Wheel hop and a slipper clutch

  • Thread starter Thread starter Britni Warner
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Britni Warner

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My buddy and I were talking this afternoon about the necessity of a slipper clutch and I have a few questions I would like your opinion on. We both ride twins and I am taking mine to the track for the first time next weekend which sparked the entire converstation/debate. I am from the mind set that wheel hop when downshifting can be controlled when downshifting with smooth applications of the brakes with good downshifting technique while he believes due to the high rate of engine braking, once the pace is wicked up it's much more likely to start hopping around. I think we are possibly both right but wrong at the same time. Any opinions on this would be great as I don't want to find out I'm wrong coming off the back straight for turn one.
 
you both are kinda right.

you can control your wheel spin by matching speeds when downshifting, IE blipping the throttle to raise RPM to match wheel speed when going to a lower gear.

however, when you pick up speed, and need to drop it in a hurry, you need to be much more efficient at it or you will have wheelspin/hop. especially when you get into race speeds and drop a gear or two at a time. this is where the slipper comes in handy. because a slipper lets you be a little lazy and will help prevent wheelspin when you have aggressive decelleration. the slipper allows the engine time to catch up to wheelspeed. it may also slightly decrease the amount of engine braking you can do.

for your first track day? i wouldn't worry about it. work on clean shifting, matching engine speeds. being your first track day, you should be more worried about picking a clean line, getting reference points for braking, etc... before you get to the speeds or pace where you would even think about needing a slipper.

hope this helps.
 
I agree with your friend but on your first track i wouldn't worry about it. You are going to want one eventually as you get faster, wait until the first time you shift down one to many at the end of a straight and you're hard on the front brake slowing down from 170+......you're gonna crap your pants. A slipper removes all that drama, simple as that.
 
Yeah, once you go fast enough to need to brake hard enough to really load the front, the rear gets really light really fast and.....let the hopping begin.

I guess if you're a really late braker you'll start hopping soon enough. Get a slipper or be a little more cautious. I don't have one yet and I scare myself here and there and find myself doing a little off roading especially at the end of long straights.

Roberto
 
My only question would be is do I have the disposal income to afford a slipper clutch. If yes, it's a no brainer.

The only time I didn't like mine was when the battery was too low to spin the starter, but would power the fuel pump. Bump starting is NOT an option with a slipper clutch.
 
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