I was wondering who has tried out an auto clutch and what did you think? I've been running a Z-Start on my 450 CRF for three years and the thing is amazing. I've always thought that it would be a widely accepted by the Thumpettes but I've never seen any posts about one. The cost is abit of a factor but if you are serious about riding tough trails and you want to ride a bike thats not to trail friendly like a CRF you can't go wrong. It really is like cheating.

I agree, The Z-Start in a word is just plain fun!

RH

BTW, mine is on a YZ280f

Hey Red,
How about some "downside" info for those of us who are wondering whether or not to buy?

I have heard the auto cluthes are great, although I have never tried one. I think one of the funnest parts of riding (esp a 2 stroke) is using the clutch...fanning it, popping it, just changing the power of you bike. I loved using my clutch so much in my KX that a burned out two of them riding two separate rides. I just don't no that anyone could sell me on it. It would seem so strange to just gas it and go. Maybe I'm just stuborn.

MXCHIC.... The fact that you say you burned out two clutches in two rides says alot and it's not negative about your riding ability. It's obvious that you were riding hard and in order to get to where you wanted to go you had to be on the clutch alot either fanning it for bursts of power or regulating the the engines power because of tough difficult terrain. With a auto clutch you just get to forget about it and focus on the terrain and the best line that you should be using. A auto clutch will correctly put the power to the ground all day long especially if the terrain is tough and would normally require alot of clutch work. The guy who thought of the Z-Start first designed it for the CRF 450 a bike that is quite difficult to ride in real ugly terrain because of it's lite flywheel and high first gear. When I first bought mine it was a handfull to ride in the ugly tough terrain that we always seem to spend our time riding here in the Pacific Northwest. Without a doubt the z-start was the best money I spent on my bike to make it user friendly next to the $1000 bucks I gave Factory Connection. It takes a couple of rides to get used to the idea that you can forget about having a clutch but once you do it's alot of fun. I ride at an expert level with a group of guys who are half my age so I'm always looking for anything that can keep me in the game. I haven't ridden with alot of women but the ones I have rode with always seem to do alright on the easier terrain then have to work way to hard when the trail gets ugly. If you ever get the chance to ride a bike with an auto clutch don't pass it up. Take the bike and head for the toughest ugliest trail you can find and thats where you'll get to see how well it works.

Red_450 said:

Interesting place to be having a AC discussion and certainly a valid point to bring up for the forum.

My question is........you still have 5-6 gears to select from......how is the AC going to "correctly put the power to the ground all day long" IF your not keeping the engine in it's powerband thru correct gearbox ratio selection?? So you still have to shift the gearbox, correct??, and pick the appropriate gear to be in for the terrain your traversing OR your just going to be "slipping" the clutch?? I do understand that the AC eliminates the stalling issue in ruff terrain !!

Have you had the opportunity to compare the Z-Start vs. the Recluse setup??

'XPLRN'

Rekuse is the company name. Z-Start is their product name....

http://www.rekluse.com

They are a good group of folks.

RH

XPLRN... All your points are correct, you need to be the the proper gear for the type of terrain your riding or else the clutch plates will slip. Probably the best example I can think of is a creek bed with lots of rocks, water and logs. Without an auto clutch you will be working the clutch lever non stop trying to regulate the power delivery so that you don't stall or spin out or hit something the wrong way and fall off. With an auto clutch you just twist the throttle on and off and the bike will move thru the creek bed with ease. All you do is concentrate on picking your line and keeping your balance. If you need a blast of power to loft the wheel you just twist it and if you have the traction it will just pop up. Stalling is a thing of the past. Another neat thing is the ability to dial the power perfectly to stop the rear wheel from spinning. Lets say your on a steep hill and you have to get started. If the traction is poor and the grade is steep it's tough to get the wheel to creep without it breaking loose and then your having to be back on the clutch to control wheel spin. With a auto clutch you can just twist the throttle and the bike will start to creep as you get the ideal application of power to traction. When you are doing this you are slipping the clutch plates but for such a very brief period of time it's not an issue. A auto clutch can't do anything that perfect control of a clutch lever will do except it does it every time without the riders input. It's just another tool that can make riding way easier. The one drawback that I had trouble with was the fact that if the bike isn't running it will freewheel. We ride terrain that can be so steep you have to bulldog your bike down the hills with the engine off walking beside it. The other guys have their bikes in first and work the clutch lever and the front brake to control their speed. With an auto clutch you only have the front brake and that makes it really difficult to try and hold the bike back. I have gone to a lever operated rear brake where the clutch lever used to be and that solves the problem.

Thanks Red, something else for me to spend money on.
Great info, appreciate it.

Red_450 said:

I'm assuming that its cable operated? But where and how does it tie into the rear brake system?

Red450, I actually ended up going to a bigger bike. I burned the clutches out on my KX100, so went to the KTM200. There is much more power to spare and they hydraulic clutch is nice and I haven't come close to boiling this one. If I get the chance to try an auto clutch bike, I would certainly try it out. Sometimes I think I pick the things that are intentionally harder.

One thing I have always wondered about the auto clutch is, wouldn't you burn out clutches faster since it is always slipping at low RPM's...especially on a torquey four stroke where the manual recommends not slipping the clutch? On a 2 stroke, wouldn't a auto clutch take away some of the hit and punchyness?

mxchic said:

Mxchic, I do the same thing.......make choices that make things harder for myself....I was stubborn and started out on a KX80 (in 91)......then I moved up to a done up 125. I burned out a few clutches as well.......As you know I just sold my CR250 and I am hanging on to the 125.....

Red, I am moving up to a KTM300MXC or EXC, Barry has a couple coming in March and he is calling me as soon as (if) they arrive. What do you think about the "z-start" on the MXC?? I am leaning toward toward the MXC but........the taller gearing could be a problem. The "other half" loves all the knarly terrain, the steeper and rockier the better...........that is where I have problems....I took out his KTM520sx and I ended up stalling where things got rough....actually, Barry sold that bike to someone from Summerland.More for me to think about now...See you in the Spring!!

BadBird 69.... I had a cable system that was made by Revloc, it attached to the back of the foot brake and just mechanically operated the lever. The system I have now is made by Rekluse and is fully hydraulic. It attaches to the rear master cylinder and allows you to use either the foot brake or the lever. MxChic... There is no more clutch slipping with an auto clutch than with a manual one. My CRF idles at about 1800 rpm, the clutch is set to start to engage at around 1900 and is fully engaged shortly after. I have it set this way so I get nearly instant response for off road conditions. The motocrossers set them up differently so they slip abit more and allow a higher rpm to build before the clutch locks up. Once the clutch is fully engaged it has a far higher lock up pressure than stock clutch springs can produce so if your in the right gear and the engine is pulling it is rock solid with no slip what so ever. MxJewel... Lets get together with your other half and you can try my bike out to see what you think. There is a guy in Kelowna with a 300 EXC with an auto clutch, Barry will know who he is. I'm curious why you would choose a MXC over the EXC? The low first gear in the EXC certainly comes in handy when the going gets ugly and the suspension comes with softer valving for off road. It will be interesting to see what you think and then you can give everyone a ride report.

Red_450 said:

Tits!!...toatally tits!!...I just ordered one a few minutes ago from the TT store,hope its here before this weekend..I have been wanting to try one for the past year or so but did not have enough cash. Anyhow..can the hyd. rear brake system be found at the Rekluse web site?...

got to ride divers bikes with auto clutch
do not really see the necessity for it
my riding style seems too round, fluent
I hardly use the clutch at all
and why take the challenge out of riding?
get a really good computer simulation instead of a bike
you will not get dirty, bruised, sweatty ... any longer

red 450, I couldnt agree with you more on the auto clutch, I had a REVLOC on my xr4 which I just sold. I cant decide between a CRF450 or a wr450 either way Im putting on an auto clutch. Can anyone tell me the difference in performance between a rekluse and a revloc?? if I go with the rekluse I can put in the clutch and the rear brake kit and still money over what the revloc costs?? red 450 do you ever have problems with you crf overheating when riding trails??

thanks

I'm not interested. Don't get me wrong--I am sure it's a great product--but right now I am focusing on learning to ride better, not throwing money at my bike. IF I had the cash for one, which I don't, I'd get a steering damper first.

I have lots of buddies who are excellent riders who have one and love it, however.

BadBird69 said:

IMO the left hand rear brake is an essential option with the auto clutch. Each of the three auto clutch manufacturers has commercially available left hand rear brake systems. Rekluse and EFM have hydraulic systems. RevLoc produces both cable operated and a hydraulic systems. Personally, I made up my own hydraulic system (which is easy to do) and eliminated the foot brake entirely. Once you get used to the excellent brake modulation using your left hand, you will never even miss the foot brake.

MxJeWeL said:

Honestly..I love a challange. It's all about personality when it comes to bikes and I have to say that the KX100 served it's purpose and was such a fun bike. It really taught me how to ride more aggressively and was rewarding when I did. Making the move to the 200 has been awesome. It does everything my 100 could do and more. I am proud to be a stubborn person who sometimes picks the harder road. It's all about what puts a smile on your face and my last 2 bikes had me grinning from ear to ear. I bet you are going to love that 300. I haven't ridden one but I hear they are great woods bikes, and comming off of a CR250 you should be happy....just need to get used to the handling. I know many people favor the EXC gearing and it may be better than the MXC for woods. I have the MXC gearing and like it. 1st is low enough for me, but I am used to a close ration 100cc bike so it seems easier to me. I bet you will happy with either one. You can always play with the gearing on either model with different sprocket sizes. Just pick and have fun.

Red_450,
Since you put the braker lever on your bars, I am assuming you dont have a clutch lever. Is this correct? If so, do you ever miss not having a clutch...ever?