Want...need!

Is it a must to change the clutch cover gasket?

Might as well.
The gasket comes with the kit!

Just finished the install of the FactoryPro EVO K96 shift star kit this weekend, and rode it about 25 miles.

It does make a difference in shift feel on a 2nd gen. It just goes into gear easier and with less of a ham-footed boot kick to the lever. There is still a clunk when shifting into first gear...it may be slightly less pronounced with this installed, I can't be sure, but it is still there.

I do a lot of clutchless upshifts and downshifts on my bike by putting pressure on the shift lever with my toes, and rolling off the throttle just a degree or two, and the bike will basically suck the next gear in just like that. No manipulation of the clutch lever by my left hand at all. This works best when accelerating briskly and at mid-to-high RPMs. You will get an unpleasant jerk if done at low speeds/low RPM's or if too abrupt in the movements. Smooth and quick is the ticket.

This kit makes these types of shifts even faster and easier to do. Less distance needs to be traveled by the foot pedal (shift lever) to fully complete a gear change now, so it will certainly help with missed shifts as well. Take a look HERE at my thread, on page 3 about halfway down I posted a really good side-by-side comparison shot of the OEM star next to the K96 star. You can easily see the differences.

Overall, yes I recommend this mod. Especially if you have trouble with shifting....bulky boots or whatever. I would suggest doing this with a clutch mod install at the same time, or a clutch rebuild, I wouldn't have installed this star on it's own with no other reason to open the crankcase, but I was already going to be in there...2 birds 1 stone.

Great mod. For those of you who run Air Shifters, less psi to shift is required. I dropped from 120 to 105 psi. Of course Not everyone's setup will be the same. Also seemed quicker to shift as well. My current Ride is in need of this Mod. Great reminder. Cheers

Not arguing with anyone who has done the mod on a Gen 2 and noticed a positive difference and improvement.
But my 2012 stock shifting is so smooth already it's just not something I would consider or could justify.
Maybe I'm one of the lucky ones with a super smooth gearbox?
I don't know.
But just my opinion...

* Last updated by: yannih on 4/21/2015 @ 4:54 AM *

My 2014 gearbox now has 2200 on it and its just getting better and better. Once I got the hang of the up pressure on the shift lever, a very quick slight clutch in throttle off and its so sweet. just snick, snick thru the gears. Yes, I've done plenty of no clutch shifting, but the KHI engineers put that system there for a reason ...