Does a wet clutch make noise?

[WetDuc]

I'm sorry to be constantly posting so many naive questions, but I have yet another.
Before I chopped my exhaust cans, especially at low rpm I could hear a sort of clicking noise when the bike was running.  It was rhythmic with the rpms (speeding up as the rpms were sped up and slowing down as the rpms were slowed).  After the chop, the clicking is a bit more noticeable.  Does a wet clutch make any audible noise to the rider?  Just curious if this could be the noise.  Thanks again and apologies for so many stupid inquiries.  You all know how new I am to the moto and Duc world now.

[Triple J]

I'm guessing your hearing the valves.

[WetDuc]

Is this normal?  Im at 4k miles, so I'm close to the first adjustment.

[Slide Panda]

It's normal to hear some valve noise, basically, all the time from a desmo engine. It's part of the 'charm'.  Of course, excess noise might be the sign of an issue. But it's most likely you're hearing the normal noises.

[WetDuc]

That's what I thought.  I didn't think the wet clutch would be audible at all.  It probably is the valves, and since it has made this noise since I got it, I don't think there is a problem.  Thanks for the info!

[Slide Panda]

A wet clutch isn't silent - there will be some noise. But it's sure a lot less than an open dry. You probably have to stick your ear right by the case to distinguish the clutch noise from all the rest

[Duck-Stew]

Wet-clutches are *nearly* silent but I did have one which had the rivets of the basket to the primary gear come loose.  Sounded like she was throwing a rod!  Replaced the clutch basket & gear and all was well w/that motor.

The factory tends not to put much time into the initial valve settings and the most breaking in occurs from 0 to 6K miles (as one would expect) so you may have a valve or two that was loose...and became looser still.

[WetDuc]

I'm thinking it's a valves, too, since I held my ear up to the clutch while the bike was idling and I can literally hear basically nothing, but when I hold it up to the horizontal cyclinder, I can hear the click more distinctly. 

[sbrguy]

that is the ducati sound you have there, the clacking sound is basically the valve mechanism, aka desmodromic system working.

like stu said if you listen close to the wet clutch even that makes some sound, its not that loud but its definitely there when you are right next to the clutch.

[Popeye the Sailor]

Totally a soul rattle.

[WetDuc]

I have to concur, the best way to describe the sound is a "clacking" noise.  I kind of like it and I'm getting used to it.  It got a good deal more noticeable when I chopped the exhaust cans and kind of surprised me.
As of right now, I love everything about that bike and motor.  I am a recently de-flowered duc-virgin, but all of this character of the motorcycle is so cool I just want to know it all...now.

[ducatiz]

if you want to isolate noises in your engine while it is running, pick up a mechanic's stethoscope



they are cheap and a fun way to learn about your engine.  you put the needle on any part and the local vibrations are almost all you hear. 

[WetDuc]

Wow, I didn't even know those existed.  $2.25 from DPCIwholesale.com ain't a bad price, either.