Clubmans!

[CheetoPet]

My recent drop did a number on my front end.  Forks got straightened ok but the handlebars & throttle grip were still kinda pissed after getting drug though 15 er so feet of gravel. 




Figured now was as good a time as any to give a pair of clubman's a go.  Entire process took about an hour & a half, most was adjusting stuff once the swap was done tho.  The end result:





Previous bars had risers, I left them as other forum posts indicated bad things otherwise.  Plenty of tank clearance and no issues with the cables.  Took it for a short test drive, feels way more responsive now.  Only time will tell if my body will adjust the the new riding position.

[tt_four]

I'm going back to clipons this weekend too! The handling on a bike definitely feels much better with your weight on the front whee. I gave the normal bars a shot for my first 350 miles after not riding for a couple years, but I'm looking forward to going back. 

[tt_four]

What are your opinions on the drag bars now that you've tried the clubmans? I definitely thought of giving them a shot as something between the dirtbike bars I had , and the clipons. I really kinda like the moderate height of normal bars plus the extra width, but even though they look normal, the dirtbike bars on my bike feel like they're so high. I almost feel like I'm on a chopper, which makes me wonder how anyone can even ride a chopper.

[CheetoPet]

What are your opinions on the drag bars now that you've tried the clubmans? I definitely thought of giving them a shot as something between the dirtbike bars I had , and the clipons. I really kinda like the moderate height of normal bars plus the extra width, but even though they look normal, the dirtbike bars on my bike feel like they're so high. I almost feel like I'm on a chopper, which makes me wonder how anyone can even ride a chopper.

Was quite fond of the drag bars, I think they were kind of a happy medium between upright riding and what I've got now.  If / when I get tired of the current setup I'll prolly be inclined to lose the risers & try out the European's.  Pretty low rise and a pullback slightly less than the clubmans.

[tt_four]

I thought I was going to really like the dirtbike bars when I put them on, and I do like the extra width, but I definitely think some drag bars might be the way I go next time I want to try something different.

[scroggins5000]

Mine had bent bars too (from the PO), so I put on an extra set of black clubmans I had. I don't have risers, so the bars touch the black caps that sit on top of the fork tubes. Doesn't bother me too much though.

[drduimstra]

what kind of bars did you end up using?

[tt_four]

I don't have risers, so the bars touch the black caps that sit on top of the fork tubes. Doesn't bother me too much though.

You can also just pull those black caps out. They just press in by hand.

[lopee]

thats a serious bar angle, you need a wider set of clubmans or cut, slug and weld em'. ill get a pic of mine tomorrow.

[lopee]

ya know send em to me and ill weld em up with slugs, stretched 2", just like mine. you do the finish work( they wont be chrome no mo'). free of charge you pay shipping here and back

[tt_four]

It's not really the angle of the bars, it's just the angle he has them on there. I see people angle them that way pretty often, but I've never tried it to know if it's comfortable. If he pulled the bars back closer to the seat they'd be at more of a normal angle. He's the one riding them though, so it all depends how he's comfortable.

[lopee]

i have those bars and thats as far back as they go. you need to stretch the center to have clearance for the forks so that they imitate clip-ons below the triples, before there were clip-ons

like mine

[lopee]

heres another angle. i cut mine in half, put a 5/8" slug, 4" long with 7/8" bicycle bar section to fill. drilled 2 holes @ each end, 8 total, weld generously on properly angled but welds and in the holes, grind smooth (your job). just offering help when it starts to hurt your shoulders and neck. Free Labor!

 

[tt_four]

Gotcha, I just had to use some bicycle handlebar to extend my clipons in a similar fashion because they were too short. I just added some extra onto the ends, jammed another metal rod on the inside. Currently they're just jbwelded, but it's only an inch or so of extra bar so there's no real stress on it. Eventually I'll weld it together.

[CheetoPet]

heres another angle. i cut mine in half, put a 5/8" slug, 4" long with 7/8" bicycle bar section to fill. drilled 2 holes @ each end, 8 total, weld generously on properly angled but welds and in the holes, grind smooth (your job). just offering help when it starts to hurt your shoulders and neck. Free Labor!

I see what you mean, that makes a hell of a lot more sense than how I have mine.  PM me if yer serious & we'll figure something out, it would be most appreciated.

[GSXR Tony]

Your Clubmans are WAY too long for that bike!!

Take all the stuff back off them, mark an inch and half or two inches and cut off both ends, then put all the stuff back on-

Bet it feels like a damn dirtbike now-

Would feel/ride/ handle better with them narrower-
My bro just put the same exact Clubmans on his bike and I told him the same thing, he LOVES them now!!

Look at all the un-used bar space on the downward photo shot, you need to bring all that shaZam! in man!!!

[CheetoPet]

Your Clubmans are WAY too long for that bike!!

Take all the stuff back off them, mark an inch and half or two inches and cut off both ends, then put all the stuff back on-

Bet it feels like a damn dirtbike now-

Would feel/ride/ handle better with them narrower-
My bro just put the same exact Clubmans on his bike and I told him the same thing, he LOVES them now!!

Look at all the un-used bar space on the downward photo shot, you need to bring all that shaZam! in man!!!

Ha, I totally didn't notice that!!!  Prolly vibrate the mirrors less as well.

[tt_four]

Move the stuff in and try test riding it before you cut anything. I just put those bars on mine, and left about an inch and a half or so more than I needed on there. I'm gonna try them out before I cut them all the way just to see where I want them.

[lopee]

Move the stuff in and try test riding it before you cut anything. I just put those bars on mine, and left about an inch and a half or so more than I needed on there. I'm gonna try them out before I cut them all the way just to see where I want them.

+1, measure twice- cut once

[CheetoPet]

I took lopee up on his welding offer & he did an amazing job.  Life intervened for a bit but finally got them back on my bike.  I did a test fitting to figure out how much needs to come off the ends.  Bar ends just clear the tank, so no more dents will appear than already there.






Next step is to remove them, trim & paint.  I suppose I should find some bar ends as well at some point too.