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Location: Florissant, MO USA
Has anybody ever put a KTM hydraulic clutch on a Honda? What all would be involved? Machine the case to fit and the slave cylinder would work?
I've seen the Magura but I'm not big on the lever and master cylinder.. looks cheap. Could I use just the Magura slave cylinder and KTM lever/line/master cylinder?
Maybe the 2019 Honda's will have hydraulic clutch from the factory...
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I actually prefer the feel of a cable clutch, call me crazy...
Current rides: 2020 CRF450RWE and 2019 TC300
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Location: Berlin, NY USA
The cases have the set up for a ktm style slave cylinder. You just need to machine out the cases and drill and tap the holes. And make a block off plate for the cable actuator arm. Google factory Honda and you will see Cole Sealys bike with one. The cases have to be the same as a production bike so the base for what you need is there it's just not machined out yet.
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With so much slave labor at your disposal why not make your own cases that are machined for a ktm hydro clutch? I don't think you'll like the bill it'd cost to machine stock cases for that. Be cheaper to stuff a ktm engine into a Honda frame.
BTW what do you not like about the magura levers? Magura has come stock on some ktms and huskies, I think they feel better than the brembos. The biggest problem in feel between ktm hydros and the Japanese is that the Magura system for turning cable into hydro clutches still uses the rotating arm, where as ktm has the slave mounted on the case pushing straight into the pin. Makes for a more direct feeling clutch (because it is)
I'm not sure if you could use the brembo master cylinder with a Magura slave as I believe they use different oils. And even if they use the same oil, you might have problems with the throw.
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it seems I am not the only Shirley here 
Current rides: 2020 CRF450RWE and 2019 TC300
Occasional ride for VMX: 1985 CR500RF
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Edited Date/Time:
450's and 250 two strokes I prefer a hydro
125's I prefer a cable
Tomac and/or Anderson for 2020.....
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Location: ZAF
Honda tried the Hydro clutch in AMA MX - The riders sudden got better results when they went back to cable ! Keep it simple stupid -
[LINK TO IMAGE]
I also prefer cable over hydro and cannot understand all the hype about hydro clutches. Reliability and maintenance of cable is much more sane. A properly setup cable has much better feel than a hydraulic clutch. A badly setup and or maintained cable is off course terrible as would a failing hydo be ... Cost to repair refurbish same parts .... ! Just because it costs more does not make it better.
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Look It's because I was a weak-girlie-man with a puny index finger muscles ok!
Isn't this where I say "if anyone wants to say something about me using a hydraulic clutch in 2003 to my face, come and see me at the track"?
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If you have ridden a new Honda you know why he is asking. Worst clutch feel ever. Great bike but terrible clutch.
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Had a Magura system on my 2008 Honda 450 but it seem to thru plates quicker because of a slight drag. But when plates were new it as better than stock.
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ob wrote:
If you have ridden a new Honda you know why he is asking. Worst clutch feel ever. Great bike but terrible clutch.
Hasn't that been a normal Honda issue since like 2009?
2017 RMZ450
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2005 KX250F
80% of the time it works every time
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Note the upside-down brake lever boot:
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I rode a friend's Husky and liked the hydro clutch feel over my '16 Honda 450.
I was thinking about mounting a hydro setup on mine but since the cable is pull and the hydro is push, I was just going to make a piece to bolt/weld to the arm where the cable hooks to and make it extend off the other side where it can be pushed. Then make some sort of bracket to mount the slave. All external so no need for machining the cover or anything.
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kiwifan wrote:
I actually prefer the feel of a cable clutch, call me crazy...
Sheriff245 wrote:
You’re not alone...
I do as well, when i had my 12 crf450 i put a magura hydraulic clutch on it because the pull and feel of the honda clutch is horrible. With that said, Every other bike I have owned that has a normal pull and feel I would prefer the standard cable
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- The Oracle
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Location: MS, USA
Honda does not have one stock yet so its not any good. Of course when Honda has one stock it will the greatest thing ever. BTW Honda just invented DOHC engines and finger follower valve trains.
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Location: Perth, AUS
VRR7 wrote:
Honda tried the Hydro clutch in AMA MX - The riders sudden got better results when they went back to cable ! Keep it simple stupid -
[LINK TO IMAGE]
I also prefer cable over hydro and cannot understand all the hype about hydro clutches. Reliability and maintenance of cable is much more sane. A properly setup cable has much better feel than a hydraulic clutch. A badly setup and or maintained cable is off course terrible as would a failing hydo be ... Cost to repair refurbish same parts .... ! Just because it costs more does not make it better.
KTM ditched cable clutches on their MX and enduro bikes nearly twenty years ago. Multiple MXGP, AMA MX and SX, and WEC title suggests there isn’t really a reliability issue.
Do you think hydraulic brakes are unreliable as well?
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Joined: 10/31/2013
Location: PA, USA
VRR7 wrote:
Honda tried the Hydro clutch in AMA MX - The riders sudden got better results when they went back to cable ! Keep it simple stupid -
[LINK TO IMAGE]
I also prefer cable over hydro and cannot understand all the hype about hydro clutches. Reliability and maintenance of cable is much more sane. A properly setup cable has much better feel than a hydraulic clutch. A badly setup and or maintained cable is off course terrible as would a failing hydo be ... Cost to repair refurbish same parts .... ! Just because it costs more does not make it better.ando wrote:
KTM ditched cable clutches on their MX and enduro bikes nearly twenty years ago. Multiple MXGP, AMA MX and SX, and WEC title suggests there isn’t really a reliability issue.
Do you think hydraulic brakes are unreliable as well?
Easy with the facts bro.
I wonder if his mind would be blown to know that brakes are hydraulic too...I heard they have nearly a 75% failure rate, better go back to cable 
Tomac and/or Anderson for 2020.....
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Edited Date/Time:
I had a Magura unit on my 13 crf450, worked really well apart from the time the hydralic pipe moved and burnt through on the back of the exhaust on the start line.... Was going to fit it to the '17 but the size of the cable end is different so I sold it. 17 clutch feels way better than the 13 so I've not done it again. Renthal make an Intelliever2 unbreakable shorty lever for a KTM that fits the Magura clutch so you don't have to run the original Magura lever.
