Dry clutch on the street...opinions

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A016738 said:
Obviously there are plenty of folks with the V4R and SP2 that ride primarily on the street with their dry clutches. Considering an STM conversion for my '20 PV4 base strictly for experiential/emotional purposes. Not worried about oil contamination or the 2 HP I could get at high revs ... nor am I scared away by the need to change the pack every 5k miles...don't mind doing that myself.

Purely from a street usability standpoint, in traffic, at stoplights, etc...for those who have used both...is it that finicky/grabby/short an engagement range that I'll notice a huge difference? Or are usability issues largely overstated?
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I'm on the other side of the fence here. Considering doing a dry to wet clutch conversion on my street-ridden V4R. One less thing to worry about, even if I ever get around to tracking it. I've had no issues with the clutch itself during my ownership, but I find myself worrying about it (struggling to find neutral like a madman at every red light for fear of holding the clutch in too long, dying inside a little every time I need to slip the .... out of it to climb up the parking garage ramp) to the detriment of my riding enjoyment.
 
V4Al said:
I'm on the other side of the fence here. Considering doing a dry to wet clutch conversion on my street-ridden V4R. One less thing to worry about, even if I ever get around to tracking it. I've had no issues with the clutch itself during my ownership, but I find myself worrying about it (struggling to find neutral like a madman at every red light for fear of holding the clutch in too long, dying inside a little every time I need to slip the .... out of it to climb up the parking garage ramp) to the detriment of my riding enjoyment.
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I raced my 2019 V4R, and now race a 22 base model. I much prefer the wet clutch, and was also considering swapping the dry clutch to wet.
Easier launches, less maintenance, quieter.
So, I'd recommend you go for it! If, you aren't happy, you can always convert back.
Also, if you're just worried about the longevity of the plates, you can get different weight clutch springs from Ducati.
 
How hard/expensive is it to convert a clutch from dry to wet? I’m considering buying another Ducati but hesitant because it has the dry.
 
RickD996 said:
I raced my 2019 V4R, and now race a 22 base model. I much prefer the wet clutch, and was also considering swapping the dry clutch to wet.
Easier launches, less maintenance, quieter.
So, I'd recommend you go for it! If, you aren't happy, you can always convert back.
Also, if you're just worried about the longevity of the plates, you can get different weight clutch springs from Ducati.
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So about these different weight clutch springs, how does it work? lighter weight springs = more longevity of the plates?
 
futurist said:
So about these different weight clutch springs, how does it work? lighter weight springs = more longevity of the plates?
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I think (from my very poor memory) it's the other way around. Stock is 30Nm, then two options, a 70Nm and a 90Nm? I fitted the middle option, performed the same on track, but sold the bike before the plates wore out unfortunately 🤷‍♂️
 
Here's the stock springs weights. Regardless of the spring weight the clutch basket will still wear out and that is the more expensive part to replace. Also as quoted by

Craig Bush In neutral, it rattles back and forth with combustion pulses - all edges in contact with the clutch plates end up serrated like steak knives.

It just comes down to if you want the dry clutch sound and be willing to pay for it. Most of us on here that have them don't mind it. Me personally Love it and do not care but I am doing the maintenance myself. If I was paying a dealer to service it might be a different story.

I do also order the baskets from Holland (Star Twin Ducati) for a little more then half the price then what they cost in the USA so I usually order 2 each time. When I just looked this up they have gone up a little there 242 euro now. Still way cheaper than your Ducati dealer in the US will charge you. For example my dealer wants 400 a basket.
 

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SBK-SP said:
Note that the newest V4R and maybe the V4SP2 have a much smaller diameter STM dry slipper than my 2021 V4SP. I believe this small version may wear much quicker than all previous versions. See photo attached.
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The dry clutch on my SP2 is larger than the new V4R.
 
spooky said:
Perhaps because they are bigger?

I have the SP2 - not sure if it's the same parts as the SP.
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Im not sure but on ducati Omaha it shows the same part # for sp1/2 but somewhere they could have made a change. When you type your part number it comes up with 3 baskets. One of these is the anodized red one which cost more I'm assuming since they have the same option on the V4R.
 

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RickD996 said:
I think (from my very poor memory) it's the other way around. Stock is 30Nm, then two options, a 70Nm and a 90Nm? I fitted the middle option, performed the same on track, but sold the bike before the plates wore out unfortunately 🤷‍♂️
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Does it Change the engine braking?
 
futurist said:
'20 V4R here. Street use only. 8400 miles. Have gone through 2 clutch plates + 1 basket. Currently on 3rd set of plates and a new basket.

- Original plates change at 3500 miles
- 2nd set plates + original basket change at 7250 miles
- Currently on 3rd set of plates + new basket 8400 miles (should've switched out the basket sooner tbh)

Clutch plates lasts 3-4k miles
Basket until worn about 6-7k miles (if worn will cause CLUTCH DRAG)

My personal experience.
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How much does it cost to replace the clutch plates and the basket ?
 
Immortal said:
How hard/expensive is it to convert a clutch from dry to wet? I’m considering buying another Ducati but hesitant because it has the dry.
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only a couple models have the dry clutch. I'm sure if you want to swap from dry to wet you would have people lining up to swap the clutch.
 
melvinakshay1 said:
only a couple models have the dry clutch. I'm sure if you want to swap from dry to wet you would have people lining up to swap the clutch.
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Thanks. The bike I’m considering originally had the wet clutch but the owner converted it to dry. I love the sound of the dry but not sure it’s worth the hassle for maintenance.
 
Danger Close MFG said:
Here's the stock springs weights. Regardless of the spring weight the clutch basket will still wear out and that is the more expensive part to replace. Also as quoted by

Craig Bush In neutral, it rattles back and forth with combustion pulses - all edges in contact with the clutch plates end up serrated like steak knives.

It just comes down to if you want the dry clutch sound and be willing to pay for it. Most of us on here that have them don't mind it. Me personally Love it and do not care but I am doing the maintenance myself. If I was paying a dealer to service it might be a different story.

I do also order the baskets from Holland (Star Twin Ducati) for a little more then half the price then what they cost in the USA so I usually order 2 each time. When I just looked this up they have gone up a little there 242 euro now. Still way cheaper than your Ducati dealer in the US will charge you. For example my dealer wants 400 a basket.
Click to expand...

Hi can you tell me what the differences are between these 2 springs? clutch feel different? harder softer? thanks
 
futurist said:
Hi can you tell me what the differences are between these 2 springs? clutch feel different? harder softer? thanks
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I still use the stock weight springs that is what I was showing in the pics. Since someone asked about the stock spring weights and I had a pic of the stock springs on the V4R.
 
futurist said:
'20 V4R here. Street use only. 8400 miles. Have gone through 2 clutch plates + 1 basket. Currently on 3rd set of plates and a new basket.

- Original plates change at 3500 miles
- 2nd set plates + original basket change at 7250 miles
- Currently on 3rd set of plates + new basket 8400 miles (should've switched out the basket sooner tbh)

Clutch plates lasts 3-4k miles
Basket until worn about 6-7k miles (if worn will cause CLUTCH DRAG)

My personal experience.
Click to expand...

Hi, what brand/parts number do you use for your clutch basket?
 

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