125-200cc WR125 Clutch, No Clutch

Pulling my clutch lever for every shift makes me feel like a man. I can do it from the begining of my rides to the end of my rides without feeling less manly. However, I am old and fat and a wimp... a shell of my former self. Do NOT use my experience as an example.

Disclaimer: Even though I'm old and fat and hard-headed, I understand the laws of physics. Shifting without a clutch adds stress to the gears... perhaps minimal... but stress nonetheless. That's why people buy Rekluse's.

I pose the question: if clutchless shifting is benign, why do people buy Rekluses?... aside from stall resistance?

They buy a Rekluse mostly for the anti-stalling feature. You still need to shift.

I have one on my TC450, and still use the clutch to modulate power and keep it from stalling (yes it still can stall with one). On a 4T it takes out some of the engine braking also. I like this because it makes it more ''2t like'' in corners.

I see no need for an auto clutch in my 144. Even the kill switch has issues stalling this little bike!

WoodsChick[/quote]
I took a 2-day enduro class with a female multi-time ISDE medalist about 8 years ago, and took another class with her the following year. Her thing was we are not as big and strong as the men, yet we still have to ride the same course for the same amount of time on a bike that weighs the same.
It is imperative to find easier ways to do things, and save energy when/where we can. Every little bit helps, and one of the things she advocated was not using the clutch when it was not needed.


Well said for sure.. My hands are pretty dainty and my wrists are skinny. Anything to save energy I'm all for. Women have to work so much harder than the guys in this sport. Respect to us ladies

Gary Semics says the exact same thing. Pretty standard pro coach mantra. This is from his TT top ten things to make you faster list.


#4 You do not need to use the clutch when you down shift.
Some inexperienced riders use the clutch to downshift and then just hold it in while they brake the rest of the way into the corner. Using the clutch to downshift is not necessary and it brakes up the steadiness of braking with the help of the engine's backpressure.

It is necessary to use the clutch when you up shift because the transmission has torque on the gears from the power of the engine. But, there is very little torque on the gears when the throttle is off and you’re slowing down. So, leave that low end lever (the clutch) out when you’re down shifting and braking for a corner.

I have always used the clutch to shift whether it be up or down. Its how I was taught to shift when I was a wee one. Old habits die hard I guess. All I know is that I spend enough hard earned money on my bikes as is. I dont need to spend extra on rebuilding a tranny if I mess something up by not using the clutch. Not saying it would definitely hurt anything. Just saying it would be my luck. Using the clutch this way has also taught me to keep one finger on the clutch at all times. During a two hour harescramble I dont think I ever take it off. The hydro clutch on my new TXC is flat out amazing especially with the Midwest Mountain Engineering clutch lever. Now my '03 YZ250 was a whole other story!

I must say that it is an interesting theory. I would just be nervous about stalling the motor when braking if the clutch wasnt pulled in. Maybe thats why Im so slow!

I use my clutch to take off and pull out of some corners other than that it just hangs on for the ride. The Rekluse just makes stalling harder and going from a stop easier. I'm waiting on a EXP for my WB165 . Knock on wood with my old age at 53, lots of bikes, never installed a clutch or gears in my bikes.

I have never used the clutch up-shifting, or down-shifting on a bike. My old man, and all his buddys never did, and that how I learned... 200 hours on my 450 this way with zero issues, and I've put 70+ on my 125 with no issues (with 120 put on by previous owner)

The clutch on my 125 is only used to start off, and to get the powervalves open when a big climb or rock face surprises me.

Oddly enough i find my 150 much harder to brake stall than my 250f.. I think it refires so quickly if stalled that you dont even know you just killed it.

Guess its time to teach this old dog some new tricks! I finally rode the 165 with the EXP installed. This coupled with Walts FMF pipe makes me feel unstopable. I guess I will practice clutchless riding on the TXC!

Just installed the EXP 3.0 on my WR144 and it is perfect. Can still use the clutch to grab the power band, and flat stomp the rear brake entering a turn with no concern for stalling. I was skeptical- being another "old" guy at 49 - I say that sarcastically as several of my riding buddies are mid / late 50's and been using auto clutches for years. They are better riders than me- still compete and win series events. I was slow to convert: remembering the role model of my youth, Kent Howerton, and copying his one finger clutch style on my 1978 RM80.
Love that the newer bikes are so great- still loving the 2-smoke!

Good deal. Legal cheating and I love it. Enjoy.

1st real ride / Rekcluse. I'm ecstatic. Works great! What a difference. Looking forward to the technical uphill slippery sections.

Backing out of the gas for a split second while up-shifting unloads the gears and essentially matches gear rpm for a no stress shift. The alternative is to keep the throttle wide open and feather the clutch slightly while shifting which is effective on a smaller engine like a 125 to keep from losing engine inertia (good in sand and uphill climbs). Downshifting the clutch is not needed. Using the clutch for shifting on everything else is pretty much a waste of time and energy.

A Recluse auto clutch is a give and take like everything else. A Recluse does nothing for you that you can't do yourself and you are giving up some feel and control over your clutch in exchange for not having to use the thought and energy of doing it yourself. You also give up some engine braking which if used properly translates to braking traction control.

My approach is to tune my manual clutch for the best feel and easiest pull and ride with one finger in contact with the lever pretty much at all times. Your brain and your finger is the best clutch control devise available and is also a savior that can bail you out if you get whiskey throttle. If you watch Graham Jarvis videos when he is doing some crazy slow speed obstacle you sometimes hear the engine rev wide open for a second like a panic rev. In some instances you have the throttle pinned and are hanging on with a body position that doesn't allow you to back off the throttle so you simply leave it pinned and modulate the power to the rear wheel via the clutch finger brain devise. A Recluse isn't going to do that for you or many other techniques so if you want to get to the next level of bike control you're going to have to learn clutch control.

These are the opinions of an old 6'6" 205 lb lanky dude that's pretty good at going slow and typically doesn't just pin it WFO to see what might happen like the young fellers do. Other opinions may vary.

I've ridden with the clutch for a long time- I'm liking the easy button on the Reckluse. Unlike Mr Jarvis, I'm not getting paid to win races: I am paying to have fun. I see both sides of manual clutch, and autoclutch. The transition is welcome, and quick to get aclamated to trusting the Rekluse to do the right thing.
Happy trails...