Ride Engineering’s 2020 Suzuki RM-Z450 22mm offset triple clamps (stock is 21.5mm) are anodized black, are 4.5 ounces lighter than stock and grip the fork 12mm higher up than the stock clamp. The one-piece bar mounts feature 12mm posts instead of 10mm for much-needed additional strength. The bar mounts retain the stock height and can be adjusted plus or minus 3–5mm and 5-10mm spacers are available for bar-height adjustment. Finally, soft poly cones isolate the bar post from the triple clamps, which provide additional plushness for your hands. The clamps come equipped with a steering stem and a tapered bearing pressed on, so they are ready to install once you unbox them.
The Suzuki RM-Z450 doesn’t need much help through corners, but it does need a little help in between each corner. The stock RM-Z450 is a little rigid feeling, can get a little twitchy on de-cel bumps and give the rider some oversteer when trying to load the front end on flat corners. It needs a little more stability and less of a harsh feel around the track. This is where the 22mm Ride Engineering Triple Clamps and one-piece bar mounts come into play. The clamping zones where the Ride Engineering lower clamp grip the fork leg are 12mm higher than stock. What this does is provide a different fulcrum point that allows the fork to get some additional flex. What this does is translate the RM-Z450 into a slightly more forgiving ride without sacrificing the cornering characteristics.
The 22mm offset helps settle the RM-Z450 into area 1 of corners for me as well as my test riders. With the fork set at 5mm up in the clamp the RM-Z450 now drops into a rut without that off throttle front end wiggle and the RM-Z450 now has an increase in cornering stability. Cornering stability comes into play when the rut is hammered and chopped out. The 22mm clamps provide more comfort in those conditions slightly more and allows the Suzuki to settle better.
The adjustability of the bar mounts allows a wide range of riders the ability to dial in their cockpit area as well. For Ride Engineering weight savings and a more forgiving feel are always the goal and they seemed to accomplish this with this Suzuki set up. The Ride Engineering bar mount cones come in three durometers, which allow you to dial in the degree to which the bar mounts will give under loads. The softer the cone, the more movement you get, which increases comfort, but also can feel disconnected when you push into corners very hard. Naturally, some faster riders DO NOT like the bar mounts flexing and they prefer the stiffest of the bar mount cones, but I am more of a medium, more flex type of cone guy.
The Ride Engineering RM-Z450 triple clamps offer some real performance value ($549.99 clamps and $104.95 for the mounts) and are offered in a cool blue and black anodized look. An investment like this should offer some sort of performance advantage on the track, not just look pretty. The Ride Engineering clamps/mounts offer a change in the handling and to me it was mostly for the better. I say “mostly” because I did feel like the Ride Engineering clamps will fade if you leave your bike in the pits, under the sun too long. Make sure to cover up your front end with a towel so that the sun is not beating directly onto the clamps anodizing.
If you’re looking for more information on this product or have any questions please email me at kris@keeferinctesting.com.
