Drag/Rubbing?

[Citypol86]

...As for not using the rear brake, it's there for a reason, how do you emergency brake?stop in the wet? slow down if you've overcooked it in a corner?

Not for nothing, using the rear brakes in ALL of these situations even the slightest bit too much is the EASIEST WAY TO HIGHSIDE/WIPEOUT!!!  If you use your rear brake in these situations be very, very, very careful not to lock it up.  If you do lock it up, HOLD IT!!!  Even if you're in a turn, you've already made a major mistake and its safer to side it out behind the bike than to be sliding down the road with the bike behind you.  Going fairly straight, the rear will stay behind you, unlike a car which will swap ends if the rear locks up.  This is because a bike is an articulated vehicle and a car is not. 
Anyway, BE CAREFUL WITH THE REAR BRAKE.

Later...
Brewster...

[scduc]

My 1k did something similar, try blowing out the clutch pack with some compressed air.


Especially if you've got the stock cover on it.

Yep, That seems to be the culprit. Not a whole lot of dust came out ( I plan on doing a better job this week end). She definitely moves much better, shifts are smooth and I think she is just happier. As far as the brake topic, I really try to get off the throttle early and engine brake then for straight stops, I 'll use a little rear. I used to never used to use the rear until a car jumped out in front of me (i grabbed way too much front (only)) and put me out of commission for 4 years. Now I do my best to at least cover it in case something similar reoccurs. Beside that, she squeals like a pig.

[scduc]

On second thought, maybe that did not fix it.  The more I think about it, it feels as if I am starting out in second gear. it starts chugging and kinda lurching. Even if I give moderate throttle. I now have 7100 miles and will be at the dealer within a week for the first service. My thoughts range from carb sync to warped rotors to worn clutch. Will post with results

[yotogi]

On second thought, maybe that did not fix it.  The more I think about it, it feels as if I am starting out in second gear. it starts chugging and kinda lurching. Even if I give moderate throttle. I now have 7100 miles and will be at the dealer within a week for the first service. My thoughts range from carb sync to warped rotors to worn clutch. Will post with results

Well, I am going to rule out carb sync, for what I hope are obvious reasons.

I have an 06 S2R1K and I have had similar issues. When starting off from a start in any way other than very slowly and carefully, there is a groan from what sounds like the front left of the bike. I had my belts adjusted (they were way tight) and that didn't fix this issue. I cleaned out my clutch pack and the problem went away for a little while, then returned. I am almost 100% sure that my issue is clutch wear as I can feel modulation in the clutch lever accompanying the sound.

One thing to try is to take apart you clutch stack as really give everything in there a good wipe down. My guess is that the issue will go away for you for a while just like mine did.

Keep us informed of what you come to.

[AndrewNS]

This wouldn't have any real effect on pulling away, but if you have a cush drive rubber coming apart it can make a squaking/dragging sound at low speeds. Frequency will vary with the rate the rear wheel is turning, though. Seems to be a fairly common failure on Ducatis with the single sided swingarm.