Mine also takes off from a dead stop but you gotta feather the clutch out gently while keeping your rpm a little higher than a regular motorcycle... I don't know how long the clutch pads will last by slipping the clutch excessively like that but it will take off from a dead stop.
I did make my clutch much smoother and easier to control by using a roller instead of the typical mounting post under the carb and it made a Huge difference in both smoothness and controlability, even with a short clutch arm and a 2 finger lever...
here's my roller setup made out of angled mild steel and a screen door roller wheel from Home Depot... makes things way smoother... and total cost to build was under $10
And here's my lever cut short for 2 finger control... Don't mind the absense of an air filter, it's a new carb and the air filter adapter is still on order...
I'm also going to make my own clutch pads when this set wears out because I want something that'll grip better and wear longer as well as work in an oil bath so my gears will work smoother and quieter. So far my clutch pads have almost no wear on them so it might be some time before I need to make a set.
