I'm a totally stoked owner of a new-to-me M695. I've ridden other bikes and haven't had problems taking off, but this bike is challenging me. Frequently when I take of from a dead stop, the bike kind of clunks and bucks a little, like I'm not giving it enough gas. But if I give it more gas, I feel like I'll be riding over the vehicle in front of me. I no doubt need to work on my technique, but am curious if anyone else has experienced this and if it's "normal". The clutch is set so it disengages at the last 1/2" of travel, which may be part of the "issue" -seems to require a lot of finesse to modulate (for me anyway). Oddly, I don't have any problems smoothly shifting up or downshifting, just first-gear take-offs.
Would clutch adjustment and/or a 14T front sprocket remedy this, or is it totally normal and I just need to focus more on technique?
Technique and 14T sprocket, I'd say. You don't need the 14T, but I'm a fan of them.
What you're describing *sounds* normal. Course, there could be something else going on, but that sounds about right. You're right that it feels different than other bikes. The stock gearing is so tall that you've really got to slip the clutch, and rev it a bit at slow speeds. It's ok with a quicker take-off, but if you're leaving a dead stop at a normal pace, it takes a bit of getting get used to to avoid bogging it. some people also find that an adjustable clutch lever helps them modulate the clutch.
What are your revs when it shudders? 3k or so?
Btw, congrats on your new ride. [thumbsup]
Everyone I know who has tried a ducati after riding other bikes complains of this issue. It's normal, you just need to slip the clutch more. The engine really isn't happy below 4krpm.
Thanks for the feedback. I'll have to go in search of an empty parking lot and work with it. So it's also normal for the clutch to disengage in only the last 1/2" of travel? Seems if it had a slightly wider range I would have more to work with. I'll look into the adjustable clutch lever -I'm not very familiar with them.
Yup, the clutch disengagement is normal too.
I'd head to a quiet car park, or somewhere open you can ride around, and practice riding as slow as you can; both in a straight line and in circles/figure 8's. Might sound boring, but it will teach you a lot about the clutch and help your riding in traffic as well. Just be careful you don't drop the new Monster!
Tom
Quote from: Spidey on June 11, 2011, 11:21:05 AM
What are your revs when it shudders? 3k or so?
I'd say right around 3k, and more on the low side than the high side.
From all the feedback, clearly the bike is as it should be and I need to work on my technique. I may slap on a 14T sprocket just to see what it's like.
I'm off for some quality parking lot time. Thanks again for all the feedback.
14t and some clutch finesse will help a lot. Also, the cars are just slow, that's why you feel like you will run them over after a good launch [bang]. These twins do not have the smooth, electric motor torque of the inline 3's and 4's, just part of the character of the bike.
Quote from: D3vi@nt on June 11, 2011, 10:42:51 AM
Frequently when I take of from a dead stop, the bike kind of clunks and bucks a little, like I'm not giving it enough gas.
I'm having the same issue with my bike, new to me as of yesterday an 07 s4r bought from a local dealer that went through the bike and serviced it. I'm use to a kawasaki with a wet clutch that feathers much differently than the monster and after an hour or so of riding the monster it was clear to me that it was me and not the bike. Between 2 and 3K from a dead stop the bike will buck if I didn't feather right with slightly more throttle than I thought I needed. Practicing tight circles and figure eights helped me understand it was me and not the bike while helping me get a handle on clutch control. This bike and the technique needed is much different than the kawasaki.
What will a 14T sprocket do?
Quote from: dk1six on September 18, 2011, 12:38:32 PM
What will a 14T sprocket do?
Slightly easier take off from a stop, slightly higher revs at low speeds (and all other speeds, for that matter).
Most Ducatis are geared ridiculously tall from the factory. Going to a 14t front sprocket helps mitigate this while keeping the original chain. I've heard a lot of people suggest going back to the 15t front and a larger rear when changing sprockets and chain later on.
Quote from: Buckethead on September 18, 2011, 01:50:40 PM
Slightly easier take off from a stop, slightly higher revs at low speeds (and all other speeds, for that matter).
That sounds like it might help me as well because initially I'm having "taking off" issues but again I think I need to work on my timing too. I can definitely feel the tall gearing even as a new duc rider, maybe I should look into a 14T
Quote from: D3vi@nt on June 12, 2011, 06:47:41 PM
I'd say right around 3k, and more on the low side than the high side.
RPMs too low....give it more gas.
Try riding up a slight incline at 3K and it will shudder then, too...
You can get around the gearing (15 vs 14 T) by slipping the clutch. If you spend a lot of time in traffic/below 25 mph, go with the 14T. If you spend a lot of time riding at a brisker pace (>35-40 mph) stick with the 15T.
I ordered a 14T today but I'm also wondering what happens to the gearing at the other end, say at cruising or highway speed.
Quote from: D3vi@nt on June 11, 2011, 04:50:53 PM
Thanks for the feedback. I'll have to go in search of an empty parking lot and work with it. So it's also normal for the clutch to disengage in only the last 1/2" of travel? Seems if it had a slightly wider range I would have more to work with. I'll look into the adjustable clutch lever -I'm not very familiar with them.
That's exactly how a 695 works. The clutch engages right before it hits the end of its travel. Go out and get an adjustable lever, that will allow you to dial it in to your preference.
Couple things, it takes time to get used to the clutch. You can get an aftermarket slave cylinder which would help make it engage more evenly.
Also does the bike have the Termi/DP ECU kit? I found the aftermarket ECU made the bike run a lot smoother.
Quote from: dk1six on September 21, 2011, 02:05:38 PM
I ordered a 14T today but I'm also wondering what happens to the gearing at the other end, say at cruising or highway speed.
You won't notice the difference....it's about 500 rpm at the same speed between the two (14T vs 15T) on my bike.
14T is useful at low speeds (15 - 20 mph) in 1st gear when the stock 15T sprocket drives the engine below 3500 RPM.
I was also having some issues with this. I'm relatively brand new to riding and this gave me trouble the first few days on the bike and can be an issue starting from 0 on a hill at a stop light for example. It seems to be an extremely precise point on my 696 when the clutch engages near the end of the clutch's release and feathering the clutch slightly at a higher RPM is the key I guess. Sometimes I'll still get the clutch to the point when I think it should engage and wonder why it hasn't, I'll then give it more throttle, let the clutch out a little bit more and that's where I get the bucking. The feathering of the clutch has been very helpful with a lot of the slow speed turns I've been doing at lights and in things like U-Turns.
Off topic question. How does the 0 to get going work with a passenger? I feel like I'm approaching a point where I'll feel comfortable with my gf on the back and does the bike require slightly higher revving with more weight? Also, I'm hoping the bike does not give me that buck with a passenger on the back, but I assume that is less likely with more weight on the rear wheel. Any general tips above and beyond what I learned at the MSF class that apply to riding with passengers on the monster 696? Also, I noticed that the exhaust cans get quite hot, is this a problem with a passenger. My gf will more than likely be wearing jeans. On one of the first days of owning the bike I took it to my gf's house, I turned it off, and in the process of taking off my helmet my gf came out and accidentally got a piece of her leg flesh too close to the bike's engine and before she knew it, she got a nice little piece of boiled flesh on her thigh about the size of a quarter. I had been riding for about ~45 minutes I wanna say. She didn't experience any pain really, other than an instinctual "oh shit!" reaction and didn't expect there to be a mark... until the next morning. She's obviously ok, but it wasn't the first interaction I was hoping for. :P
Quote from: dk1six on September 21, 2011, 02:05:38 PM
I ordered a 14T today but I'm also wondering what happens to the gearing at the other end, say at cruising or highway speed.
it will bring it down............but you probably won't notice a thing.
Quote from: mrpetebojangles on September 27, 2011, 07:22:44 PMOff topic question. How does the 0 to get going work with a passenger? I feel like I'm approaching a point where I'll feel comfortable with my gf on the back and does the bike require slightly higher revving with more weight? Also, I'm hoping the bike does not give me that buck with a passenger on the back, but I assume that is less likely with more weight on the rear wheel. Any general tips above and beyond what I learned at the MSF class that apply to riding with passengers on the monster 696? Also, I noticed that the exhaust cans get quite hot, is this a problem with a passenger. My gf will more than likely be wearing jeans. On one of the first days of owning the bike I took it to my gf's house, I turned it off, and in the process of taking off my helmet my gf came out and accidentally got a piece of her leg flesh too close to the bike's engine and before she knew it, she got a nice little piece of boiled flesh on her thigh about the size of a quarter. I had been riding for about ~45 minutes I wanna say. She didn't experience any pain really, other than an instinctual "oh shit!" reaction and didn't expect there to be a mark... until the next morning. She's obviously ok, but it wasn't the first interaction I was hoping for. :P
We have
FAQs on taking passengers (http://www.ducatimonsterforum.org/index.php?topic=3666.0).
And please don't let your girl ride in jeans. A passenger is more likely to get hurt and has to trust entirely on someone else's skills.
I would say dont even think about taking her on the bike on the street until you have a few thousand miles under your belt. You make think you are getting comfortable after a hundred or so, but you need to know how you react to situations that are not in your control - and develop the right instincts. otherwise, you can both get really hurt - as braking distance increases, weight increases, lean angles can change, etc when you have a passenger.
just my 2 cents
I had the same issue starting off been riding but I love my monster. I have a 750 and at first I was riding around it was jumpy like that. It was all with the clutch engagement and knowing the friction zone. I would say start off in a parking lot and just have your feet down and slowly let out the clutch (NO GAS) and let it engage and let it out. Do this over and over until you get muscle memory of your hand. Your hand will probably hurt but I did this in our Basic Rider Course and I learned a lot. I would say take a course where they put you on a 250 and you learn the basics...
Also for putting your girl on there. DON'T!!! until you feel comfortable with yourself. I do not have to worry about that since my girl rides next to me...on her CBR :(
I did take the course. The main difference it seems is the point where the engagement happens in the clutch's travel path. It seems to be at the very end of the clutch's release which is very different from the bike they had me learning on. I've certainly improved with this by opening the throttle a bit more within the last moments of the clutch bar being out