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Hi have recently bought an 01 falco with 3.5k mikes on her, my question is this, i have read that they are fitted with slipper clutchs, but i've to lock up the rear wheel a few times, maybe going slightly heavy into a corner, is this still to be expected or is it just v twin character? Cheers for any info!

There is a slipper clutch but I reckon its more to ease the massive V-twin engine breaking than any racing aspirations. Its always good practise to blip the throttle when changing down but even more so on a V. Practise this and you wont need a slipper clutch.

Syltiz wrote:There is a slipper clutch but I reckon its more to ease the massive V-twin engine breaking than any racing aspirations. Its always good practise to blip the throttle when changing down but even more so on a V. Practise this and you wont need a slipper clutch.

This is generally true but not really for the Aprilia PPC (Pneumatic Power Clutch).
It is vacuum operated and relies on a closed throttle to operate.
I still do blip a bit a tiny bit ... but not much ..... if you give any significant blipping the slipper will not work and you will lock the rear wheel.

Just try doing it with a closed throttle and, hopefully, it will work just fine.

If it doesn't, you've got a leak in the vacuum hose to the throttle body, a hole in the clutch diaphragm or a problem with the non-return valve in the vacuum line.

Hope this helps

D-Rider wrote: I still do blip a bit a tiny bit ... but not much ..... if you give any significant blipping the slipper will not work and you will lock the rear wheel.

Hmm... if you blip the throttle "too much", won't you just "match" the rev's and speed (or get them close to the way they should be) for the lower gear?

dyzio wrote:

D-Rider wrote: I still do blip a bit a tiny bit ... but not much ..... if you give any significant blipping the slipper will not work and you will lock the rear wheel.

Hmm... if you blip the throttle "too much", won't you just "match" the rev's and speed (or get them close to the way they should be) for the lower gear?

Well, yes you will if you get it right - but the slipper won't work and you'll have to be very careful you do get it spot on.

I think that probably it's less of a problem if you are changing down at lower revs anyway. I remember when I first got mine I had the back end step out fairly frequently when changing down. Now I can't remember the last time that happened. I think it's a combination of understanding how Aprilia's slipper works and familiarity with the bike.

i think your right about not being familiar with the bike, i changed from a 1200 bandit to the falco only last week, so proabaly just havent got used to it yet, its only my second bike an first v twin, and am possibly trying to keep the revs up to high, the power is really there from 6 thou, cheers for the adivce, just need to keep riding and get used to it, but love it already!!!!

I know how you feel, I've riden for 25 years and this is my 1st big twin, (can't count the CX500 I had back in the 90's as a courier!) They take a fair bit of getting used to, but what a great bike, and a fantastic bunch of people on this forum who I've found really helpful.
Enjoy!

guess my ducati apprenticeship was worth it - i invariably blip as i shift down.... but tend to do it by ear rather than look at the rev counter...

The Falco is my 2nd bike (2nd Vtwin), I had an apprenticeship on a sv650.

Blipping the throttle is must do for me, I too do it by ear/feel rather than the rev counter.

In fact, it became such a habbit, I even do it at the lights

I've been blipping for 40 odd years now, on just about every type of bike, (Brit twins and singles, Jap 2 and 3 pot two strokes, Jap IL4s/V4s and now the Falco), so it's too late for me to stop now.
Wouldn't want to give up something I enjoy anyway! (done too much of that already!)
Also wouldn't argue with Andy's view, as you can feel the slipper clutch come in if you forget to blip.
I've had my Falco for almost 5 years now and it took me a few weeks and probably 1000 miles to really get the feel for it after a recent series of Honda IL4s and V4s.
Having said that I fell in love with it first time out, and it just got better. It's the best bike I've ever had and the most reliable and , hope you enjoy yours as much Rooster. just get out and ride it is much as you can.

Yarp, I'm a blipper too

Just like the smoothness of it when stepping down and doesn't clunk too much too

Hi. My name is Dusty and I'm a blipper.

Didn't Hazel (The Ginger Assasin) Blears get the push for blipping?

Blipping ?

..... one of life's little pleasures.

Fausto wrote:Blipping ?

..... one of life's little pleasures.

Cue the song .....

Blip-a-dee-doo-dah, blip-a-dee-ay
My, oh my, what a wonderful day
Plenty of sunshine headin' my way
Blip-a-dee-doo-dah, blip-a-dee-ay

Mister Bluebird's on my shoulder
It's the truth, it's actual
Ev'rything is satisfactual
Blip-a-dee-doo-dah, blip-a-dee-ay
Wonderful feeling, wonderful day.

...... bet we'll all be singing or humming this in our helmets every time we change down .......