DragBikeMike wrote on 07/08/23 at 19:08:56:One thing I forgot to stress. My stock clutch, like totally stock, handled over 41 horsepower just fine. Not too many forum members will take
The hybrid clutch, the one this post was all about (seven fiber plates, six steel plates, DR clutch hub), should only be needed when you start gettin serious with the horsepower.
As DragBikeMike says - the stock clutch works well for stock and mildly modified engines. If your stock clutch is slipping with a stock engine there is something wrong with the clutch and it needs some maintenance.
My engine has a 95mm Wiseco, Performance Cam, Ported Head, 38MM Mikuni Round Slide, Big Foam Filter and good exhaust.....I don't make DragBikeMikes' 41 HP - but it is noticeably more HP than stock. I also have very tall gearing and the engine turns 4,000 rpm at 70mph in 5th gear.
My stock clutch never slipped when it was fully engaged. If I was hard on the throttle and shifting through the gears - there was a slight lag in clutch engaging fully if I got on the throttle hard as the clutch lever was being released. When I has accelerating hard I made sure the clutch lever was fully released before I applied a lot of throttle, and I rode the bike that way for about 14,000 miles without any issues.
Recently I did the DR650 clutch modification and it grabs better than the stock clutch. The DR650 clutch hub that is needed is a bit expensive to buy and a little rare....the ones on eBay are often offered as the entire clutch assembly. (There is one seller on eBay that bead blasts all the parts he sells to make them look better - don't buy that one as the friction surface that is polished has been ruined by the bead blasting).
I did the DR650 modification and used the stock clutch release cam as the Sneeze version was not yet available.....my clutch cam broke after a few thousand miles and did some damage in the process. It damaged my clutch basket, the DR650 clutch hub, one fiber and one steel plate......it was likely $200 worth of parts that was damaged if you buy the replacement used (more if you buy them new).
Everyone who has the mechanical ability should install the Verslagen head plug and cam chain tensioner...and the Sneezy clutch cam to make their bike more reliable.