Track Tested | Xtrig ROCS Pro Clamps

Track Tested | Xtrig ROCS Pro Clamps

Price: $899.99

Aftermarket triple clamps are an easy way to alter the way your motorcycle handles and feels in your hands, but oftentimes an aftermarket triple clamp can adversely affect the comfort of your ride, especially if they add rigidity and the amount of feedback that is transferred to the rider’s hands. Through the years, we’ve tested most aftermarket clamps and have included them on many of our project bike builds. If there is no desire to change the offset of our triple clamp for improved cornering characteristics, though, we’ve often stuck to the stock clamps because of their more forgiving feel. Simply installing an aftermarket billet aluminum triple clamp for the bling factor quite frankly is a waste of money and often one that comes at the expense of comfort.

Enter the Xtrig ROCS Triple Clamp. ROCS stands for “revolutionary opposing clamping system” and makes reference to the clamp’s split design at the pinch bolts on all ends of the top and bottom clamps. While a traditional triple clamp design (OEM included) can actually deform the outer fork tube and cause stiction if the bolts are over-tightened or not torqued properly, the ROCS design, which applies clamping pressure from opposite sides, is much less likely to cause such issues. Best of all, the split design of the clamp does not increase the rigidity or harshness of your bike’s front end over stock. 

The ROCS Pro clamp is the same as the standard ROCS clamp, but it has an adjustable steering head option, on the Kawasaki KX450 clamps the stem can be set at the standard 23mm offset or flipped around to a tighter 21mm offset for quicker cornering. Adjusting the offset requires only the removal of two Allen-head bolts that fasten the stem to the bottom clamp, and there is no need for a hydraulic press…only Loctite!

When it comes to adjustability, the ROCS and ROCS Pro clamp offer six different handlebar mount positions: three on the clamp, as well as reversible bar mounts that offer fore and aft positioning. Furthermore, Technical Touch offers several different Xtrig spacers that fit between the clamp and bar mount and can raise the bars for taller riders.

Another unique feature about the ROCS clamp system is the PDHS (progressive dampening handlebar system) bar mounts, which offer vibration and impact dampening by utilizing elastomer bumpers in the mounts themselves. While some OEM clamps employ rubber dampers where the bar mount bolts go through the clamps, this design can allow the handlebar to twist easily in the event of a tip-over crash. The PDHS system is far more effective, keeps the bars from twisting, and is adjustable via three different elastomer durometers.

Installing the Xtrig ROCS Pro clamps is simple and required only about 20 minutes, being meticulous. The steering stem comes set in the OEM 23mm setting, but we flipped it around to the tighter 21mm setting. We’ve been helping SGD Racing/Maxxis/Babbitt’s Kawasaki rider Alex Ray in his transition from yellow to green. While he’s been waiting for his team=-supplied bikes to arrive in California, Ray has been spinning laps aboard our 2020 Kawasaki KX450 test bike and getting a feel for the different bike. In stock condition, Ray was very impressed with the green machine’s power, stability, and feel, but was looking for a bit more front-end bite and cornering prowess. That said, we figured the 21mm setting would be ideal.

Alex Ray’s Impressions of the Xtrig ROCS Pro Clamp

“The Xtrig clamp is made very nicely and you can tell that it’s a high-quality part just taking them out of the box. At first, the installation process seemed like it might be complicated thanks to the adjustable steering stem and highly adjustable bar mounts, but once we began the process it turned out to be quite simple.

“On the track, there are several things about the Xtrig ROCS Pro clamp that I love, but I’ll start with the way they made the KX450 handle. In stock condition, the Kawasaki isn’t the best cornering bike, and it works best when steered with the throttle. The bike slides great and is very predictable, but smooth is the way to go in Supercross so I was looking for some better cornering manners. With the clamps set in the 21mm offset, the KX450 tips into corners much easier with a lot more front-end traction. Entering ruts, the bike leans over much easier and with more control, and it is much easier to navigate a rut at speed without the front end wanting to climb out of the rut. The bike now leans in nicely and predictably, and it inspires a lot of confidence. The downside to this is, of course, a loss of high-speed stability but in a Supercross application that is not a problem. 

“Comfort is another big plus about the Xtrig ROCS Pro clamp. The split pinch bolt design doesn’t add a lot of unwanted rigidity to the front end that a solid billet aluminum clamp would. The clamps I had to run on last year’s race bike was much more rigid than stock and transferred a ton of feedback to my hands. These Xtrig might be more forgiving than stock while maintaining a precise feel. The PDHS bar clamps have many different settings to choose from as far as positioning, height, and the elastomer dampeners. I like everything pretty standard and run the middle durometer elastomers. The way they clamp the bar allows for a noticeable amount of vibration dampening and the bike is super comfortable to ride. 

“All in all I am really happy with and impressed by the Xtrig ROCS Pro clamp; they make my bike work better and more comfortable, too.”

• Alex Ray #61