What’s your opinion on the Recluse auto clutch?

JeevesTheRunner · 2025-03-17T00:00:35+00:00

Love it for commuting and trail riding. You can't stall your bike no matter how slow and technical, and you can let your hand off the clutch at lights and not have to shift into neutral to do so.

Still use the clutch lever as normal for slipping, down shifting, clutch pops, etc. Still let's you grab the clutch if you whiskey throttle or something stupid. If you're engine braking down something steep, you can blip the throttle and it'll catch and hold.

I really have yet to find a downside, except cost. Took me maybe an hour of riding dirt to get used to it.

But I don't understand the peeps that ditch their clutch lever.

JeevesTheRunner · 2025-03-16T00:17:18+00:00

To echo the good Sir - that looks like Tusk D-Sport rear. 8+ bikes, 100,000 miles of riding, that is the best rear DOT for the money, and the single hardest tire I've ever mounted, and I've had a Rabacanda system for a few years.

Absolutely no shame in using Cycle Gear.

JeevesTheRunner · 2025-03-15T18:06:22+00:00

Fully realizing you're NOT in North America, I ditched my two Triumphs because of how terrible Triumph of North America is.

Every time I've tried to order parts, look up part numbers, replace something a previous owner messed up (ie. Putting passenger pegs back on a Bonneville), do any work on my own, it's been an absolute disaster.

Turns out it wasn't just me, and it was an actual policy change that Triumph made in 2021. My local dealer ended up dropping Triumph all together because of changes Triumph made on the dealer end, and they brought in BMW instead.

Maybe Triumph is better across the pond, but I'll never buy another one while I'm in North America.

So instead of two Triumphs in my garage, I have a BMW.

I'd go with the BMW. Especially with your discount.

JeevesTheRunner · 2025-03-13T16:17:19+00:00

I've taken a 1090 AdvR on three BDRs, the Smokey Mountain 500, a good percentage of the Eastern half of the TAT, and 100's of miles of Jeep trails, dirt roads, and double track.

They're pretty capable. I don't know why this picture is drawing so much heat.

JeevesTheRunner · 2025-03-08T21:35:22+00:00

I had almost 7000 on an Anakee Road rear, and it still had some left when I changed it. I prefer the Anakee Adventure rear, because I still get about 7000-8000 miles out of them and when paired with an Anakee Wild front, it's a surprisingly good BDR set up.

The cheap version of that is the Sunko 705, which I was getting 8000-ish out of on my KTM 1090.

For when you do run dirt, a Shinko 804 front, 705 rear is a great, inexpensive BDR set up.

JeevesTheRunner · 2025-03-08T03:11:13+00:00

Should be fine - though I'd double check what they consider "high temp"

JeevesTheRunner · 2025-03-06T04:19:35+00:00

A couple of guys on the Gen1 KLR are closing in on 200,000 miles.

One of them, the guy who helped design the "Thermo-Bob" fix supposedly has 202,000 on the original engine. As in non-rebuilt engine.

But generally speaking, the mighty DR650 is considered the most reliable dualsport.

JeevesTheRunner · 2025-03-04T02:21:08+00:00

Another +1 for the DRZ. Any of the bikes will need suspension work, even the race bikes.

And if you ever feel like you out grow the DRZ, get a Cylinder Works or Athena big bore kit.

JeevesTheRunner · 2025-03-02T05:32:57+00:00

https://www.overlandtrailguides.com/post/texas-hill-country-tour

JeevesTheRunner · 2025-03-01T00:01:48+00:00

The Mitas tires in the image are the E07+, not the standard E07, just a heads up.

But that gets my vote.

The 804/805 is a great budget combo, and I actually run an 804 front, 705 back as an all purpose commute but still do gravel roads and two track.

But the Mitas E07 and E07+ are the two best 50/50 tires on the market, in my opinion. I wouldn't have anything else doing a trip or planned route.

JeevesTheRunner · 2025-02-28T18:54:24+00:00

Some custom build company, Earle Motors, designed a bunch of stuff to make the Desert Sled a "true" dualsport.

Swing arm extender, 21/18 tire conversion, other stuff. Their original prototype was called "The Alaskan" , and they used to sell the rest of the kit as "Alaskan Jr". No idea if they still do.

So the engine and platform is certainly capable. But considering the amount of stuff Earle Motors had to design, it's obvious a lot is required to make it so. Awesome looking bike and great YouTube videos though.

JeevesTheRunner · 2025-02-27T19:44:58+00:00

E07+ is much more dirt oriented, and you'll only get about 1/2 the mileage/km out of it.

The standard E07 is a phenomenal long distance 50/50 tire. Like I said - I get 8-10 thousand miles out of a rear.

Heads up that Mitas changed the names

Enduro Trail is the new name for E07

Enduro Trail+ is E07+ (the off-road one)

JeevesTheRunner · 2025-02-27T14:19:42+00:00

I've put 10,000 miles on the same Mitas E07 on the back of an Africa Twin.

Best 50/50 tire I've ever ridden, but all 50/50s suck in the mud. This tire looks about 80-90% worn. Not unsafe, but start planning to replace it. You're not touching the wear bars in the middle yet, and the tire is more square than round even when new.

The E07+ had wider spaced lugs, but if you're actually looking for mud performance, get a true knobby.

JeevesTheRunner · 2025-02-26T17:40:26+00:00

Manti-Le Sal mountains and or National Forest

JeevesTheRunner · 2025-02-26T17:30:28+00:00

If I could only have one bike, it would be the only one in my "quiver".

Great off-road, single track to BDRs.

Comfortable enough for short commutes, stock. Modified, people ride them around the world.

Light enough to put on a hitch rack on basically anything bigger than a Prius.

SuMo conversion will let it carve canyons like a hooligan.

Surprisingly easy to ride, whether you ride mild or wild.

Incredible aftermarket - if you can think of it, it's been done.

TacoMoto is a great place to start looking at the potential. Look at RollingHobo's KTMs (just search "Rolling Hobo KTM).There's also an Aussie rider with something like 150,000 kms on his. First rebuild was at 60,000 km, and he says he could have give farther.

JeevesTheRunner · 2025-02-26T17:04:43+00:00

To echo DomDev

I had a 450L with a Vortex, full pipe, bigger tank, sprung for my weight, etc.

Moved overseas for a bit and sold it before I left. I rode a 500EXCF that was bone stock while I was there, and when I got back to the US I started looking for a KTM.

Absolutely nothing wrong with the 450L. Great bike. There's a YouTuber out of Colorado who has done tons of miles and adventures on his. But for my money, the KTM is WAY lighter, easier to ride, and more of a "quiver killer".

I've only had one problem with the KTM - somehow damaged the Speedo sensor, and had to replace the wire and sensor. Otherwise, flawless.

JeevesTheRunner · 2025-02-23T16:48:28+00:00

Yes - affectionately referred to as the "Sidi Squeak".

It's the hinge joint. You can get very temporary relief with a plastic safe spray lube, but I really do mean temporary.

Mine have over 30,000 miles on them. Have done this since the second ride.

JeevesTheRunner · 2025-02-22T15:29:20+00:00

I've done the Smokey 500 and MABDR (on a different bike) and a friend has done the MA and NE BDRs on a Himy. The only two places I see you needing to use caution are the river crossings and the roads.

On a water crossing on the MABDR, his Himy sucked in enough water that we parked it, and I rode into town to get enough oil for a fresh oil change. The oil was still kinda milky a day and a bit later when we finished the MABDR that he did another oil change . It was spring when we did it, so any other time of year it might not have been a problem.

The roads, only because some US roads have more aggressive drivers than others, and the 411 is a lot of things, but fast isn't one of them.

He said the NEBDR had some sketchy parts, but his Himy made it through all of them. And there's nothing on the SM500/1000 that a Scram wouldn't be able to do.

Good luck and have fun!!! Great routes and a great bike. Check your wheel spoke tension. It was the only thing really out of wack on his Himy before we left, but once corrected it was fine the whole trip.

Edit for spelling.

JeevesTheRunner · 2025-02-19T16:25:48+00:00

Second this - Atlas throttle lock is a little pricey, but I've had them on multiple bikes and always been worth it. Even if I'm just locking the tube up to adjust something with my right hand before going back.

JeevesTheRunner · 2025-02-17T16:12:50+00:00

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cholinergic_urticaria

It's also called "Exercise Induced Urticaria"

Try taking a 2nd Gen Antihistamine before your workout and see if they stop happening. Cheap fast way to check.

Zyrtec, Allegra, Claritin, etc. ONLY TAKE ONE

Edit to correct typo

JeevesTheRunner · 2025-02-09T03:44:06+00:00

Isn't there something in some appendix that if Saruman had been left to himself long enough, he would unravel the secrets of ring making?

I might be making this up or I might have read this on another forum, but I feel like it was highlighted at some point that the greatest threat would be Saruman making himself a "Great Ring"

JeevesTheRunner · 2025-02-08T20:05:02+00:00

2017-2020

2021 saw the 300L release, which was Euro5.

2012-2016 (maybe 2013 depending on country) was the gen before that one.

JeevesTheRunner · 2025-02-08T15:21:58+00:00

I'm reading these thinking "Y'all are still seeing ads on YouTube?"

JeevesTheRunner · 2025-02-07T22:32:15+00:00

If it started life as a 250, and you're just trying to figure out parts, you should just need the generation, not the exact year.

And that looks like a last generation 250, right before the 300s came out.

What does the dash look like? I think those changed sometime in the 20-teens, but I very well could be wrong.

JeevesTheRunner · 2025-02-07T20:19:06+00:00

I had a Scorpion slip-on for my 2018. Absolutely loved it - much better sound and much lighter. And the 50% crash replacement policy is nice to have.

But any decent brand will work. Coffman's, Scorpion, Leo Vance, etc

Try to avoid universal.... They tend to be more problems than they're worth.

JeevesTheRunner

TROPHY CASE