Rekluse z-Start Pro Clutch

Rekluse z-Start Pro Clutch

There is probably not an offroad event where you can not see a few Rekluse banners or spiders on the side of clutch cover cases.  Several years back I put one in a KX250F, mostly to combat my chronic arm fatigue and forearm pump.  I really liked it for both motocross and offroad, and particularly I liked being able to override with the clutch, which felt normal.

Last year I rode a YZ 450F at Endurocross, and I guess I figured that with the extra power I would be able to just put it in second and go, but that wasn’t the case, I kept stalling it in the loose rock pile turn, and with the bike being so hot it was hell to get started again.  This year I went back, which I am not sure why I keep racing that thing, I am pretty much the last place rider out there, but it is cool to say I did it I guess.  But to be better prepared my good buddy Steve Fox, of HoyFox Toyota, gave me a z-Start Pro to run in my KTM 450SX. 

Installing the Rekluse was actually very simple, and the only hard part is figuring out which of the many set up options to use, but Rekluse provides you with a really good cheat sheet.  Adjustments are done several ways by using different mass bearings, springs or spacers on the clutch push rod.  Each configuration delivers power a bit differently as well as adjusting where the clutch engages.  My only gripe would be that after an unorganized guy like myself started messing with the bearings, I kind of got confused which were which.  I don’t know how much of a pain it would be for the guys at Rekluse to mark them some how, maybe just a small engraving or something, but for a meticulous mechanic, there should be no issue.  I solved my problem with a small digital scale, but when I bought that I probably was put on some DEA list of potential drug dealers or something, but that is a small price to pay for the performance of this product.

Since installing the Rekluse, I have ridden a whole variety of terrains, conditions and venues from motocross to gnarly technical rock sections.  On the motocross track the most noticeable performance enhancement comes on the starts where the bike just seems to always be getting perfect traction.  I definitely use the clutch override more on the motocross track than anywhere else, I like the feel of getting that snap out of the corners.  However on flat or slick corners, I find it much easier and faster to just roll the throttle and let the Rekluse figure it out for me.

Here in New Mexico we haven’t had any rain for…well it seems like forever and the trails are just dry, slick and full of loose rocks.  This is the condition in which the Rekluse is just phenomenal!  I find that I can still attack the terrain, but instead of getting that hard hit from the 450SX and blowing out turns and spinning all over the place, I get solid traction and am going from turn to turn much faster.  I still grab for the clutch every once and a while, particularly when I am about to blow through a turn, it just feels a bit more natural I guess.  In addition, I ride a gear higher, and when you do make a mistake, instead of slamming the gears down, I just hit the clutch and away I go.  I haven’t stalled my bike at all.

As for Endurocross, well I was not a contender, but I cruised through the loose rock corner, actually that was my most favorite section of the track.  It was great not worrying that I was going to stall or flame out as I tried to make it up over one of the huge logs, or through the big rocks.  I got stuck my first lap of practice in those big rocks, and instead of working really hard, I just gave it some gas and the bike found traction and pulled me out. 

Its amazing how many of the regular riding crew is now using the clutch, I think it is up to 8 or 9.  Probably the most significant gains in rider performance has been with a couple of the lady riders that have just got started riding.  In one to two weeks after installing the clutch, it is amazing what this has done for one of our new lady riders Darcey and her ability to tackle what I would say is quite a technical trail with lots of rocks, roots and tight sections.

To wrap this up I am going to make a prediction, and that is bikes will soon come stock with an auto clutch.  It will start with each companies off road specific bikes, but it will spread to the street bikes, quads, dual sports and motocrossers.  If I were to be given the chance to build the ultimate off road weapon, it would be a 325 four stroke, with a Christini two wheel drive and a Rekluse clutch.  Sounds like a good project for us here at The ORC to work on!!

Fore more info visit; www.rekluse.com