Thoughts on tomac getting a cable at KTM?

10/25/2025 4:38pm
WoodsRacer wrote:

They gave Dungey a hand shifter so I am sure they can give Tomac a cable clutch. 

Best response in this thread!

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sumdood
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10/26/2025 2:05am
WoodsRacer wrote:

They gave Dungey a hand shifter so I am sure they can give Tomac a cable clutch. 

neverwas wrote:

Best response in this thread!

DUNGEY HAND SHIFT.jpg?VersionId=0pAjTlgcptSNNo 8S
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10/26/2025 5:37am
KurtJ99 wrote:
I look at Reeds privateer 22 success and wonder why Tomac doesn’t do that on a Yamaha. I can’t believe that it is about money this...

I look at Reeds privateer 22 success and wonder why Tomac doesn’t do that on a Yamaha. I can’t believe that it is about money this late in his career. The KTM must really be everything he wants and the best bike choice anyways. That would make sense. 

Because that was so much more than just getting a bike and taking it to the races. TwoTwo was a legit team, which sounds like a headache to deal with at this point in ET’s career. 

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aees
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10/26/2025 6:03am
mxaniac wrote:
The hydro clutch on my 2018 TC 250 was rubbish. Too short of a throw, it was practically binary. The hydro clutch on my 22 Honda...

The hydro clutch on my 2018 TC 250 was rubbish. Too short of a throw, it was practically binary. The hydro clutch on my 22 Honda is much closer to a cable, but still doesn't give as much haptic feedback.

aees wrote:

It was rubbish because it was Magura. KTM uses Brembo-system. Night and day difference.

mxaniac wrote:
Which one is this?

Which one is this?

9861

Husqvarna used Magura until 2022 when they switched to Brembo. Normally you have a Brembo or Magura icon/logo on the slave cylinder.

Magura is better than braketec at least that Gasgas uses.

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captmoto
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10/26/2025 6:57am

Jeez, it really silly season. Next up, rumors of gear switching. Aside from helmet and boots their gear choice is about money or they don't have a choice when the team contracts gear.

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BossWool2800
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10/26/2025 8:00am
endurox wrote:

If Tomac gets a clutch cable setup, it will be the hottest aftermarket product for about 6 months.

I would imagine getting a cable clutch could be a problem for KTM.

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mxaniac
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10/26/2025 9:28am
aees wrote:

It was rubbish because it was Magura. KTM uses Brembo-system. Night and day difference.

mxaniac wrote:
Which one is this?

Which one is this?

9861
aees wrote:
Husqvarna used Magura until 2022 when they switched to Brembo. Normally you have a Brembo or Magura icon/logo on the slave cylinder.Magura is better than braketec...

Husqvarna used Magura until 2022 when they switched to Brembo. Normally you have a Brembo or Magura icon/logo on the slave cylinder.

Magura is better than braketec at least that Gasgas uses.

I recall it being much more complicated than just that, as it wasn't consistent across models. That picture I posted was my 2018, but I think it ended up being the Brembo part number for replacement clutch levers.

1
10/26/2025 10:31am

Forget the cable clutch I just hope they figure out the shock issues they’ve been having and are as flexible with suspension components as they were with Sexton. If Tomac wants those KYB inserts or whatever it is Chase ran he better get them.

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sumdood
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10/26/2025 11:29am

What if they designed a clutch ET couldn't burn up in 40 minutes 🤔  

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aeffertz
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10/26/2025 11:48am

0% chance

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Spooner
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10/26/2025 4:56pm

Can they? Sure.  But I highly doubt they are going to engineer and stress test a cable clutch setup for one rider when every single other rider they have ever had has used the hydro setup.  Especially one at the end of his career.  He's a bad dude, he will make it work. 

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TalinH112
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10/26/2025 5:22pm
sumdood wrote:

What if they designed a clutch ET couldn't burn up in 40 minutes 🤔  

They would be miracle workers. 🤣

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bvm111
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10/26/2025 5:34pm

i’ve had zero thoughts because there is literally zero chance, the fact that it is even a discussion point is mind boggling to me 🤯

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PRM31
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10/26/2025 5:45pm

11/4/25. Look at pics, we’ll know then.

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10/26/2025 6:05pm
WoodsRacer wrote:

They gave Dungey a hand shifter so I am sure they can give Tomac a cable clutch. 

neverwas wrote:

Best response in this thread!

@WoodsRacer for the W 😂

10/26/2025 6:22pm

Someone smarter than me explain as I haven’t owned a KTM before (I’ve ridden them and the hydraulic felt fine) but I would think KTM should be concerned about durability considering Eli’s happy clutch finger. Are the hydraulic clutches more prone to fade? If so, could this be fixed with a Rekluse? 

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toomanykaws
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10/26/2025 6:56pm
Back when all the bikes had cable clutches. Riders could adjust the slack in the air as the race went on. To keep the engagement point how they wanted it. And adjust for wear. Hydraulic setups adjust for wear automatically. It’s hard to tell how far worn the clutch is though. With the cable. You run out of cable to adjust and you know the stack is about done.
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10/26/2025 7:21pm
Back when all the bikes had cable clutches. Riders could adjust the slack in the air as the race went on. To keep the engagement point...
Back when all the bikes had cable clutches. Riders could adjust the slack in the air as the race went on. To keep the engagement point how they wanted it. And adjust for wear. Hydraulic setups adjust for wear automatically. It’s hard to tell how far worn the clutch is though. With the cable. You run out of cable to adjust and you know the stack is about done.

So lets say it’s late in a moto and you are running a hydro and you are not feeling fade. Does it just quit all of a sudden or is it more gradual and just happens more quickly as compared to cable? 

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FGR01
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10/26/2025 8:08pm
Back when all the bikes had cable clutches. Riders could adjust the slack in the air as the race went on. To keep the engagement point...
Back when all the bikes had cable clutches. Riders could adjust the slack in the air as the race went on. To keep the engagement point how they wanted it. And adjust for wear. Hydraulic setups adjust for wear automatically. It’s hard to tell how far worn the clutch is though. With the cable. You run out of cable to adjust and you know the stack is about done.
So lets say it’s late in a moto and you are running a hydro and you are not feeling fade. Does it just quit all of...

So lets say it’s late in a moto and you are running a hydro and you are not feeling fade. Does it just quit all of a sudden or is it more gradual and just happens more quickly as compared to cable? 

When Tomac was on Kawi....  his first indication that he had done too much to the clutch was the smell of smoke and the bike not moving.

Bearuno
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10/26/2025 9:03pm

I put this picture up on an earlier 'ET Clutch' thread, of a set up done for Joel Smets, (more than) 2 decades ago when he went from Husaberg to KTM :

Joel Smets Cable Clutch set up on his early KTMs  jpg 0.jpg?VersionId=iRqrd

A few European companies offered such a thing (much 'nicer' than this unit) for KTMs, for a while. I'm unsure if such things can still be purchased, but, you can bet your arse, if ET ends up with a cable set up, a whole lot of suppliers will jump in to sell to those that want to jump on board with a 'new', old thing.

It's not Rocket Science, people.

Mind you, I'd be stunned that a Lever ( and it's associated pivot  set  up / lever ratio set up)  / Master Cylinder / Slave Cylinder set up could not be done to his requirements with a Hydraulic Clutch. Once again, it's, as they say, Not Rocket Science. Far from it.

But, you can have riders that are so set in their ways / prejudices, that they can't / won't change. 

So, so much can be done with Hydro clutches - things have come a long way from say, in my personal experience, the absolutely atrocious Hydro Clutch that Ducati did for the 80s era Pantah engined bikes that I had / still have. Cable set ups went straight back on my bikes for a few years at that time. Talk about a Heavy, On / Off switch of a bloody thing!

 

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JnDubZ
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10/26/2025 10:21pm
FGR01 wrote:
Roger is already fab'ing it up !

Roger is already fab'ing it up !

IMG 3148 0.jpeg?VersionId=JldlJQcsaiSUtvpPYn8nkV

Off topic but seeing Decoster in the workshop at that age makes me respect him so much. He truly does love this sport and will never stop trying to elevate it. 

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1
10/26/2025 10:37pm
KurtJ99 wrote:
I look at Reeds privateer 22 success and wonder why Tomac doesn’t do that on a Yamaha. I can’t believe that it is about money this...

I look at Reeds privateer 22 success and wonder why Tomac doesn’t do that on a Yamaha. I can’t believe that it is about money this late in his career. The KTM must really be everything he wants and the best bike choice anyways. That would make sense. 

I may need to refresh my memory but Tomac is basically one of the top guys, but wasn't Reed basically without a ride? Did he not have a pretty bad season with Kawasaki before then? Tomac is still a top rider and would have no trouble getting a ride.

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yardsailor
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10/27/2025 12:38am Edited Date/Time 10/27/2025 1:34am

Press release on Wednesday but I did learn through “a source” that Magnum has stepped in as an associate sponsor for Tomac and Ktm  for the next two seasons. 

Ernie Peppel, ( magnum ceo) “ we are extremely excited to be part of the next 2 seasons with Eli Tomac. We feel that we produce the best cable on the market for motorcycles, lawn mowers, power lines and tv transmitting lines. Eli will run our 1/4 inch multi strand kevlar cable on the throttle side and our 3/16 multi strand cable on the clutch side.”

IMG 2092 1
3
10/27/2025 11:14am
endurox wrote:

If Tomac gets a clutch cable setup, it will be the hottest aftermarket product for about 6 months.

Yes. If KTM puts out a power parts Orange anodized cable kit, it could single handily pull the company out of financial ruin 

2
10/27/2025 11:17am
Back when all the bikes had cable clutches. Riders could adjust the slack in the air as the race went on. To keep the engagement point...
Back when all the bikes had cable clutches. Riders could adjust the slack in the air as the race went on. To keep the engagement point how they wanted it. And adjust for wear. Hydraulic setups adjust for wear automatically. It’s hard to tell how far worn the clutch is though. With the cable. You run out of cable to adjust and you know the stack is about done.
So lets say it’s late in a moto and you are running a hydro and you are not feeling fade. Does it just quit all of...

So lets say it’s late in a moto and you are running a hydro and you are not feeling fade. Does it just quit all of a sudden or is it more gradual and just happens more quickly as compared to cable? 

KTM clutches aren’t crap like Japanese clutches. Abuse the sh#{{ out of them off-road 

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mx317
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10/27/2025 11:35am
Bearuno wrote:
I put this picture up on an earlier 'ET Clutch' thread, of a set up done for Joel Smets, (more than) 2 decades ago when he...

I put this picture up on an earlier 'ET Clutch' thread, of a set up done for Joel Smets, (more than) 2 decades ago when he went from Husaberg to KTM :

Joel Smets Cable Clutch set up on his early KTMs  jpg 0.jpg?VersionId=iRqrd

A few European companies offered such a thing (much 'nicer' than this unit) for KTMs, for a while. I'm unsure if such things can still be purchased, but, you can bet your arse, if ET ends up with a cable set up, a whole lot of suppliers will jump in to sell to those that want to jump on board with a 'new', old thing.

It's not Rocket Science, people.

Mind you, I'd be stunned that a Lever ( and it's associated pivot  set  up / lever ratio set up)  / Master Cylinder / Slave Cylinder set up could not be done to his requirements with a Hydraulic Clutch. Once again, it's, as they say, Not Rocket Science. Far from it.

But, you can have riders that are so set in their ways / prejudices, that they can't / won't change. 

So, so much can be done with Hydro clutches - things have come a long way from say, in my personal experience, the absolutely atrocious Hydro Clutch that Ducati did for the 80s era Pantah engined bikes that I had / still have. Cable set ups went straight back on my bikes for a few years at that time. Talk about a Heavy, On / Off switch of a bloody thing!

 

This is sort of the reverse of the Yamaha 23-25 YZ450F. It would be easy to whip this up, but getting KTM to go along with it might be an issue.

NorCal1975
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10/27/2025 11:53am

KTM clutches aren’t crap like Japanese clutches. Abuse the sh#{{ out of them off-road 

I do think the stock KTM clutch holds up really well.  I am not a clutch abuser, nor am I fast, but I have over 100 hours on my stock 2022 450 clutch.  Works perfectly, smooth engagement, no slipping, etc.  With Tomac at the controls that might translate to 20 minutes though, I have no idea how to do that conversion!

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1
10/27/2025 12:39pm
FGR01 wrote:
Roger is already fab'ing it up !

Roger is already fab'ing it up !

IMG 3148 0.jpeg?VersionId=JldlJQcsaiSUtvpPYn8nkV

JnDubZ wrote:
Off topic but seeing Decoster in the workshop at that age makes me respect him so much. He truly does love this sport and will never...

Off topic but seeing Decoster in the workshop at that age makes me respect him so much. He truly does love this sport and will never stop trying to elevate it. 

That pic is from 2011 when Dungey signed with KTM. Getting ready to put KTM on the map in the US. 

disbanded
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10/27/2025 1:32pm

KTM clutches aren’t crap like Japanese clutches. Abuse the sh#{{ out of them off-road 

NorCal1975 wrote:
I do think the stock KTM clutch holds up really well.  I am not a clutch abuser, nor am I fast, but I have over 100...

I do think the stock KTM clutch holds up really well.  I am not a clutch abuser, nor am I fast, but I have over 100 hours on my stock 2022 450 clutch.  Works perfectly, smooth engagement, no slipping, etc.  With Tomac at the controls that might translate to 20 minutes though, I have no idea how to do that conversion!

You are close, but the 'Tomac Factor' concludes that he rides 250 times harder than your average Joe.

100 hours = 6,000 minutes / Tomac Factor (250) = 24 minutes

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10/27/2025 6:22pm
yardsailor wrote:
Press release on Wednesday but I did learn through “a source” that Magnum has stepped in as an associate sponsor for Tomac and Ktm  for the...

Press release on Wednesday but I did learn through “a source” that Magnum has stepped in as an associate sponsor for Tomac and Ktm  for the next two seasons. 

Ernie Peppel, ( magnum ceo) “ we are extremely excited to be part of the next 2 seasons with Eli Tomac. We feel that we produce the best cable on the market for motorcycles, lawn mowers, power lines and tv transmitting lines. Eli will run our 1/4 inch multi strand kevlar cable on the throttle side and our 3/16 multi strand cable on the clutch side.”

IMG 2092 1

Next "2" seasons!

 

2

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