Cycle News Staff | May 17, 2024
Rekluse has launched the all-new Apex manual clutch system for 2007-and-later Harley-Davidson models that are powered by Twin Cam or Milwaukee-Eight engines.
VIDEO | A New Standard for Harley Clutch Systems: Rekluse Apex
The clutch system offers more durability and a lighter lever pull over the stock unit. The components are engineered for optimal oil flow and utilize a host of proprietary technologies, including Rekluse’s fixed-pin hub and the TorqDrive thin-friction disk setup. The Apex system comes with an extra set of springs so it can be tuned to the rider’s preference. Prices for the Apex Clutch range $1299 to $1599.
VIDEO | How the APEX Clutch System Can Transform Your Harley Big Twin
Here is more information from Rekluse about the new Apex Clutch:
What is the APEX Clutch Anyway?
The APEX clutch is a manual clutch system that takes the capabilities of a traditional coil spring clutch to a completely new level. This clutch is an innovative system that uses a combination of proprietary technology and design, including Fixed-Pin, TorqDrive, and Core. APEX improves lever feel, power delivery, rideability, longevity, and torque capability, just to name a few.
Fixed-Pin Hub
Traditional hub designs use machined grooves in the aluminum to retain drive plates, commonly causing notching inside the grooves through normal use and eventually leading to hub replacement. Fixed-Pin is a patented new hub design exclusively from Rekluse that uses steel-on-steel contacts to retain the drive plates to eliminate that notching wear and the performance degradation that comes along with it. As an added bonus, it also provides a noticeable improvement in clutch modulation and control riders can feel at the lever.
TorqDrive
TorqDrive friction disk technology allows for up to 8 additional friction disks over the OEM clutch stack. This additional plate capacity is a major factor in allowing the clutch lever modulation to remain easy throughout various power levels and RPM ranges. Plus, at the end of the day, more fricton disks = more torque capacity and therefore improved power transfer to the rear wheel. This is true whether the engine is stock, has bolt-on upgrades, or is an all-out high-HP build pumping out 200 lb-ft.
Two Sets of Clutch Springs
APEX uses 6 clutch springs in total, but each APEX clutch system is supplied with two different sets of springs. These differing spring rates, one stiffer and one softer, allows riders to tune their clutch system with a total of 3 spring rate combinations depending on the torque output of the engine and rider’s clutch feel preference.
Core Components
In addition to the Fixed-Pin hub, APEX is also supplied with a billet, hard-anodized pressure plate. These billet internal components, referred to as ‘Core’ components, help maximize durability through both the strength of the parts themselves and with their oil flow improving designs that increase oiling throughout the clutch. This helps keep the heat down and allows the entire clutch system to perform longer and more consistently.
Additional Hardware
At the end of the day, the details make the difference, and our basket sleeves are a perfect example of that. We should preface this by mention that APEX clutch systems for Harleys are available with or without a complementary clutch basket upgrade as well. Should you choose to keep your OEM basket, APEX is supplied with basket sleeves that simply slide in between the basket tangs and protect them from notching.
APEX will be available for a wide range of Harley-Davidson models powered by Twin Cam and Milwaukee-Eight (M8) big twin engines, covering year models from 2007 to current.
Learn more about Rekluse’s V-twin clutch technology at https://www.rekluse.com/v-twin/