By Danny Brault


The Product: RG3 Suspension Canada

The Weapon: Kawasaki KX250F

Online: www.rg3canada.com

About RG3 Canada: The RG3 Canada story began over a year ago when Suzuki OTSFF mechanic, Adam “Stu” Robinson, worked out a deal with RG3 USA to introduce their quality product and knowledge into the Canadian market. Robinson has an extensive background working with suspension. From his days at Machine Racing and Landing Gear Suspension (LGS), where he worked with top riders including Chuck Mesley, Kyle Keast, and Trever Hall, to his current position as Mitch Cooke’s spanner on OTSFF, to his experience tuning suspensions in snocross, Robinson has seen and done it all in the world of springs and shims.

Cost: It varies depending on the work and parts involved. For this project, Robinson set us up with a Smart Valve, which includes RG3’s compression pistons, oil and other intricate parts located inside the forks and shock. Robinson kept the stock springs as they’re designed for a rider of my weight/height. The cost of this package is $650.

RG3’s services: Triple clamps, linkages, Diamond Kit, Smart Valve, springs, pre-load rings, bar mounts, and steering stems.

Track Tested
I couldn’t wait to try out my new suspenders, and as soon as Purolator knocked at my door, I bolted on the forks and shock, checked the sag, and headed over to our secret Racer X Canada Test Facility. (Basically a whooped out corner track in a sand pit--real glamorous.) In stock form, a 250F works pretty well for my frame (150 lbs, 5’7”), so I wasn’t expecting any earth shattering improvements. Boy, was I surprised. The biggest improvement I noticed was how well the rear wheel tracked over the rough stuff. From deep, rolling sand whoops to more abrupt braking chop, the back end refused to kick or swap and would stick to the terra firma like white on rice.

Complimenting the shock’s action was a more confidence inspiring feel in the front end of the bike. While I always search for the smoothest lines  (my fitness level is on par with a supervisor at Burger King), it didn’t become such a priority with my new RG3 mods. Somehow, some way, I felt extremely confident on the bike and I had more assurance that it wouldn’t push through a rut, berm or do something silly. It’s a feeling that I honestly haven’t experienced too often on a motorcycle.

After racing an Ontario Provincial at Sand Del Lee, riding in Morden, Ste-Julie and Regina, and putting in some time at the Millar’s track and the FXR Ride Day in Manitoba, my impression hasn’t changed. In Morden, “Stu” modified the settings slightly to accommodate the harder packed tracks. He set the sag at 102 mm, high speed compression to 1 3/4 turns out, low speed compression to 20 clicks out, and the rebound to 15 out on the shock; the forks were set at 12 clicks on compression and the rebound to 15 clicks out. The bike continues to hold its line through the ruts, it’s plush over the small bumps, and is stiff enough to absorb hard landings from this B-class leaper. Actually, after Regina's performance, maybe I’m back to a C-class leaper. 

Verdict
While my suspension knowledge is limited (you’re only as good as you’ve tested), I definitely feel improvements with RG3 over stock. In stock form, the Kawi KX250F is a great bike--it turns, it’s stable, it’s comfortable, and it has a great motor. But thanks to the adjustments made to my suspension by RG3’s Adam Robinson, the bike is more suited to my riding style and size, and, most importantly, I feel more confident on the little thumper. And we all know how valuable confidence is in motocross!


Thanks to Jamie Conrad of Sturgess Cycle of Hamilton, Ontario for providing us with a bike for testing, and Adam Robinson of RG3 Canada for taking time out of his busy schedule to get’er set-up!

 RACER X Tested

The Weapon:
’07 Honda CRF 450R

The Product:
20mm offset RG3 Triple Clamps

Company:
RG3
Phone: (714) 630-0786
www.rg3suspension.com

Cost:
Pricing ranges from US$209 for upper clamps to US$599 for upper and lower set with stem, bearing and seal installed.

Test Rider:
Rob McCullough

Location:
North Carolina Motorsports Park
Chary Produce Farm
Chesterman’s Indoor MX Track

Duration:
Approximately 10 hours.

Experience:
I have used RG3 triple clamps on every bike I have ridden since ’03.

Installation:
Triple Clamps: 30 minutes with no special tools required.

Fit & Finish:
Expect perfection. Each and every RG3 product I have installed has fit as well as—if not better than—the OEM part it replaces. For test purposes, our triple clamps arrived with stem, bearing and seal already pre-assembled by RG3.

Track Tested:
(Please Note: For the ’07 CRF450, RG3 recommends a 20mm offset for optimum performance.  Please click on the following link or call RG3 at (714) 630-0786 for more information on your specific application. http://www.rg3suspension.com/products.php)

Having ridden/raced a Suzuki RM-Z450—which is arguably the best turning 450 on the planet—during the past two seasons, I immediately noticed the front end push/understeer associated with the stock ‘07 CRF450, which, although not as significant as earlier models, exists nonetheless.  Comparisons aside, the difference between the stock 24mm offset and our RG3 20mm offset clamps was evident as soon as I steered through the pits.

During my first test, I had ridden most of the morning with the stock clamps installed and, as soon as I hit the track with the RG3 clamps, I was impressed with how little effort it now took to get to the inside line (and hold the line) through corners. Improvement in a rider’s steering and feel when entering/exiting corners is another positive trait associated with the offset and patented four post design.

One concern that I commonly hear associated with offset triple clamps is the dreaded headshake and reduced stability at speed. In my opinion, for motocross, this is a non-issue with the RG3 clamps. I have tried the clamps in a wide variety of tracks/terrains and have found that the clamps improve cornering and handling traits without compromising stability.
 
I have been spending a fair amount of time riding in the tighter confines of Chesterman’s indoor track (http://chesterman.ca) and I am amazed at how nimble the bike equipped with the offset feels compared to the stock version. (As odd as it may sound, the bike even has a lighter feeling.)

For those of you who want only the upper clamp, advantages are primarily a reduction in vibration thereby lessening arm pump/fatigue and the patented four post design essentially eliminates bar twisting that is associated with the dual post designs offered by the majority of manufacturer’s. 

Summary:
With the vast improvements in cornering and handling, the 20mm offset RG3 triple clamp is a must-have for hard-core CRF450 owners. Finally, installing an RG3 upper clamp on your bike is a no brainer as the advantages associated with performance outweigh the cost—especially when you consider how interchangeable the clamps are between model years and their demand and resale value. 

Rating:
10

Special Thanks:
To Boris Levitsky of http://www.rg3suspension.com for his continued support throughout this review.