AK550 power delivery

[jermwars]

SO the AK doesnt feel like a scooter in the way it accelerates...It doesnt feel like the clutch is slipping when you take off. No wrap-up off the line. Power delivery seems much more instantaneous.

Is that the wet clutch? The belt drive? Is the Burgman the same way?

And on that note...i absolutely love the belt drive on the AK. Just smooth as snotted glass.

[rjs987]

Not so certain that is due to a wet clutch. More likely the CVT function but I've not ridden a larger CVT powered scooter to know for sure. The Burgman does take off from a stop rather briskly. The only thing I notice ever is that I twist on the throttle when the light turns green there is a very slight delay while the engine ramps up the RPM and then it just takes off. Not really much of a delay but just enough to notice IF I was sitting at idle around 1100 RPM while stopped... unless I preload the CVT by increasing the RPM to just right around 2100 before letting go of the brake. That's where the clutch starts to fully engage and if I do that the Burgman will take right off when I let go the brake.

The normal function of a CVT is to maintain the most efficient power output to the clutch for any given RPM and load. The higher the load request the higher the torque delivery is enabled by the CVT regardless of mph.

In my short test rides on the AK I noticed that the response was faster off the line from a stop compared to my Burgman 650. I still attribute that to the CVT and the way that is "tuned" for the scooter.

[klaviator]

I have never ridden an AK550 but IMO the way a scooter takes off from the line is much more a function of the clutch than the CVT.  Once the clutch is engaged and you start to build speed the CVT will take over and the clutch is no longer relevant. 

[john grinsel]

I have not ridden AK----but take off may be smooth because new.  Wonder what it will be like after 30,000 miles?

[klaviator]

I have not ridden AK----but take off may be smooth because new.  Wonder what it will be like after 30,000 miles?

My Super 8 developed a jerky takeoff.  I cleaned off the clutch shoes and inside of the clutch bell which smoothed it out.  I had to do that a few times but at 30,000 plus miles it was perfectly smooth.  None of my other scooters had that problem.  Anyway, no reason the AK shouldn't have a smooth takeoff at 30,000 miles but if it doesn't, it can be fixed.