Police bike clutches

[macx]

Was wondering if RTP bikes had a more durable clutch disc.

Because my 04 with only 32k has a worn out clutch disc.
I bought it with 25k on it, no idea how the previous owner was with a clutch.

I emailed a dealer in CA that works with RTP bikes about that.
He replied that police bikes have the same clutch as regular models.
Of course, they have a considerably lower 1st gear, but I'm sure they
get their fair share of abuse and the bike is heavier than our R's.

The previous owner must have been either not very good with a clutch
or an abusive rider.

Was hoping something more durable was available, but apparently not from BMW.
Now we know.

Now I can only hope the reline job does in fact have a more durable lining as
the relining guy said.

[omg1010]

My friend,

this bike must have been abused by the previous owner ... Forget about relining! Either buy a new clutch from the dealer or ... The most durable clutch is the sintered clutch which you can purchase from Wunderlich - http://www.wunderlichamerica.com/motorc ... 10031.html

And just fyi the police bikes share the same clutch as the ones in the standard bike.

You may also want to check out this http://www.touratech.com/shops/004/doku ... 0351-0.PDF Just scroll down for the english version.

Best regards
Oliver

[macx]

Nice thoughts, but I'm unemployed so have to conserve for the moment.

I've looked at those others but they're way out of my price range for now, and I need to get the bike
going so I can take it with me when I do get the next job (construction quality control manager for
power plant projects so can be anywhere in the country, or even out)

And the guy that relines quite a few RTP bikes for Las Vegas says they use either ceramic or
sintered linings, but that they chew up the pressure plate faster.

My splines were in excellent condition, so for $95 I figured my best bang for the buck right now
was the organic lining he alluded to as being more durable than the oem organic lining.

Just to try to proceed on an informed basis, I emailed him again asking just how much faster his
sintered lining wears out a pressure plate in normal, no passenger, mostly road riding. Also how
much longer he'd think a sintered lining would last over his organic lining, as well as how much more
durable he would think his organic lining is than the oem lining. Besides, of course, the cost for the
sintered lining.

[sweatmark]

Because my 04 with only 32k has a worn out clutch disc.
I bought it with 25k on it, no idea how the previous owner was with a clutch.

I emailed a dealer in CA that works with RTP bikes about that.
He replied that police bikes have the same clutch as regular models.
Of course, they have a considerably lower 1st gear, but I'm sure they
get their fair share of abuse and the bike is heavier than our R's.

I'm with Oliver on this issue: get the OE part for replacement. This message board group has been "together" for 7+ years, and nobody has ever complained about sensitive or worn clutches for the R1150R. Clutch hub splines, yes (but still very rare); clutch friction surface failure, no.

Got to believe that your bike's original owner either "rode the clutch", or there was a problem with the clutch servo system that induced low-miles premature wear.

[CycleRob]

The bad thing about a clutch reline is that . . . . don't they reuse the old clutch hub with thousands of miles of wear damage to the female splines?

[Xdot]

Anyone ever used a Wunderlich clutch disc and been through input shaft spline failure? I know one of the theories is an inappropriate heat treat on the clutch disc side leading to wear. Wunderlich clutch any better? Just askin'.

[macx]

One reason for researching / considering a possible reline, besides being laid off etc etc, is that all my
splines are in absolutely great shape - you have to look close to even see any shiny areas.

I had read the info on adjusting the clutch play and thought I had it right - the freeplay at the lever, etc.

But when I tore into it, there was a little bit of the red fluid which I've since been told is from the brake
fluid getting hot. I looked at the piston seal and inside of the cyl bore and all looked OK, but I know it
doesn't take much for a seal to seep a little.

The red makes me think I maybe didn't have quite enuf freeplay thereby spinning that cup at least some
and that's probly what caused the seepage. Not enuf to get by the felt ring, just enough to wipe some
off on my finger when I wiped inside the housing and for the rod end of the cyl to have some red moisture
on it.

Luckily my replacement trans came with a cyl that has no sign of that at all, so will install that one when
I reassemble.

Having limited resources to withstand a long layoff and with only a few job nibbles so far, and after talking to the
reline guy who told me about relining quite a few police clutches with good success, I took the plunge to let him
reline it. Saving me over $50 - enuf to get me some parts I need to get my car back on the road. (It never ends!)
If nothing else, we'll all see how it lasts when I do the spline lube again in 25k+ more miles.

Thanks to all for your input and info!

[Sander Abernathy]

I'm glad to hear you got it taken care of.

On the topic of police and clutches I thought this was funny.

The dealer where I bought my R1200R periodically sells RT-Ps to police departments. A local department converted its fleet from H-Ds to RT-Ps recently and the clutches lasted only 5,000 miles. Apparently riding the wet clutch on the H-Ds was common and harmless. Doing the same with the Beemers dry clutch had a more favorable outcome...for the dealers service department revenue numbers.

[bimrluvr]

I got the Wunderlich ceramic clutch at about 25k miles (lots of days doing 80 miles threading bumper to bumper traffic). I'm at 48k now and have had no spline issues...or clutch issues. Bike's an '04. Wunderlich wasn't cheap, but it should last the life of the bike and it doesn't heat up like a regular clutch so wear on neighboring parts might also be reduced.