125-200cc WR125 Clutch, No Clutch

[Rusty 2]

I always use the clutch. Alway have always will. I'm too old and thickheaded to change.

+1

I'm a trailrider, and I'll hit a dual sport ride once or twice a year. I'm out there for the fun,...the exercise,...to enjoy my machine,...and relive my youth. No one's ever going to give me a trophy or any HuskyBucks for that.
So there's really no benefit to my doing anything even remotely questionable as far as 'mechanical sympathy' is concerned just for the sake of emulating a top tier pro racer. Just my take on it,...of course.

 

[razornpc]

i hAvE and AuTo ClUtCh.

the trannies in our bikes are not sincronized. it will not hurt a thing not to use the clutch.

 

[Motosportz]

+1

I'm a trailrider, and I'll hit a dual sport ride once or twice a year. I'm out there for the fun,...the exercise,...to enjoy my machine,...and relive my youth. No one's ever going to give me a trophy or any HuskyBucks for that.
So there's really no benefit to my doing anything even remotely questionable as far as 'mechanical sympathy' is concerned just for the sake of emulating a top tier pro racer. Just my take on it,...of course.

For me it is not about being Johny racer, it is something i learned a long time ago and do it now without thinking. If you know how to match the engine and tans speed and shift then there is simply no need to use the clutch. I don't do it to save time or energy, it just does not need to be used. I would not do it if i thought there would be trans damage because of it. Might keep your oil cleaner longer (no clutch plate contamination) and will for sure make your clutch, lever, and cable last longer / stay tighter. Neither of those things are why i do it ether. I use the clutch when needed and don't when it is not.

 

[WoodsChick]

+1

I'm a trailrider, and I'll hit a dual sport ride once or twice a year. I'm out there for the fun,...the exercise,...to enjoy my machine,...and relive my youth. No one's ever going to give me a trophy or any HuskyBucks for that.
So there's really no benefit to my doing anything even remotely questionable as far as 'mechanical sympathy' is concerned just for the sake of emulating a top tier pro racer. Just my take on it,...of course.

For me it is not about being Johny racer, it is something i learned a long time ago and do it now without thinking. If you know how to match the engine and tans speed and shift then there is simply no need to use the clutch. I don't do it to save time or energy, it just does not need to be used. I would not do it if i thought there would be trans damage because of it. Might keep your oil cleaner longer (no clutch plate contamination) and will for sure make your clutch, lever, and cable last longer / stay tighter. Neither of those things are why i do it ether. I use the clutch when needed and don't when it is not.

Well-said, Kelly. I'm certainly not trying to emulate a top-tier pro racer. I've always done it on my streetbikes with no ill effects, and I started doing it on my dirtbikes after I destroyed my left wrist in 2000.
Eric does the same thing and, again, no mechanical issues because of it.

Going back to pvduke's "saving energy" thing, 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.




WoodsChick

 

[Rusty 2]

Point taken Kel. And I do know what you mean about matching the engine/trans speed and finding that sweet spot where there's absolutely no resistance. I've hit my shifter by accident and had it shift flawlessly without the clutch many times. But for me, batting that shifter around without touching the clutch lever on purpose would have to be a conscious, deliberate act that I'd have to condition myself to do,....not just second nature like for some.

I've tapped the shifter down into second without clutching on a hill climb on occasion when I found myself running out of steam in third,
and didn't like the shock it delivered to the drive train.

But hey, to each his/her own. Do what you want.

 

[Rusty 2]

I'm certainly not trying to emulate a top-tier pro racer.

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.

Just kiddin' ya Chick!

Love,
Rusty

 

[krieg]

Despite all the "compelling" testimony, I'm still too damn hard-headed to not use the clutch... and I'm comfortable not caring about the opinion of anyone else. If James "Bubba" Stewart came on this site and told me I'm crazy... I'd tell him to shut up until he was 48 years old.

As an old fat guy who was riding HARD in the 70's... I've earned that right.

 

[Dirtdame]

Despite all the "compelling" testimony, I'm still too damn hard-headed to not use the clutch... and I'm comfortable not caring about the opinion of anyone else. If James "Bubba" Stewart came on this site and told me I'm crazy... I'd tell him to shut up until he was 48 years old.

As an old fat guy who was riding HARD in the 70's... I've earned that right.

Ride whatever way you like or can. I used to ride differently too.

 

[WoodsChick]

Well-said, Kelly. I'm certainly not trying to emulate a top-tier pro racer.

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. WoodsChick

Just kiddin' ya Chick!

Love,
Rusty

Yeah, suuuure you're just kidding, Rusty

I was trying to find a way to maintain my pace for a longer period of time. I am an old busted-up trailrider that is staring down the barrel of her 47th birthday, I have no illusions whatsoever of competing in an ISDE any time soon



WoodsChick

 

[Dirtdame]

Yeah, suuuure you're just kidding, Rusty

I was trying to find a way to maintain my pace for a longer period of time. I am an old busted-up trailrider that is staring down the barrel of her 47th birthday, I have no illusions whatsoever of competing in an ISDE any time soon



WoodsChick

You little whippersnapper. I'll bet you skeedaddle along jest fine.

 

[WR BOB]

Wow, I'm going to have to call Shane and make sure his ears haven't burnt off the sides of his head. The only time he suggested not using the clutch was during shifting. He was a big opponent of feathering/sliping the clutch and keeping the gas on specially during cornering. It was all about being smooth with the gas and clutch. We were encouraged to keep one fingure on the clutch and front brake at all times. In a nut shell, everything Shane said made perfectly good since to me.

WR Bob

 

[Rusty 2]

Yeah that's right Bob,....keep fanning those flames........

 

[Rusty 2]

Yeah, suuuure you're just kidding, Rusty

I was trying to find a way to maintain my pace for a longer period of time. I am an old busted-up trailrider that is staring down the barrel of her 47th birthday, I have no illusions whatsoever of competing in an ISDE any time soon



WoodsChick

Ahhhh you're a good sport WoodsChick. You know I'd never take a shot at you if I didn't know you were first class and would give it right back to me!

Ain't it great to be "old fart" enough to be able to jerk each other around a bit without having it turn into a juvenile pissing match like on some of the other boards?

 

[WoodsChick]

Ahhhh you're a good sport WoodsChick. You know I'd never take a shot at you if I didn't know you were first class and would give it right back to me!

Ain't it great to be "old fart" enough to be able to jerk each other around a bit without having it turn into a juvenile pissing match like on some of the other boards?

Well, I'd much prefer to be a young fart But, yeah, there's a lot to be said for maturity that comes along with being older, that's for sure



WoodsChick

 

[WoodsChick]

You little whippersnapper. I'll bet you skeedaddle along jest fine.

Well, at least I'm still able to stay out of my own way...for now
I am getting slower and slower, though, as I get older and more busted up. I may be only 46, but we've got to remember we all live in dirt bike years, which are sort of like dog years. At least, that's what it feels like when I get up every morning




WoodsChick

 

[pvduke]

Going back to pvduke's "saving energy" thing, 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
WoodsChick

Did I disagree with you?
No.
Re-read my post(s). See if any of it makes sense.
If not?...oh well.

And, most girls are bigger and stronger than me so...moot point there.

Again- my point is, and I'll simplify it, is the few times I don't use the clutch on a ride (whether or not I need it and compared to how much I need/use the clutch- esp. on a WR125) = incalculable energy savings.

Re-point: If I'm exhausted to the point of having to not use the clutch to save energy (at the point of "every little bit helps") then I'm already waaay to deep into the Red Zone, I need to slow WAY down, conserve all motion and recover or risk a bad crash.

Re-re-point: If squeezing a clutch lever makes me tired (uses too much energy) then I seriously need to get in shape. (It's easier to use than the throttle).

Squeezing the clutch lever on a modern bike is a one finger affair on most. I am in no great shape but I can stand there by my bike and work the lever off and on for a pretty long time and the VERY most that will happen is my hand/forearm will pump up a little.
I could do it in 100* heat and I would still not break a sweat and I would not be tired. Pulling the lever uses ZERO energy, on a WR125.

Do you need to use it all the time? (again) Of course not.

But- it takes 50 times more "energy" to put on your boots, or start a bike, than to pull a clutch lever 50 times on a WR125.

But, whatever works for you.
If it "saves you energy" to not use the clutch at times?
Hey, that's great.
It's a super-fine micro point that is splitting split hair's and it's the last place I'd suggest someone to start looking to save energy.

Students would be better served being taught to use to clutch to save energy.

 

[R_Little]

Despite all the "compelling" testimony, I'm still too damn hard-headed to not use the clutch... and I'm comfortable not caring about the opinion of anyone else. If James "Bubba" Stewart came on this site and told me I'm crazy... I'd tell him to shut up until he was 48 years old.

As an old fat guy who was riding HARD in the 70's... I've earned that right.

I cover the clutch and use it all the time to shift as well..I guess it is a bad habit I picked up from street riding years back.

I raced a 125 last year and the was ALWAYS on the clutch. In fact in tight stuff I hold the throttle on and drive with the clutch.

I ate a new clutch basket in 6 races.

 

[Dirtdame]

it takes 50 times more "energy" to put on your boots, or start a bike, than to pull a clutch lever 50 times on a WR125.

I wonder how much more energy it takes to crash ans then pick up my bike, than to keep my clutch covered.

I use the clutch on my 450 a lot on singletrack, and yes, I use it to shift. There was a time that I didn't use my clutch to shift back in the 70s and 80s when I raced, but when I quit competing and did a lot more street bike riding, I got back in the habit of using the clutch. I think that it does reduce shock and premature damage to the clutch and transmission components. Just sayin'....

 

[gestion01]

When racing you need to use all the controls at the same time quickly and without having to think about it. Somewhat like playing a musical instrument. If you can take out one little less thing to do, I think it helps at a high level in time/concentration/energy.

Is trainning at the gym a better way... for sure! but you can do both.

 

[Rusty 2]

Okay, I'm convinced now.


For Sale: One Husqvarna OEM clutch lever.
Fits 1998-2010 WR250/300/360.
Used quite a bit, but in mint condition.
Make offer.