I have always had Yamaha's and I finally got a chance to ride a 2012 RMZ250 and was absolutely amazed at how good the bike turned, even with a really worn front tire compared to my 2006 YZ250. I have played around with fork height and sag and was satisfied with how my bike handled until I got to ride the RMZ.

I know it has a lot to do with the chasis, but would 22.5mm offset triple clamps help my bike turn better? It seems to do ok in deep ruts, but when it's a flat corner or only has a small rut, I tend to have the front slide out. I have gotten used to it and have just dealt with it because I figured all bikes were like that.... but now I realize they are not. Has anyone run 22.5mm offset clamps and have good feedback? I was having a hard time finding companies that make them for the YZ250, they seem to only make them for YZ450F, YZ250F, and YZ125. Do the 06-09 YZ450F clamps fit? I know I will loose some stability with the clamps but I am willing to loose that to improve turning.


Thanks

I have an 07' with RG3 22mm triple clamps. I personally can't tell you the difference because I bought the bike with them, and I have never ridden another 06+ YZ250. AND I haven't had the opportunity to hit the track yet.

I guess im not a lot of help, but just wanted to let you know that RG3 makes a 22mm for our bikes.

EDIT: linky
http://www.rg3suspen...pplications.php

It'll be difficult. I'm not a huge fan of the RMZ250 but the newer ones are some of the best turning bikes I've ever ridden in the past few years.

i_wheelie_longer, on 07 February 2012 - 03:03 AM, said:

The RM and RMZ have always been known for precise handling in terms of cornering (as opposed to straight-line high speed stability wihich the blue bike, on the other hand, is raved about). The Suzuki's are hailed for cut-throat cornering like how you wanted your knife to cut swiftly and precisely with ease. What more, you are comparing a 2012 Suzie that has undergone 5 chassis revision since Suzuki went for the aluminum frame against a 2006 2-stroke bike that hasn't seen any major modifications in years since. Try comparing that 2012 RMZ250 with a current model YZ125 instead and you would notice that the blue tiddler would even corner well than the Suzie.

Also, you might see some slight improvement in cornering with any 2008 and up YZ250 since Yamaha shortened the SSS fork by 4.0mm compared to your 2006 Yamie.

Asked Roland Cannon about 22.5mm offset. I believe he got the same offset for his 2006 YZ250. Also, on the other hand, Chad Reed's former 2003 and 2004 steel frame YZ250 were on 22.0mm offset. Roland might also have a knowledge about the 22.0's.

Goodluck and tell us about it by the way.... Thanks heaps!

i_wheelie_longer.

You might find this past thread useful about 22 and 22.5mm offsets?
http://www.thumperta...e-clamp-offset/

joshua_inigo, on 07 February 2012 - 07:14 AM, said:

Could a 06-07 have the same benefit as the 08 by adding a 4.0mm spacer between the triple clamp and lower handlebar clamps? Therefore allowing you to drop the forks an extra 4mm and not hit the handlebars. Yes your handlebars will now be 4mm higher then an 08+, but stock height as 06-07. Or a machine shop could easily open the lower handlebar clamps 4mm down and shave 4mm off the top of those lower handlebar clamps to give you the same handlebar height as the 08+.

Maybe this mod with 22-22.5mm triple clamps would be a nice improvement for the 06-07' bikes to put them to par with 08+. I guess this would be a inexpensive way to do it over switching forks. Just a thought.

You'll never make a YZ (or any other bike) turn like an RM. You'll also never make an RM have the stability or straight-line tracking of a YZ. The RMs have a very steep head angle that translates to super quick turning to the point of oversteer, but they suffer in rough areas and straights because of it. The YZ engineers sought more of a balance between turning and stability. Each design philosophy has it's advantages and disadvantages, you just have to decide which one is right for you. Personally, while I do love the way RMs turn, I hate the nervousness and lack of stability everywhere else on the track, it tends to be very tiring.

This is how I do it...

Well or like that

NICE!!!

Likewise,
but still I somehow prefer the YZ250 handling. When riding the RMYZ250 it is OK and Im happy too

I agree with Chokey. You are chasing your tail trying to make the yz250 into an rm. Plus, if you look at the Chad Reed era yz250 we are pretty much talking about, and complaining about supercross track handling. A person si far better off trading for an rm if thats what you truly desire. 22 or 22.5 clamps help, as does a good front tire..all the usual stuff like lowering the rear subframe Still, its no RM. You'll be thankful it is not an rm as soon as you top out in 3rd or 4th.

I always thought Honda had a great balance of steering and stability as it landed somewhere near an rm and a yz.

I also wish I woudl have had my forks modified before I changed th etriple clamp offset. I have a strong feeling the bike woudl have turned very well with properly set-up forks.

arnego2, on 07 February 2012 - 10:57 AM, said:

RM's are really really nice-looking! Hope Suzie continued to development them (sigh)....

It was the deal breaker for me back in 2008 when Suzie deactivated the development of its 2-stroke, that I went for the YZ250. I like the RM that much as I like the blue bike. Wouldn't mind owning one had the company continued to offer them at this side of the Pacific. I know in Europe they still produce them.

RCannon, on 07 February 2012 - 03:29 PM, said:

RCannon, isn't it that Chad, until now, raves about how he really loved the total package out of his Hall-of-Famer 2004 YZ250 that he couldn't comprehend why Yamaha wnt for the alum-frame?

That '04 YZed was on 22.0mm offset, isn't it?

blueripps, on 07 February 2012 - 07:55 AM, said:

Blueripps, the best resource person to ask about the difference between the '08 and up forks (4mm shorter) and the '06/'07 forks is none other than RCannon (Mr. Moderator). I believe that back in 2008 or 2009, Roland, who actually owns a 2006 YZ250, had a hand on 2008 speed-sensitive forks. He investigated them in detail, and he even mentioned that they are quite stiffer than the longer '06/'07 forks. I forgot however what he said about the difference in handling that the shorter forks offered compared to the previous SST.

Also, I never had any 2006 nor 2007 YZ250 to know what the differences were in between years compared to my 2008, if any, say in terms of the feel in handling. I went for the 2008 YZ250 coming straight from a DT175 and a 2004 YZ125 back then. I'm pretty much a pro-stock person, I ride them basically the way they are, except for some jetting adjustment.

By the way, Roland is also the guy to ask about the 22.0 and 22.5mm offset. He has the 22.5mm I believe. And he knows his stuff very very well....

My forks, the 06 vs 08 might not be a fair comparison. The 08's were set up to Smart Performance specs so its tough to say how much THAT helped vs the length difference. I suspect a lot since the old forks would be the same as the new forks if they were slid up 4mm in the triple clamp. Plus, the new forks has quite a bti less unsprung weight with a smaller caliper mount, shorter axle and smaller spacers. The handling did improve, but too many changes to say it was the new fork dimensions.

RCannon, on 07 February 2012 - 07:32 PM, said:

How good are the Smart Performance-modded forks, RC?

Is this the one that uses an ultra-lightweight oil aka VMK....?

Oh yes, i forgot to mention Blueripps ---- this is in reference to my previous post to you.

Other than my forks are 4mm shorter stock-wise, I also raised them up the triple-tree by 10mm. It improved the bike's turning abilities especially in tight hillclimbs that are also in off-camber orientations, tight switchbacks (or tight hairpins) where smaller turning radius is an advantage, and where deep ruts are everywhere.

But still, I fall victim to some of these ruts somehow as the trail sites here change features every so often developing more and more ruts in the process due to the high rainfall.

The smart performance forks are really, really good. I dont believe they use the VMK oil, though. I had them done a few years back. Del Taco comes to mind....

RCannon, on 08 February 2012 - 04:45 AM, said:

The only thing that prevents me from getting this mod is the 10,000 km distance to get the forks to the US mainland.... and back