What exactly are you reffering to as cush drive? Are you talking about something in the hub/sprocket of the rear wheel or something in the clutch?
Gotta love Wikipedia. However, I was just trying to make sure that's what rimesy meant and not a clutch basket with cushions."A cush drive is a part of a motorcycle drive-train that is designed to reduce stress from high torque engines. A common design used by Honda, in particular on the VTR 1000F Superhawk is made of three major pieces: the wheel, the sprocket assembly, and the rubber damper. The wheel and the sprocket assembly fit together with five sections much like two hands woven together. In between the contact of the two assembly are rubber blocks. This makes it so the wheel and the sprocket have a dampening layer between them, and the rubber blocks reduce wear and fatigue of the metal assemblies" ~Wikipedia
The cush drive is not big and heavy. Just some rubber blocks in the rear wheel hub, isolating the rear sprocket drive torque from the wheel. That little bit of cushion makes life a little easier on the transmission when bikes are used on the street. Nice to have but not a must have.you do not need one. It's big, heavy, and not necessary on a 250lb bike...........
I have never had one on a SM bike.
I understand what it is. Set a KTM cush hub/sprocket/bushings next to a non-cush for the same bike............cush has more weight. The fixed gear is way less parts. More weight = rotating mass. I compared both options side by side.......:thumbup:The cush drive is not big and heavy. Just some rubber blocks in the rear wheel hub, isolating the rear sprocket drive torque from the wheel. That little bit of cushion makes life a little easier on the transmission when bikes are used on the street. Nice to have but not a must have.
Dirt bikes when used in the dirt don't need this cushion so much because traction in the dirt has some give.
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Here's a question: Are you just looking into buying a set of wheels and are trying to decide if you should buy a set that has cush drive?Do I really need a cush drive?
Bike is a KTM EXC450R
Manys thanks
Rob