Connecting Clamp to turn your Hunter Cub into a real off-roader! Part 1

Different parts are standardly equipped for off-road as compared to the street. Among them are heel guards and chain guides, which can be considered essential for off-roading. These parts can also be installed on the Hunter Cub, which has a lot of off-road flavor, and ZETA's Connecting Clamp series is just the thing you need. By attaching a connecting clamp to the swingarm, heel guards, chain guides, and chain covers can be installed in any combination, and you can also use the stock drive chain case.

ZETA Connecting Clamp

A connecting clamp will allow the Hunter Cub to be fitted with heel guards and other components. The possibilities are endless, and all you have to do is simply attach them to the swingarm. By installing the clamp, the Hunter Cub can be used in a variety of situations from on-road to off-road. The complete Connecting Clamp series is available as a full set, or each part can be purchased separately.

Let's take a look at each of the parts one by one. First is the connecting clamp itself, which is the starting point of the series. You won't be able to do anything without this.

Installation is very easy. The only tool needed is a 5mm Allen wrench.

To make it easier to see, we've removed the pillion step, but of course it can be installed with them still attached. As you can see here, even fully equipped with the pillion step there is no interference.

The mounting itself is simply a matter of positioning and attaching the clamp by sandwiching the swingarm. Refer to the instruction manual for the mounting position. If you are going to install a heel guard or chain cover at the same time, it can be positioned appropriately by finding the right balance and fastening them together.

The ZETA logo which gives off an off-road feel and the beautiful aluminum molding make for a nice dress-up effect.

Connecting Clamp Chain Guide

The chain guide is a part that really screams off-road. When off-roading, the swingarm moves so much that the chain can actually come off. It's no laughing matter if the chain comes off while you're riding, so a chain guide is an essential off-road part. Some chain guides are shaped as a plate, but ZETA's is shaped to enclose the chain and cover all directions. There is also one more big advantage of equipping a chain guide; it can prevent your fingers and other objects from getting caught between the chain and sprocket during a fall. Since the sprocket is spinning it is very dangerous to get something caught in it. By protecting you from getting caught directly on the underside of the sprocket, chain guides help to avoid such situations.

The guide portion is made of resin and the part that comes in contact with the chain is contoured to minimize snagging when the chain moves up and down.

The back side uses insert nuts to minimize bolt protrusion. This type is not only safe but also easy to maintain.

The mounting position is on the underside of the connecting clamp. To attach it you will once again only need a 5mm Allen wrench.

I mentioned inserting the supplied collars when the connecting clamp is installed alone, all you need to do now is replace those collars with the chain guide.

After removing the bolts on the lower side of the connecting clamp, pull out the collars and insert the plate part of the chain guide to install it.

After attaching the plate part, the next step is to sandwich the chain with both sides of the guide part. The sides are connected by hollow aluminum shafts, so they can be easily split. Since they are made with high precision, they do not easily fall off, and the difficulty level is low.

Once the chain is clamped between the guide pieces, attach the aluminum piece on the back side.

All that remains is to fasten the backing piece with a 5mm Allen wrench. Since it uses insert nuts, it's super easy. Working near the chain your hands do tend to get dirty though, maybe I should have worn gloves.

The guide and chain do not interfere with each other under 1G conditions due to this perfect clearance. When the swingarm moves significantly during off-road riding, this guide will show you what it's worth.

Regarding safety, the chain guide reduces the chance of fingers getting caught in the sprocket. You might hit the chain, but it provides great protection to prevent the worst case scenario of getting caught in the sprocket.

To be continued in Part 2!