Rear hub ? Asphalt riding

[Vinny]

I'm new to Gasagas ownership and dirt bikes in general.
Someone was telling me that riding on pavement could be bad for the engine on my '05 450 . Something about a rear hub w/ rubber gaskets taking some of the shock off regular bikes but not on dirt bikes.

Can someone elavorate on this? I dont want to harm the bike. I live in TX, so long rides to get to the trail cant be avoided.

Thanks

[Cruiser]

If your doing prolonged asphalt sections you would benefit from a Cush drive. If your street racing your rear is sliding enough it's not as bad an issue but chugging on highway can wear on your cs splines or crack a rear hub which I have done on a Ktm. The only down side is cost, may have to go to someone like woodys wheels to have one built.

[ggg]

If you ride your 450 on the road same as you do in the dirt then yes you will overtime do damage to your motor and rear hub, but unless your dumping the cluch reving it hard through the gears down shifting with out the clutch etc, you wont have a problem just be more conserative in general and all will be ok. i road ride my 08 450 without any issues its done 12,000k about 3,000k on ashfalt roads, if i where to road race it i would get another bike or atleast a cush drive hub.

[Qui-gon]

There is a cush drive on the back of the clutch basket depending on which clutch you have. It doesn't look like it is in the drive line from the parts list but that is not clear. T comprises of 8 rubbers, 8 rivets and a large plate which takes the rivets It is shown in the parts manual as a "silentblock rubber" and the rivets that pass through them are called "primary driven gear rivets". The plate is only shown as an assembly with the clutch basket.
The motard version which has the same engine and a rear wheel without a cush drive is designed for the asphalt so it must be ok.

[Cruiser]

Just keep an eye on your spokes, hub and CS splines,, these are what get damaged on the KTM 450's that run without.. I shattered a hub on my 625 rather quickly on the road and would personally not chance it.. but on that bike the cush drive was easy as just ordering it.. It was a $400 wheel w/dirtstar rim, sprocket holder was extra,, had a total of $550 in the rear wheel.. But I also have $1K in my set of 17" sumo wheels.. which should be on my 450 in the next week or two just in case I can zip away to run down to Deals gap.. or at least someplace warmer than 18 degrees as a high...

[Vinny]

Thanks for all your answers. I'll look up "cush drive" and get my knowledge base up.

My bike does have a automatic cluth (revloc type)

I'll also make sure to take it easy on the road areas of my rides.

Thanks again
Vinny

[gasgasman]

Here is a sprocket that has a "cush drive" built into it.

http://www.kushsprockets.com/design

[Vinny]

Way cool sprockets. Might try one here soon. Price isnt bad ($ 70)