Midwest Mountain Engineering Clever Lever Reviews

I was looking for a different clutch for my KTM since I like to use shorter two-finger unit. In my search I came across the Midwest Mountain Engineering (MME) "Clever Levers". I was very intrigued to read about the unique clutch lever design that MME uses. I suffer from carpal tunnel syndrome and have also had some issues with arm pump while riding trails that requires lots of clutch use. Their lever is touted as being engineered to reduce finger/hand fatigue and arm pump, so I figured that I had little to lose by giving it a shot.

I reviewed it on my off road bike which uses the same Magura clutch lever that the KTM 620, 640, 690, 950 and 990 Adventure bikes do.   

 
Product Overview
 
Midwest Mountain Engineering Clever Lever has a slightly wider and flatter lever finger profile for improved comfort and reduced blistering as well as being a true shorty lever designed for one or two finger use. Depending upon how you orient them on the handlebars, three finger operation is also possible.
 
The clutch lever uses a shorter pivot-to-pivot design to reduce pull by 50% by increasing the leverage applied to the hydraulic clutch master cylinder.  The levers are made from 6061 T6 billet aluminum while the clutch pivot bracket and hardware are stainless steel.  Both levers have AMA approved balls on the end and fit many off-road motorcycle models from KTM, Husaberg, and Husqvarna.  MME includes a one year warranty against defects and workmanship, but also have a customer satisfaction guarantee. The lever assemblies are manufactured in the USA. 
 
When I received the MME lever, I found them to be well built, the black anodized finish looks nice, and the length seemed to be correct for a purpose built two finger lever. All things considered, they are probably some of the nicest set of shorty levers that I've seen and I expect them to last.  While they are not folding levers that protect against breakage, their short length offers some protection itself and when run in conjunction with hand guards (as I do), I expect them to stand-up to typical bumps & bruises without too much issue.
 
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Installation
 
Installation of the levers is pretty straight forward.  The included installation and adjustment instructions for the clutch lever are well detailed. Installation only requires basic hand tools, but did use Loctite on the fasteners and the adjustment screws.
 
The clutch lever reuses the factory bushing and hardware. The clutch adjuster mechanism is built in and uses a 2mm Allen wrench for adjustment (not included). I have large hands and was able to easily dial in a position that felt correct for my use while allowing the proper clutch engagement.
 
 
Performance
 
For testing, I did a variety of riding that included some woods on a buddy's 100 acres property.  Much of this riding is "make your own trail" type riding, so the clutch received quite the workout. Out of the gate, I noticed a dramatic difference in clutch feel and action. There is simply noticeably less clutch pull required, with both levers operating positively and felt good in my fingers. The clutch lever also seems to have made feathering the power more precise and controllable, something that is pretty handy for more technical trails.
 
As mentioned earlier, I suffer from the symptoms of Carpel Tunnel and a bit of arm pump. While the MME lever didn't magically erase these issues, I did notice a reduction of pain and arm pump symptoms that allowed me to ride more comfortably for longer periods of time when compared to my stock lever. This alone is a big win in my book.
 
 
Pros  

• True two finger operation.
• Comfortable ergonomic design.
• Reduced clutch lever pull.
• Improved clutch feel and control.
• Made in the USA 

Cons  

• None found

Bottom-line
 
I'm very happy with the feel and performance of Midwest Mountain Engineering Clever Lever and it seem to lives up to the manufacturer's claims.  It is well built and offers benefits that I was not able to find with competitive units. Whether you're an arm pumper, someone that suffers from hand issues, or you simply want to ride longer & harder, I'd include these levers on your short list. I will definitely recommend them to my riding buddies.

I'm looking for a KTM 990 and will definitely be adding the MME clutch lever to it. 

http://www.midwestme.com/productinfo.html