What Is it?  The NKN SFS (smooth feeling system) air triple clamp has tiny air shocks, with oil damping, hidden under the clamp to suspend the handlebar mounts. Ryan Dungey has been running the NKN SFS air triple clamps on his bike since the start of the 2014 Supercross season.

 

(1) Purpose. Historically there have only been three reasons why racers change their triple clamps. First, to switch to solid or rubber bar mounts. Second, to mount oversized bars. Third, to change the offset. Now there is a fourth reason—to add suspension travel to the handlebars for more comfort in the chop.

 

(2) System. The NK Neken SFS air triple clamps are totally unique. At first glance the NK top clamp looks conventional. But close examination reveals on Schrader valve on the side of the clamp. A closer look discloses that the steel threaded bar mount bolts have been replaced with miniature aluminum air shocks. The NK bar mounts have 10mm of adjustable suspension travel. You may have never heard of NK, but if you own a KTM you have been using NK triple clamps—NK is the acronym for Neken.

 

(3) Air pressure. The MXA wrecking crew tested with seven different riders, including Novices, Vets, Pros and factory stars (in fact, our NK clamps came off Ryan Dungey’s works bike). With each rider we would put 115 psi in the triple clamps so that the bars could not moved upon impact. After riding with this pressure, we lowered it to anywhere from 60 psi to 72 psi and sent the rider back out again. The difference between solid bars mounts, as imitated by the 115 psi, and the bar mounts with 10mm of travel was amazing. Every test rider loved the NK SFS triple clamps—and the factory rider went back to his team to get them to order five sets for the 2014 season. When checking air pressure in these clamps it is best to use the Works Connection Digital pump.  Do NOT use a bicycle pump. 

 

(4) Performance. The biggest surprise with the NK SFS triple clamps is how absorbent they were. We experimented with different air pressures and for fast riders or Supercross tracks we ran 75 psi, while slower riders or smoother tracks worked best at 65 psi. Amazingly most test riders reported not only less vibration and reduced chatter at the bars, but a more accurate feel in the front end because of the calmed-down steering response. Unlike handlebars that flex or rubber-mounted bar mounts, the SFS clamp combines the bars, clamps and air shocks into one unit. There is no rocking of the handlebars, no wiggling in the whoops and the bars move in unison as opposed to one side moving more than the other. Plus, the movement is adjustable via simple air pressure changes.

 

(5) Acronym. What does SFS stand for? We originally assumed that it would be some technical name like Statically Fluid Suspension or Secondary Fork System, but instead it was the rather pedestrian “Smooth Feeling System.” In a nice touch, NK etches torque specs and other important info onto the gold anodized clamp to help the end user.

 

MXA RATING

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Available for the following applications;

 

Honda: 20mm Offset - Red - 2010-2016 CRF250F, 09-16 CRF450F

Honda: 22mm Offset 2017 CRF450

Kawasaki: 23mm Offset - Blue - 2013-2014 KX250F, 06-14 KX450F

Suzuki:  21.5mm Offset - Red- 07-14 RMZ250/RMZ450

KTM: 22mm Offset - Orange - All KTM and 2014 Husaberg

Yamaha: 22mm Offset - Blue - 2012-2014 YZ250F/2010-2014 YZ450F

 

Retail:

$730.00 Top Only

$929 Top & Bottom