2001 KX 500 Top Triple Clamp Options??

[a109drvr]

Newbie here with a new (to me) 2001 KX 500.   Does anyone know which year KX125 or 250 top triple is an exact swap for the 2001 KX 500?  I want to get a new top triple clamp, preferably the Protaper P-3  http://www.protaper.com/p3uppertripleclamp.html.  Plenty of fore and aft adjustment and no rubber insert.

I searched and found this post:http://www.kxriders.com/forums/index.php/topic,1809.0.html
Timbowe said the 02 KX 250 triple needed shimming, but doesn't say what year his KX 5 was, I assume an '02.  hoopty said a stock 01KX250 fit his 01KX500 but I want to be sure before I spend $230-$240 on a triple and bar clamps. 

[hughes]

TimBowe has an 03-04 500. He will post you a reply. I see him here atleast daily. He is across the ocean.

[alan]

I think it is pretty much all the same till 04 or 05 when the Kx125-250 jumped 2 mm in diameter! That would require some machining to make it fit.

[Arigato]

You could stick with the stocker and buy just the bar mounts.  Then polish it all up and still get the custom look while saving some money.

[Timbowe]

I got the 01 kx250 ProTaper top clamp for mine. When I pulled the original off and looked at the underside of it, Kx250 was stamped on it. So i ordered it and fitted it up. Problem was when the bolts were screwed tight the clamp was not clamping tight. So down to my local engineering supply store and got a sheet of shimming material (metal) and cut up shims to fit around the top of the fork. Wedged the clamp open and fitted it to the forks. Bolted up sweet. Adjustable, solid mount with a high bend Pro taper handle bar. Much better for standing up a bit straighter. Nice mod!

[a109drvr]

You could stick with the stocker and buy just the bar mounts.  Then polish it all up and still get the custom look while saving some money.

I bought the Protaper mounts that fit the stock triple along with a CR-High bend bar.  Much better than the stock bar that came on the bike, but I want to move the bar farther forward and get rid of the rubber mounts.  The mounts I got only have one position, directly over the rubber cones.  Not really concerned about the looks.  But your'e right, I could polish the upper and lower clamp and have a lighter setup than anything aftermarket.  If I can't find  a triple with adjustable bar mounts that will fit I will get the aluminum cones to at least get rid of the rubber mounts.

[Arigato]

Scott's make bar mounts that can be adjusted forward of the mounting posts.

[Timbowe]

Pro Taper top clamp is adjustable fore and aft. Also has 3 different height riser mounts available. My clamp is for a 01/02 kx 250.

[Arigato]

If you want to get really fancy, Emig Racing makes a full set for the KX500 that are super trick!

[a109drvr]

Thanks for the help.  Looked at Scotts, BRP and Emig Racing websites.  Well I tried Emig Racing but the site isn't working up right now.  I think I'm going to follow Timbowe's lead and get the P-3 Protaper clamp since it has numerous position and height options.  Then I'll shim it or file some of the material from the mating surface where the bolts are so they clamp tight.

[Timbowe]

I too looked at the relieving some material from the screw area for a tighter fit. Then decided to go with the shimming idea instead. If material is taken from the clamping area it could lead to an thread alignment issue and weaken the strength of the clamp. The shim has worked a treat and it would be a shame to remove any of the nice black anodising.

[hughes]

O.K is there a way I could shim a top clamp from an 01 kx250 to fit my 87 500? I would need to measure but mine are 43mm or 46mm. What is the new 500's and what is the 01 kx250 measure at. Just thinking out loud.

[5dracing]

Hughes,

Since your thinking out loud. If you know a machinist they could make you a slip collar to go around the fork tube and inside the clamp. It could have a slit just like the triple clamp allowing it to tighten on the fork tube, or machine a collar that is a press fit (no slit) freeze fork tube heat collar and assemble, but this would not allow for easy removal.

[hughes]

I was thinking the same as you. But I think it would not be cost affective for me. That's alot of work for a machine shop to mill and turn down a collar. I may come up with something.

[alan]

I have been following this thread and I can't figure out where this piece goes on the bike? I wish someone would take a pic for me!  I have a small machine shop that I am in the process of moving from my store to my home shop and it will be up and running soon. Turning some kind of a collar out of 6060 T6 is a breeze, I can't imagine it taking over 15 minutes. If you wanted to cut a slit and drill and tap a bolt in it my take up to a hour.

Alan