What do triple clamps do

[Jason]

I want to put a triple clamp on my bike but I don't know what they do! I would be putting it on for looks. I fancy one of the RG3 ones but they are expensive.
What do they do other than look good and are they worth there money?

[cowboyona426]

To be honest with you, I wouldn't waste the money on a whole clamp for your bike. You could buy just the bar mounts since the Honda clamps are already rubber mounted. The reason most people go to aftermarket triple clamps is so (1) they can use oversized bars like Pro Tapers and (2) because they want rubber mounted bars for less vibration. If you wanted to get really fancy, you could buy both upper and lower triple clamps and go with a different offset or something, but again that is unnecessary. If you only want to do it for "looks" you could either powdercoat or just spray paint your stock top clamp.

[HiG4s]

Most after market triple clamps for the CRF450 change the fork angle, making it a little steeper to give quicker cornering.

[cowboyona426]

HiG4s, he just sold the CRF and is getting a CR 250.

[MotoMan]

Yep Cowboy nailed it for the most part. Also especially in the case of the RG3's they are quite a bit stronger then the stock clamps, however most mortals don't need the extra strength.

[reborn_450]

Coolness!!!! The RG3s maybe a little stronger but all the other after market clamps are basically just for the coolness effect!!!! Unless of course your changing bar/mounting type like Cowboy mentioned.
I just bought a set of Applied Racing clamps (upper & lower) for 2 reasons. 1) Because they look really cool!! and 2) because I bought them with money I got for my birthday!

[MotoMan]

I had a set of Applied on my '95 a few years back, they make a nice clamp.

[CRacer]

I was thinking of getting a new top clamp as well. But I can't justify spending $150 on something just because it looks cool. Is it possibly to get adjustable bar mounts? I was also thinking of running renthal Fat bars and needed a clamp for that. Does anyone like the crossbar less handlebars?

[FFRacing11x]

Originally posted by HiG4s
Most after market triple clamps for the CRF450 change the fork angle, making it a little steeper to give quicker cornering.

Most aftermarket triple clamps for the CRF450 change the fork OFFSET, not rake. Changing offset does not steepen the fork angle, it among other things, changes trail.
Rake is the angle of the fork away from vertical toward the rider. Trail is the distance on the ground between a vertical line dropped straight down from the center of the wheel and a projection of the fork extended until it touches the ground. As the rake increases, the trail increases. The more rake, the more stable the handling.
Here is a pic of how offset is measured on a M/c with center axle forks. True offset is measured thru the axle center line. Why triple clamp manufacturers chose to advertise the offset of the clamp is beyond me.

Here is a pic of how Rake is measured.

[ddfh_4_life]

Uless your doing this, I doubt you need em...Btw, seths the man.

[MotoMan]

Yes, Seth is insane, no doubt there.


BTW FFR, good explaination!! :

[Yardpro393]

where did you get that pic of me???????????

[MotoMan]

LOL----------------> Yardpro.

[zoohoot393]

LOL YP!

Yeah FFR...thanks for the info.

[Woody_YZF]

I've always wondered the same thing, good info.

[Jason]

Thanks guys, I will have to think about it for the time being but that coolness thing is tempting!
It's alot of money but with christmas coming up hopefuly i will get mostly money (which i usally do) because they know I want stuff for my bike!

[Yardpro393]

i thought t clamps changed the fork angle.
thanks for shedding the light.

[FFRacing11x]

The adjustable clamps I have on my bike can adjust both offset and rake. I can move the upper and lower independently. By moving them equal amounts, I can change the offset or moving them unequally(is that a word?) it changes both offset and rake. My baseline is 58mm offset(most MXers are about 52-53) and 24.5 degrees rake(the Honda is 27 stock).

[Big Maico 393]

I put a set of the MX-tech tripple clamps on my KTM becuase they changed the off set from 20mm to a choice of 18mm or 16mm off set , This help the Big KTM turn much better. The MX-tech clamps have a cam'ed stearing stem & are the only clamps that use the same 4 choice's of bar placement the the stock clamps do.

[Jason]

I no this sounds a bit dumb but you can buy upper and lower clamps should you buy both of them.
thanks