Fe450 on road. Do i need cush?

I would...not only helps trans parts, but also the countershaft teeth. I've seen a few countershafts stripped smooth of their spline because of dirt bikes to dual-sport bikes. That involves case splitting...and that is never cheap. You would think the inner spline on the C/S sprocket would be the items that goes bad, but, apparently these are harder material that the countershafts...interesting though: both countershafts that went bad, the customers both had pbi countershaft sprockets...one was a KTM 450 EXC (pre-street legal) the other a 525 EXC.

You will notice that all "real" dual-sport bikes have the cush hubs...when I say real, I mean NOT street legal dirt bikes like the KTM 450/525, Husky 510, 450, etc...these are really only Dirt Bikes that can be ridden on the street if need be.

Would a Cush-hub really be necessary on a bike that already has a dampened clutch basket?

I heard the new bikes have a cush clutch basket... But mine ('05) does not. I am a little paranoid about the pavement riding...so I take it easy. HOWEVER.... When the day comes that I can put together another set of wheels and put some cush in there...BABY...