Very few products can boast they're used by all of the major factory race teams and riders, but that's exactly the case when it comes to Hinson Racing's clutch baskets. Everyone from Dustin Wimmer to James Stewart uses Hinson for their clutch needs, and everyone agrees they're must-have items for any race bike or ATV. Hinson's clutch baskets have obtained this legendary status thanks in part to the company's proprietary "Akadization" process, which increases wear resistance by roughly 500 percent, and aerospace tolerances on all of its billet T6 aircraft-quality aluminum parts.
Despite the knowledge that every serious racer insists on using its products, Hinson Racing continues to innovate, and improve in areas that it has already perfected. Such is the case with the BTL series clutch kit.
Developed in the MotoGP realm, the BTL is a slipper clutch with a fully adjustable slip range. The BTL essentially eliminates kickback and engine-braking, making cornering easier and more controllable. To put the BTL through its paces, we enlisted pro-am motocross contender Cody Grant and his highly modified Yoshimura LT-R450. After a full season of racing with the BTL installed, Grant was chock-full of feedback for us. "For starters, it was a breeze to install. I was dreading having to order special tools, but none of that was necessary. It was like installing any other clutch." With the BTL safely in place, Grant's first gate drop didn't exactly go as planned, as the BTL's main spring wasn't quite beefy enough for the built motor and the clutch seemed to slip a bit. A quick switch to the 1400 main spring later, Grant lined up for his second gate drop. "It's going to take some getting used to, but it's pretty awesome. I can't see a place where this isn't going to help." The difference in Cody's corner speed was immediately noticeable. Each successive race and gate drop increased Grant's comfort with the changes, and the lack of maintenance required to keep the BTL fresh surprised our entire mechanical crew. When coupled with the Hinson pressure plate and inner hub the BTL package decreases chatter, and the entire assembly spins more true than a standard clutch. The end result is less heat when the clutch is disengaged and less noise across the board.
"I really like the smoothness entering corners. It seems to give a nice transition between accelerating and braking. I also really like it on exiting turns. Especially when a course is hard-packed and slick, the traction seems a lot better and way more predictable." The BTL's ability to create traction and reduce wheelspin has proven to be a huge advantage on just about any surface, but especially so in blue-grooved settings. "The tracks that seemed to pose the biggest problems for my competitors were relatively easy for me. It wasn't until I rode my practice bike [which uses a standard clutch] out there that I realized the advantage the BTL was giving me." Retail price on the Hinson slipper clutch kit is $1709.99. -Jorge Cuartas
| HARD PARTS | 93 |
| Installation | 16/20 |
| Function | 50/50 |
| Durability | 10/10 |
| Design | 10/10 |
| Price | 7/10 |
Bottom Line:
It should come as no surprise that everyone agrees Hinson Racing has once again created a must-have part for the serious race crowd.
Hinson Racing: 909/946-2942;
www.hinsonracing.com