Share This Article
Tested/Written By: Victor Guerrero and Kris Keefer
INSTALL:
We followed the written directions that were provided by XC Gear and for the most part the directions were pretty straight forward. The aluminum cone inserts share the same flat side as the OEM rubber cones for proper orientation inside the stock triple clamp. We did use a small amount of blue loctite while installing the perch bolts to ensure they didn’t back out. We noticed that torque specs provided were for all the steps except for the perch bolts (bolt that holds the bar mount to the triple clamp). We decided to torque the M10 bolt to 29-foot pounds, which is a usual spec for most bar mounts. This is the same size bolt used in the X-Trig ROCS clamps while using the PHDS mounts hence where we got the 29ft torque numbers from. We installed green polymers for the handlebars and a blue polymer for the shark fin. The top mount has some easy to view windows to assure your bars are centered in the clamping area, which is a nice feature. One thing to note is bar mounts are approximately 6mm taller than stock OEM and you can no longer tie your bike down via the handle bars. Doing so will cause pre mature wear on the polymers per XC Gear. We like to run foam bar pads for protection in the event we run out of talent and possible sample the density of the foam with our face. If you want to keep your existing foam pad it might require a lot of time and patience as we used a multitool with a cutting blade to make enough room to clear the top mount. XC Gear does make a pad for these mounts, but this is something to note if you wanted to use your existing moto pad.
Testing:
The MAKO 360 claims reduced vibration reduction, why not try it on one of the bikes that vibrate the most so they went on the 2024 KX450. Once out on the track, our first impression was that we didn’t feel a huge change in vibration through the handlebars. At idle we felt a small amount of reduction in vibration but while riding there was not a significant difference in vibration over OEM mounts. At higher RPMs the KX450 has more vibration and the MAKO 360 mounts may help a small amount at higher RPM’s but it wasn’t huge. However, bump comfort through our hands had more forgiveness in the handlebars as well as slap down landings. The Mako mounts do help the feel/comfort of the front end on the KX450 but we just didn’t feel a huge change in vibration through our hands. I don’t know if I (Kris) personally like the looks of the mount but I am more of a function over fashion type of rider so I am not going to knock the looks of it that much. Just know that it is very different looking bar mount than anything else out there. The MAKO 360 mounts do weigh a little more than the stock mounts but they are stronger than the stock OEM for sure.
Pros:
- Bars did provided more comfort to the hands and arms, would likely benefit even more for long distance/time off road riders.
- Site window for bar alignment was a nice touch
Cons:
- Can’t tie bike down by the handlebars (not recommended from XC Gear)
- Bar pad fitment takes some shaping
- 6MM rise in bar mounts for this application so if you’re picky about bar height this may affect your bar of choice.
Conclusion:
The MAKO 360 bar mounts provide a positive feel in the hands and arms which can lead to less fatigue. In our test (at Glen Helen late afternoon) there was some relief in the hands and arms for our test riders. We may have had more vibration reduction with a softer polymer vs. what we were given for our speed and ability, however I don’t think we would want to go softer as we wouldn’t want to hurt positive cornering feel (connection from handlebars to front tire). We do think these would be a nice addition for the average rider doing long trail rides in the woods and or desert type riding. At $439.99-$529.99 this is a big commitment for the rider and is A LOT of money for a handlebar mount. If you’re looking for more comfort through your hands this is an option for you but just know that it your bank account will take a hit.
Weights:
Stock Bar Mounts: 15.4 ounces
MAKO 360: 29.3 ounces
