My 701 with some 7000km on the odo will get its fourth (4th!) clutch next week.
This is a big bike, not a 125 stroker, plus I've shortened the gearing quite a bit... so I hardly use the clutch, in fact only for pulling away and changing gear.
Add to this I've never had a bike of which I needed to renew the clutch because it slipped, I'm not 'heavy' on a clutch.
But this bike eats them!
The OEM clutch started slipping when big power was asked, around 125kph & above in 6th gear, and keep in mind my gearing is a shorter than std one so this is at higher-than-std revs.
Below this all was fine so I could, and did, continue the multi day ride.
Although a bit strange I put in a new set of plates, Ferodo brand - and all was fine again.
Oh, the old plates did not look any different than 'just-used' plates, no hotspots or anything, and I've kept them as spares.
This 2nd set started slipping again though, under the exact same conditions: above ~125kph.
Below this all was fine but for pulling a little wheely, it slipped then too.
I got KTM Original plates and put these in, and I added 1.8mm thick washers to up the spring tension - which I noticed when pulling the clutch, just a liiiitle more force required.
All was fine again and I parked it for a while.
Then we did our Pensioners trip in the Richtersveld, and all was good.
On the last day, having split up to go each other's home already, I wanted to pull a wheely on tar somewhere... but the clutch slipped again!
This was some 2500km's only, and again NO, no overly clutch use neither any abuse .... fuk!
I now have ready an again KTM original clutch set (springs & all) plus some 15% stronger springs from EBC.
I've tested the springs against the std ones and they are a little stronger, so this should be good.
But, but, seeing my history with this bike I doubt this will be enough, the clutch simply kaks after some time.
Oh, good quality oil used only, Liqui Moly 10W50 or /60, plus this is replaced way more often than what is prescribed.
On top of this all, a friend has similar problems with his 690, and he already tried the EBC 15% stronger springs (with new plates of course)... to no avail, after a very short stint his clutch started slipping!
Now questions....
- who has or had similar problems?
- any suggestions to a possible cure?
This is a big bike, not a 125 stroker, plus I've shortened the gearing quite a bit... so I hardly use the clutch, in fact only for pulling away and changing gear.
Add to this I've never had a bike of which I needed to renew the clutch because it slipped, I'm not 'heavy' on a clutch.
But this bike eats them!
The OEM clutch started slipping when big power was asked, around 125kph & above in 6th gear, and keep in mind my gearing is a shorter than std one so this is at higher-than-std revs.
Below this all was fine so I could, and did, continue the multi day ride.
Although a bit strange I put in a new set of plates, Ferodo brand - and all was fine again.
Oh, the old plates did not look any different than 'just-used' plates, no hotspots or anything, and I've kept them as spares.
This 2nd set started slipping again though, under the exact same conditions: above ~125kph.
Below this all was fine but for pulling a little wheely, it slipped then too.
I got KTM Original plates and put these in, and I added 1.8mm thick washers to up the spring tension - which I noticed when pulling the clutch, just a liiiitle more force required.
All was fine again and I parked it for a while.
Then we did our Pensioners trip in the Richtersveld, and all was good.
On the last day, having split up to go each other's home already, I wanted to pull a wheely on tar somewhere... but the clutch slipped again!
This was some 2500km's only, and again NO, no overly clutch use neither any abuse .... fuk!
I now have ready an again KTM original clutch set (springs & all) plus some 15% stronger springs from EBC.
I've tested the springs against the std ones and they are a little stronger, so this should be good.
But, but, seeing my history with this bike I doubt this will be enough, the clutch simply kaks after some time.
Oh, good quality oil used only, Liqui Moly 10W50 or /60, plus this is replaced way more often than what is prescribed.
On top of this all, a friend has similar problems with his 690, and he already tried the EBC 15% stronger springs (with new plates of course)... to no avail, after a very short stint his clutch started slipping!
Now questions....
- who has or had similar problems?
- any suggestions to a possible cure?
