanical sound and feel to go along with the old school paint scheme.



To make the clutch pull easier, I added a large bore slave cylinder and a Brembo GP radial master cylinder. It is still nowhere close to the Surflex becuase of the lighter springs that the Surflex uses.
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moto is right, there is a clear ponit of engagement. The clutch does not feel mushy or instant engagement. I am running the surflex, evo slave, and gp master. When I first changed to this it took a little getting used to but know I wouldn't want it any different.
G
Hey Desmo can you send me a pic of post it?

Thanks.
I used a yoyo on my s4r for 10,000 mi. and had no problems. Loved it.
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