GYTR Hydraulic Clutch Kit | Track Tested

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Price: $299.99

When Yamaha released information and photos about the 2023 YZ450 two years ago, we were honestly surprised to see a traditional cable-actuated clutch on the machine. As we delved deeper into the specs and details of the all-new machine, we learned that a bolt-on hydraulic system would be available from Yamaha’s accessory division, GYTR. At just under $300, the kit consists of a Magura master cylinder, a steel-braided hydraulic line, and the hydraulic slave and push rod that bolts in place of the stock parts in only a few minutes.

But why offer the hydraulic system as an accessory instead of equipping the machine with one, right off the dealership floor? Two words (or one name): Eli Tomac. It’s no secret that Tomac is a beast on a bike and extra hard on his clutch and that he uses it to modulate the power being put to the ground, rather than rolling off the throttle. Tomac has been vocal about his preference for clutch actuation systems, and we’ve heard that he insisted that the ’23 bike not come equipped with a hydro unit. Whatever the case: Yamaha riders have a choice, and going the hydraulic route is surprisingly affordable. Cooper Webb switched to the GYTR clutch a few rounds into the 2024 Supercross Championship, and he told us that it made a world of difference for him on the track.

Bolting the hydraulic clutch kit onto our YZ450F test bike took less than 20 minutes and we did it at the track in between motos for a true back-to-back comparison. Initially, we thought that the clutch pull at the lever was surprisingly firm, but after comparing it to our other 2024 test bikes with hydraulic clutches, we realized that it was firm only in comparison to the cable-actuated Works Connection Pro Perch assembly we had on our bike. The amount of disengagement the hydraulic system has is easy to adjust via the adjustment knob inside the base of the lever, which moves the lever closer or further away from the handlebar. The lever has 22 notches of adjustment, and we arrived at 10.

Photo by Ayden Greene

On the track, the performance of the GYTR Hydraulic Clutch Kit was apparent from the very first lap. Slipping the clutch to build RPMs and get the engine into the meat of the powerband is more controllable as the clutch engages more smoothly, without the grabby feel of the OEM system. This is especially appreciated in hard-packed conditions as the smoother power build-up has less of a tendency to break the rear wheel loose. Of all the current 450s the Yamaha has the biggest hit down low, and while some riders may enjoy this, the reality is that the manageability that the hydraulic clutch provides is better for many riders. 

Is there any instance where we prefer the more connected feel of a cable clutch? While the cable system offers a more precise feel on the starting line – engaging the clutch just enough to take the slack out of the chain – we found that we got better starts with the GYTR kit installed. Of course, this won’t ring true for all riders, but we are so happy with the hydro clutch that we’ll leave it installed on our bike all year!

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