How much triple clamps are affecting front suspension

JMX82
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11/7/2019 11:58pm Edited Date/Time 11/12/2019 7:41am
My KTM forks (WP CC forks) have always been suffering from harshness over smaller bumps. After I watched this video my mind was blown how huge effect triple clamps have on front suspension. Is it even possible to make KTM forks really good without changing triple clamps?

https://www.facebook.com/alexenduroparts/videos/535436420352104/

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kb228
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11/8/2019 1:40am
Well we dont know what stock triple clamp was used. Like they said at the end, the stock one’s bores werent round while the xtrig one was.

I dont think that triple clamp is off of one of todays dirtbikes either. If there was that much stiction i dont think anyone would be running stock clamps.
JMX82
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11/8/2019 2:02am
To me it appears to be current stock KTM/Husqvarna clamp


aees
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11/8/2019 3:46am
kb228 wrote:
Well we dont know what stock triple clamp was used. Like they said at the end, the stock one’s bores werent round while the xtrig one...
Well we dont know what stock triple clamp was used. Like they said at the end, the stock one’s bores werent round while the xtrig one was.

I dont think that triple clamp is off of one of todays dirtbikes either. If there was that much stiction i dont think anyone would be running stock clamps.
Ktm/husky and it was oem clamp. What he says is that it is round, until you tighten it and then it becomes oval since you tighten both bolts it in the same "end".

If it was not round untighten, the forks would not go up in the clamps. There is basically very very little margin and slightest degree of wrong angle it gets stuck.
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Motofinne
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11/8/2019 3:50am
The Xtrig design makes so much sense in every way. Can you feel it on the bike? Probably if you swap them back to back on the same day of riding.
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The Shop

CarlinoJoeVideo
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11/8/2019 6:27am
Very cool video. Probably the best video to show people how important it is to torque all your bolts correctly.
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aees
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11/8/2019 8:09am
Very cool video. Probably the best video to show people how important it is to torque all your bolts correctly.
Very cool video. Probably the best video to show people how important it is to torque all your bolts correctly.
And not even that helps according to the video 😄
kb228
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11/8/2019 8:40am
Very cool video. Probably the best video to show people how important it is to torque all your bolts correctly.
Very cool video. Probably the best video to show people how important it is to torque all your bolts correctly.
He only put 8ft lbs on the bolts. Thats not even tight. Iirc my kawi calls for 12-15
CarlinoJoeVideo
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11/8/2019 8:46am
Very cool video. Probably the best video to show people how important it is to torque all your bolts correctly.
Very cool video. Probably the best video to show people how important it is to torque all your bolts correctly.
kb228 wrote:
He only put 8ft lbs on the bolts. Thats not even tight. Iirc my kawi calls for 12-15
Crazy. I'd like to try this test myself with a few different clamps.
seth505
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11/8/2019 10:50am Edited Date/Time 11/8/2019 10:56am
Very cool video. Probably the best video to show people how important it is to torque all your bolts correctly.
Very cool video. Probably the best video to show people how important it is to torque all your bolts correctly.
kb228 wrote:
He only put 8ft lbs on the bolts. Thats not even tight. Iirc my kawi calls for 12-15
That's actually correct for a KTM.

Bottom clamp bolts = 8.9 ft/lb (12Nm)
Top clamp bolts 12.5 ft/lb. (17 Nm)
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kb228
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11/8/2019 2:05pm
Very cool video. Probably the best video to show people how important it is to torque all your bolts correctly.
Very cool video. Probably the best video to show people how important it is to torque all your bolts correctly.
kb228 wrote:
He only put 8ft lbs on the bolts. Thats not even tight. Iirc my kawi calls for 12-15
seth505 wrote:
That's actually correct for a KTM.

Bottom clamp bolts = 8.9 ft/lb (12Nm)
Top clamp bolts 12.5 ft/lb. (17 Nm)
Sheesh that makes it worse. Im going to have the forks on my kawi apart soon. Im for sure trying this to see if it happens.
seth505
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11/8/2019 3:14pm
kb228 wrote:
He only put 8ft lbs on the bolts. Thats not even tight. Iirc my kawi calls for 12-15
seth505 wrote:
That's actually correct for a KTM.

Bottom clamp bolts = 8.9 ft/lb (12Nm)
Top clamp bolts 12.5 ft/lb. (17 Nm)
kb228 wrote:
Sheesh that makes it worse. Im going to have the forks on my kawi apart soon. Im for sure trying this to see if it happens.
Makes me wanna try it as well. One thing I've noticed over the years is a lot of the stock cast clamps bind easy on the legs even when they are loosened and I'm trying to slide the legs out. I like the machined KTM clamps for that reason.

I have a set of stock cast clamps off an EXC-F and machined black SX-F clamps I put on the bike, I'd be interested to try the test with both of those as well.
cb477
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11/9/2019 5:28pm
I never really thought about it before... but out of all the bikes I've had, and all of them being sprung and valved by the same suspension guy every time, the bike I bought that had X-trig Rocs was the absolute best feeling bike by a long shot. I wonder if the clamps made that much of a difference or if the suspension guy really just hit the specs perfect. May have to get some of these for my current bike and see.
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2stmark
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11/10/2019 2:44am
JMX82 wrote:
My KTM forks (WP CC forks) have always been suffering from harshness over smaller bumps. After I watched this video my mind was blown how huge...
My KTM forks (WP CC forks) have always been suffering from harshness over smaller bumps. After I watched this video my mind was blown how huge effect triple clamps have on front suspension. Is it even possible to make KTM forks really good without changing triple clamps?

https://www.facebook.com/alexenduroparts/videos/535436420352104/

older Ktm lower clamps had a 3 bolt set-up
The performance trick was to remove the lower set of bolts
cmotodad
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11/11/2019 8:32pm
I have a 2017 CRF450. I ran across some Xtrig clamps that fit the Akit that has been on the bike. What a huge difference and much more consistent feel the clamps have made. Same offset and they make the suspension reaction so good. I'm sold.
Bruce372
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11/11/2019 9:34pm
Think about it, there are plenty of bikes with good suspension that dont run xtrig clamps...
T-Fish
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11/11/2019 10:25pm
The thing you guys are missing is the manner he tightened the OEM clamps. He went right to 12nm one on, then went to 12nm on the other, and back to the first and tightened, and back to the second again to finish it off. If he had set his wrench to 8nm and tightened them, then set it to 10nm and tightened them, and then finished them at 12nm, the binding wouldn’t have happened. The key is to keep them as equal as possible throughout the tightening process.
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Yz229
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11/11/2019 11:44pm Edited Date/Time 11/11/2019 11:47pm
On my YZ250 with Luxon clamps I run about 7.4ft lbs on upper bolts and 6ft lbs on lower bolts. Because of the Ti bolts and anti-seize you can run lower torque. The Luxon is a 1 lb lighter then OEM as well.

Was a little worried the low torque would be an issue and slip but Tevin Tapia raced my bike at Straight Rhythm with that low torque and nothing moved.

cmotodad
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11/12/2019 7:34am
I read the post as how much they change suspension. Don't remember reading anything about one being better than stock or another. I posted the results from the brand I used and nothing more.
aees
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11/12/2019 7:40am Edited Date/Time 11/12/2019 7:41am
T-Fish wrote:
The thing you guys are missing is the manner he tightened the OEM clamps. He went right to 12nm one on, then went to 12nm on...
The thing you guys are missing is the manner he tightened the OEM clamps. He went right to 12nm one on, then went to 12nm on the other, and back to the first and tightened, and back to the second again to finish it off. If he had set his wrench to 8nm and tightened them, then set it to 10nm and tightened them, and then finished them at 12nm, the binding wouldn’t have happened. The key is to keep them as equal as possible throughout the tightening process.
No it would not change anything. It would make a difference if they where opposite to each other.

It becomes oval horizontally, not vertically (edited)

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