Clutch covers. Why are they so expensive? (rant)

G

Guinea Saurus Rex

New member
if a clutch cover is hard to justify. paying $2000 plus$$$ for aftermarket exhaust systems would appear really exhorbitant.especially against a complete system for your average buzz box on four wheels.but we all do . aftermarket suspension would also fall into the same category,how many new shocks can you buy for your car for the price of one ohlins rear shock ?,rear tyre for your sports bike versus one for your car or truck? mostly its a case of put up or shut up. potential market volumes/tooling costs or market domination?........some guys have gone down the machining route,whether its economically viable only they know.the way i see it ,is that everyone wants something slightly different so subsequent volumes are always going to be low,pushing up the cost/return factor for the manufacturer.hj.....
 
The cost of the bike is a different argument. And I agree with you, I could have bought 2 liter bikes for the price of my 1198S. But that's a different argument for another time. I posted the following on another site....



Not quite. And this is why.

Yes, there are tons more Japanese bikes. But GSXR's, ZX's, RR's, and YZF's get a serious change every 2-3 years. A GSXR stator for an 02 750 is very different than for one off an 07 750. Because of this, the number of clutch and stator covers *per design* is FAR less than the entire Ducati line up of bikes (with dry clutches) from 1994 to present (which is 1 design for the base/bolt pattern).

We're talking about a 15 year run, of not just one bike, but every single dry clutch Ducati.

The *only* bike that might give it a run for the numbers? Hayabusa, and that is because of it's lengthy 9 year reign.

So, do you understand what I'm saying, that there are more dry clutch covers out there on the road, from bikes 1994-present, than any other single Japanese bike stator or clutch cover design period.

This makes the Ducati clutch cover, all 1994-present dry clutch equipped Ducati's, the single most mass produced clutch cover of any bike in our time. And for THAT reason, it should, be cheaper or as cheap, as other competition for other bikes.




Having said that, some of you accepted that Duc parts are high. Okay, understood. The cost of a magnesium fairing stay for an 1198S is *justifiable* compared to one for say, an R1.

But the clutch cover, however, does NOT fall into this category.
 
the bolt pattern might be the same, but the designs are all different, and made by different manufacturers... tooling and machinery cost money... most reputable manufacturers start with a block of aluminium and machine it from there..not a cheap way of doing things... paint the stock one if it's such a big issue...
 
Saw Kerry's work when he posted last.. Top Notch.. You can go that route.. Might even have him try your pressure plate..

Unfortunatly, goes with the territory with the Duk.. I hate it also, and it took time to come to grips with it.. Like it?.. No.. But what we gonna do? We're addicts and they know it..



RC
 
My argument for that is this: For one thing, you're over stating how often Japanese bikes change. Sure, they make changes every 2 years, but they don't often do a total redesign that often. I would wager the same clutch cover was used on the 93 CBR900RR as was used on the 2003 CBR954RR. If not, I know for sure the cover from the 93 was the same until 99. Many Japanese bikes undergo MAJOR changes only every 4-5 years.

The other thing is sheer number. Has Duc used the same cover since 94? Yes. I don't have numbers to back this up, but I have a very educated guess. Pick any of the major Japanese makers, say Yamaha, I bet Yamaha sold more R6's in the last 4 years than Duc sold dry clutch models in the last 15.

Also, there's choices. Duc riders tend to be older, better financed, and more demanding of "exclusivity". It's very similar to the Harley market in that regard. Do a quick search, how may different clutch covers can you find for a CBR 600? 3? 5? 10 at the most? How many different clutch covers are available for the Duc? 100? Each makers has several different designs. And each design is available in several different colors, plus carbon. So while there is more options, they're not going to need to make as many of each one. I don't think any of them would be what you'd call "mass produced". They're not custom produced, but in terms of total numbers, it's not huge.
 
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