Why do Ducati's sound so random at tickover?

Conanius · 3 Mar 2012 at 21:17

Just curious...

Why is it nearly every single Ducati video on youtube has a bike that sounds like something has gone amazingly wrong with the engine? The video of Agnes Ducati ride to work in the show us your bikes thread is a prime example of it. Sounds amazing when on the move, but on tickover, like the engine is falling apart/shaking a box of spanners....?

digisatman · 3 Mar 2012 at 21:19

Dont know the ins and out, but what you are referring to is the dry clutch.

kitfit1 · 3 Mar 2012 at 21:25

digisatman said:
Dont know the ins and out, but what you are referring to is the dry clutch.

Exactly right. A dry clutch has lots of advantages over a wet clutch. But the noise it makes is a bit of a turn off for some peeps. Personally, i love the sound of my 1098s. The guys i ride with call it "The Italian Tractor", wack it open though and it sounds anything but a tractor

Conanius · 3 Mar 2012 at 22:07

Do you mind if I ask what the differences between the two systems are please?

I'm really tempted to get myself a bike, and I love the ducati's !

Terrier_Jimlad · 3 Mar 2012 at 22:15

Conanius said:
Do you mind if I ask what the differences between the two systems are please?

I'm really tempted to get myself a bike, and I love the ducati's !

One is wet, the other isn't :confused:

Joking aside, a wet clutch has oil around the plates, a dry clutch doesn't, just the bare plates

Conanius · 3 Mar 2012 at 22:19

Terrier_Jimlad said:
One is wet, the other isn't

Joking aside, a wet clutch has oil around the plates, a dry clutch doesn't, just the bare plates

I probably could have guessed that bit

What real world difference does that make though? EG Shorter clutch life/quicker shifts/no need for clutch on upshifts/etc etc

kitfit1 · 3 Mar 2012 at 22:52

Real world differences are that a dry clutch dosn't contaminate the engine oil, which means longer oil life. Also because the clutch isn't sitting in oil, the engine as a whole runs cooler and the clutch itself dosn't tend to sap as much power from the engine.
On my 1098s, upshifts can be clutchless if i choose. And yes, a dry clutch wears quicker than a wet one.......but they are very easy to replace.

Dogbreath · 4 Mar 2012 at 11:33

kitfit1 said:
Real world differences are that a dry clutch dosn't contaminate the engine oil, which means longer oil life. Also because the clutch isn't sitting in oil, the engine as a whole runs cooler and the clutch itself dosn't tend to sap as much power from the engine.

Power loss from churning oil around I can accept, but not the engine running cooler. The clutch only generates heat when it's slipping, i.e. when you pull away.

edd1e · 4 Mar 2012 at 11:35

mmmmmmmmm.... /drool

Scythe · 4 Mar 2012 at 11:54

edd1e said:
mmmmmmmmm.... /drool

This era has some beautiful Ducati's, I'd love to own an 848

4T5 · 4 Mar 2012 at 11:57

You need a Duke to pass you at a 100mph to really appreciate the sound they make. :cool:

growse · 4 Mar 2012 at 12:31

Ducati is probably the only manufacturer where I'd be perfectly happy owning *anything* in their current range.

Shame I (a) can't afford one, (b) can't afford the insurance and (c) live nowhere near a Ducati dealer

kitfit1 · 4 Mar 2012 at 13:52

Dogbreath said:
Power loss from churning oil around I can accept, but not the engine running cooler. The clutch only generates heat when it's slipping, i.e. when you pull away.

A friends "Blade" runs 10c hotter than mine on a normal run, even though he is 100cc down on me. Maybe it's just down to other things, who knows.

Dogbreath · 4 Mar 2012 at 15:06

kitfit1 said:
A friends "Blade" runs 10c hotter than mine on a normal run, even though he is 100cc down on me. Maybe it's just down to other things, who knows.

Completely different engines, V-Twin vs IL4 for starters, and different engines are designed to run optimally at different temperatures (which is why thermostats don't all open at the same temperature on all engines.)

Also unless you are measuring temperature with something that is properly calibrated and with the sensor at exactly the same point on the engine then the values you get from the instruments are only comparable between the same bikes.

Sagalout · 4 Mar 2012 at 17:08

Worth mentioning the 848 and new Panigale have wet clutches, so Ducati have obviously given up on it

Fuzz · 22 Jun 2012 at 22:01

It's a dry clutch that rattles when not engaged. Perfectly normal.

Kenai · 22 Jun 2012 at 22:12

Fuzz said:
Perfectly normal.

Do you know what's not perfectly normal?

Replying to months old threads with answers that have already been posted

Fuzz · 22 Jun 2012 at 23:10

WTF.. Where did that come from! :eek:

I've never even been in to Bikers Cafe, I can't even ride a motorbike..

eidolon · 23 Jun 2012 at 00:02

I love the look of Ducatis but can't stand the sound of them, they sound broken and as if they're about to stall all the time. I must just be weird as I much prefer the sound of a high revving IL4.

Saw the new Panigale on track the other week was wasn't impressed at all, even that one sounded horrible.

Give me a 1098 with the engine from a ZX10R and I'd be happy.

duc999 · 23 Jun 2012 at 11:07

Get out >>>>>>>