strange meetup at the crossroads

[libertyeagle]

Normally I am pretty old school on most things, but today I got to try something "new" the Rekluse Performance Auto clutch. A bit of background I have a friend that manages a BMW dealership and today they had the guys from Rekluse there to do demos. As an old time gear jammer, 28 years of driving trucks up to 21 gears, plus PTO's, etc. I never thought I would think an automatic clutch on a motorcycle would be that "great". Well, it was. It allows you to do things with a bike that you just can't with a manual clutch. Even got to take it out in traffic and a bit off road on a NEW F700gs. The freedom of it is shocking. POWER comes on so smooth. Upshifting is so much faster... try to downshift a bit too soon, instead of grinding or lurching, it will make it a smooth slowing with much more control. Being able to control the bike at incredibly slow speeds... NOT having to rev the engine and drop the clutch to climb curbs from a dead stop, etc. Making the bike so it does not STALL if you need to slow downhill while maintaining engine braking. All positives and I did not find a simple negative... and the Best part was getting to actually see all the parts, all mechanical and simple and quality finished. I actually tried some really bad habits I have seen and I am massively impressed. They are now making them for many adventure bikes, including the KLR. A friend in Arizona has one in his 2013 KLR and swore by it and I could not see what the big deal was. Well, I will say I am now saving up my pennies and going to eventually going to get one for my KLR. This is after rebuilding the front forks this last week and today was the "test ride" to make sure every thing worked well, Thanks to Fred and his instructions and the the parts it was a good project that worked out well... So, also wish to thank Fred for all his help. Well, at least I got out and rode today... been a few weeks due to various reasons and I must say... I NEEDED it... Michael

[doninwoodlands]

Michael

Many times I have used engine braking decending a steep hill, at virtually stall RPM.

I figure just when I need the engine brake, the clutch would automatically disengage and I would lose control.

Any feeling like that on your test?

I think I would really like the clutch on my DR350 in Moab

Don

[Monty]

Great report Michael!  I to have heard the amazing comments about this clutch.  They've been around a while and it's interesting that with all the positive comments they aren't OEM or upgrade options on new bikes.  Will have to check into cost to do a KLR.  Think it would lend itself very well to any dual sport bike that sees off road work.  Honestly didn't know they even made them for the KLR.  Thanks for bringing our attention to it!   

[Monty]

It's a significant upgrade @ $650.  https://rekluse.com/product/adventure-bike-exp-clutch-kit/

[SniperOne308]

I did read one report from a pro rider on TT who ran the rekluse for 2 years until he improved to the point where it was limiting him on some advanced technical skills.  He then went back to a regular clutch and spent another 2 years learning those advanced skills.  His conclusion was that he would have been better off in the pro circuit to have just learned the skills with regular clutch to begin with. I'm certainly not at the pro level with my clutching skills, yet I found the extended clutch housing levers I've bought from Fred have helped in running the KLR clutch with two fingers and with improved basic skills. Sadly I don't think Fred handles these extended levers anymore. Randy Sent from my Verizon Wireless 4G LTE smartphone -------- Original message -------- From: "Monty cycletip@... [DSN_KLR650]" DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com> Date: 10/04/2015 10:12 AM (GMT-07:00) To: DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com Subject: [DSN_KLR650] Re: Rekluse Performance Clutch   It's a significant upgrade @ $650.  https://rekluse.com/product/adventure-bike-exp-clutch-kit/

[John Biccum]

I rode a DRZ in the OR woods with a Rekluse and really missed the engine braking in the more technical downhills.  You could get SOME engine braking by blipping the throttle open enough to get the Rekluse to lock up but the duration of the engine braking wasn't very long. I'm not a fan, I find that I shift almost subconsciously and frequently intentionally slip the clutch at times making the Rekluse the solution to a non-existing "problem".From: DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com Sent: 10/ 4/ 2015 10:20 AM To: DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com Subject: [DSN_KLR650] Re: Rekluse Performance Clutch   MichaelMany times I have used engine braking decending a steep hill, at virtually stall RPM. I figure just when I need the engine brake, the clutch would automatically disengage and I would lose control. Any feeling like that on your test? I think I would really like the clutch on my DR350 in Moab Don

[Fred Hink]

I may be in the wrong business to give a fair assessment of the Rekluse clutch but the ones that come to me have problems.  I m sure there are lots that don t have problems but obviously I don t see those.  Adding complexity to an already stressed part of a power plant is not good for reliability or simplicity of adjustment.  I too am not a fan of the Rekluse clutch.  It s your money and you takes your chances. Fred http://www.arrowheadmotorsports.com     [b]From:[/b] DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com [b]Sent:[/b] Sunday, October 4, 2015 12:26 PM [b]To:[/b] DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com ; doninwoodlands@... [b]Subject:[/b] RE: [DSN_KLR650] Re: Rekluse Performance Clutch    

I rode a DRZ in the OR woods with a Rekluse and really missed the engine braking in the more technical downhills.  You could get SOME engine braking by blipping the throttle open enough to get the Rekluse to lock up but the duration of the engine braking wasn't very long. I'm not a fan, I find that I shift almost subconsciously and frequently intentionally slip the clutch at times making the Rekluse the solution to a non-existing "problem". From: DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com Sent: 10/ 4/ 2015 10:20 AM To: DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com Subject: [DSN_KLR650] Re: Rekluse Performance Clutch  

Michael Many times I have used engine braking decending a steep hill, at virtually stall RPM.   I figure just when I need the engine brake, the clutch would automatically disengage and I would lose control.   Any feeling like that on your test?   I think I would really like the clutch on my DR350 in Moab   Don

[Fred Hink]

Yes, the extended clutch arms do work well.  The reason I don t handle them now is that the profit has gone away due to price increases.  You can still buy them from Ernie Bell who makes them.  Twin Headlight Ernie Fred http://www.arrowheadmotorsports.com     [b]From:[/b] DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com [b]Sent:[/b] Sunday, October 4, 2015 11:47 AM [b]To:[/b] DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com ; cycletip@... [b]Subject:[/b] RE: [DSN_KLR650] Re: Rekluse Performance Clutch    

I did read one report from a pro rider on TT who ran the rekluse for 2 years until he improved to the point where it was limiting him on some advanced technical skills.  He then went back to a regular clutch and spent another 2 years learning those advanced skills.  His conclusion was that he would have been better off in the pro circuit to have just learned the skills with regular clutch to begin with.   I'm certainly not at the pro level with my clutching skills, yet I found the extended clutch housing levers I've bought from Fred have helped in running the KLR clutch with two fingers and with improved basic skills.   Sadly I don't think Fred handles these extended levers anymore.   Randy       Sent from my Verizon Wireless 4G LTE smartphone -------- Original message -------- From: "Monty cycletip@... [DSN_KLR650]" DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com> Date: 10/04/2015 10:12 AM (GMT-07:00) To: DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com Subject: [DSN_KLR650] Re: Rekluse Performance Clutch   It's a significant upgrade @ $650.  https://rekluse.com/product/adventure-bike-exp-clutch-kit/  

[Norm Keller]

I thought they discontinued the KLR version? Someone recently posted that the earlier generation Recluse won't fit Gen2 ? Academic interest only.

 

[skypilot110]

I have used them on 2 strokes for riding in the woods for a few years. I agree that they are that good although I dont know how I feel about them on the KLR. Going to have to think about that one ---In DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com, wrote : Normally I am pretty old school on most things, but today I got to try something "new" the Rekluse Performance Auto clutch. A bit of background I have a friend that manages a BMW dealership and today they had the guys from Rekluse there to do demos. As an old time gear jammer, 28 years of driving trucks up to 21 gears, plus PTO's, etc. I never thought I would think an automatic clutch on a motorcycle would be that "great". Well, it was. It allows you to do things with a bike that you just can't with a manual clutch. Even got to take it out in traffic and a bit off road on a NEW F700gs. The freedom of it is shocking. POWER comes on so smooth. Upshifting is so much faster... try to downshift a bit too soon, instead of grinding or lurching, it will make it a smooth slowing with much more control. Being able to control the bike at incredibly slow speeds... NOT having to rev the engine and drop the clutch to climb curbs from a dead stop, etc. Making the bike so it does not STALL if you need to slow downhill while maintaining engine braking. All positives and I did not find a simple negative... and the Best part was getting to actually see all the parts, all mechanical and simple and quality finished. I actually tried some really bad habits I have seen and I am massively impressed. They are now making them for many adventure bikes, including the KLR. A friend in Arizona has one in his 2013 KLR and swore by it and I could not see what the big deal was. Well, I will say I am now saving up my pennies and going to eventually going to get one for my KLR. This is after rebuilding the front forks this last week and today was the "test ride" to make sure every thing worked well, Thanks to Fred and his instructions and the the parts it was a good project that worked out well... So, also wish to thank Fred for all his help. Well, at least I got out and rode today... been a few weeks due to various reasons and I must say... I NEEDED it... Michael