Tech: Funky MV clutch makes stalling impossible... honest!
MV Agusta’s new Turismo Veloce has a semi-automatic clutch but still does wheelies
MV have just unveiled the catchily-named Turismo Veloce 800 Lusso SCS but it’s the SCS that’s the exiting bit. SCS stands for Smart Clutch System and it’s a new semi-auto design. In short, the SCS turns the Turismo Veloce into a giant twist-and-go but, unlike a DCT bike such as Honda’s Africa Twin, you still have a clutch lever. The technology in the MV was actually developed by an American company called Rekluse and the key is centrifugal force.
Getting in a spin
Between the clutch discs there are a set of sprung wedges. At idle the clutch pack spins but the springs keep the wedges at the centre of the clutch. As you rev the engine, the centrifugal force of the clutch overcomes the strength of the springs and the wedges begin to move outwards. As they move outwards, the wedges force the clutch plates together and engage the clutch, moving the bike forwards. To change gear you either give the gear lever a wee tap (as the MV comes with a quickshifter), or pull the clutch and move the gear lever as usual.
When it’s time you stop, you simply close the throttle and apply the brakes without touching the clutch lever. Why? Well as you slow down with the bike in
‘If the revs drop to idle the clutch just disengages’
gear, the engine slows down too but as the engine approaches idle speed, the springs once again overcome the centrifugal force of the wedges and disengage the clutch. In fact, if the revs drop down to idle at any point then the clutch automatically disengages. So it’s impossible to stall.
Perfect control
The real genius of the system, is that the clutch lever remains in use at all times, which is what has made the Rekluse system popular on off-road bikes.
So if you’re in a car park and want the extra control of the clutch lever, you simply slip the clutch as normal. If you want to pull a wheelie (on closed roads obviously) then you just pop the clutch as usual and watch as the front wheel climbs skyward. Better still, you don’t need to do anything to the bike to switch between manual and automatic; you can override it with the lever as little or as often as you want and whenever you want without having to stop and press buttons on the switchgear.
The only downside to the system is additional weight and cost – with the SCS costing an extra £1600 on the new Turismo.