i was wondering how you handled it ray, doesnt it rain over they pretty frequantly? its been a monsoon here in central illinois this summer it seems so far.
Yes, they have a rainy season and it might rain once a day \ night or all day long... The dirt here is as black as buckshot (clayey) in places and white looking & very clayey in others ... Very sticky ... almost impossible to ride in ... Any thing short of a new knobby is a big handicap ...But these guys don't let it stop them from the trails ... They like it 1 notch from impossible to cross ... we'll break out a carabao as a last resort to pull the bikes up a hill ... Depending on the amount of rain and sunshine, the dirt will dry ~quickly and actually get as sticky as bubble gum as it goes through the drying process... A light rain the night or morning of a ride ad then sunshine will make almost perfect conditions on trails and tracks ... Myself, I avoid the big rains as much as possible as a water cooled engine is not suited for spinning on an uphill and going no where ... If you notice the pics I post, most are gonna have hills or valley crossing ... being caught in a valley and a rain happens of any size is really rough getting out...
The things that have helped me the most riding steep slippery rough tight single track are my Rekluse Pro clutch and Dunlop 803 trials tire. The tire slips very little because of its ability to grip so well and the smooth application of the power through the clutch. The trials tire also seems to keep the bike from launching off line because it doesn't bounce like a spinning knobby. Even in mud, I continue to be surprised at the traction. I just love the setup.
+1... I'm loving that setup too.... If I would just get that left hand brake setup, it would be perfect.
I bought a 2010 KTM XC-W 400 with the Rekluse Pro already install, old bike had the Z-Clutch & the Pro is an improvement. Love the Auto-Clutch & rarely do I even use the hand lever anymore, many friends have removed the clutch lever & installed the rear brake lever in its place. I've ridden my buddy's bike more than a few times now & it takes some getting used to, but no more snapped foot pedals, much better modulation with your hand than your boot covered foot & dragging the rear brake in a right hand turn is simple. I understand that it must be a Brembo master cylinder to work. I would not think it would be ideal for motocross, but who knows.
Every one has a different riding style and what works for you may not work for someone else. I NEVER (and I'm fast) use my front brake. Not sure why. I only can run semi mettalic brake pads as I tend to always be on the rear brake (I have my Huskys adusted so you have to push down real far before the rear brake engages.) Advice above this looks good. Practice makes perfect so try different things to improve where you are weak. What I have learned the last 2 years is the better shape you are in the better you will ride. That is why at 46 years old I'm faster then I was when I was 27 even. I used to rely on my youth to carry me. Now that I'm close to death I realized by not being in shape not only do you not ride as good you risk alot more injurys to. Got a little off your subject but again proper bike setup etccc. will all contribute to you doing better. You could lay out a course and time yourself trying different things etc... Good luck!
I have tried bikes with the auto clutch. Not for me and I myself am slower with the auto. On a 150 at least I need FULL control of ALL available power at ALL times. My friend (a real good c rider, borderline b rider) does ride his wr 300 better with the auto.
riding tips: sit only in the corners, stand everywhere else, literally. learn to slide and slllllllllip the clutch. fanning rarely works. there's no substitute for TITS. riding cant be "book learned". everyone pays "them dues", that's part of the satisfaction. if it was easy everyone would do it. for MX track, get some schoolin'. the neck ya save might be yer own and you'll get up to speed 15 times faster w/o wadded body and bike. do what feels right to you, and try new stuff, listen and feel for your bikes feedback, enjoy yourself and nature, dont beat yourself up if you spode and... NEVER RIDE OVER YOUR HEAD (Ricky Johnson)
I can see where a hand rear brake might be good ...ESP in right hand turns ... But I don't think I wanna give up a clutch lever ... Also, from the reading here, it seems with a auto-clutching device, the ground speed of the bike is tied directly to the engine speed to some degree... A manual clutch separates these 2 forces totally ... When I use the term feathering, I'm usually meaning I have the clutch lever pulled in a specific amount and held there ... I'm not sure on the amount as the pull on the lever is but it is by feel ... But maybe 1/4 \ 1/3 of the entire lever throw but I think it is where I feel the clutch to first start disengaging the engine from the forward drive... The throttle controls engine speed usually and then more or less clutch is given as needed to control the speed of the bike (usually to slow down) and pick up the RPMs as needed ... You guys are giving some very good riding tips ...
Auto clutches aren't for everybody, I agree. I used to make jokes about them up until 2007 when I bought a bike that had one in it. It took a little time to get used to how it transfers the power, but I won't have a bike without one now. 2 strokes seem to need the hand lever a little more IMO, but my 400 has a little grunt down low & a broad powerband & it works well. About the only negative are the oil changes, because the clutch gets a a little more work & the heat it generates I change the oil regularly. The Rotella makes that a little easier on the wallet. Edit: Since the "pumpkin" has separate engine oil and tranny oil I just have to change the tranny side... pretty much a 2 - 1 ratio on changes tranny to engine.
so alot of folks are usin diesel oil on here for their bikes, hell if thats the case it would be just as easy for me to do the same if its safe. i use the spectra stuff now.
Rekluse the manufacter of a good number of A/C recommends using Rotella.... But you have to be careful when talking about oil on some of these message boards... You could start a holy oil war LOL
