Clip ons

[tt_four]

So I gave some renthals about 400 miles worth of my time. I started to get used to them, and at times kinda likes them, but I put my old clipons back on this weekend, and way only able to go around the block twice before I called it quits for the night, but I was in heaven.

Anyone who's ever even had a thought about replacing your bars for lower clipons I fully recommend it. I knew that's what I used to prefer before, but I wanted to give the other bars a chance, but this one just feels so much more natural. Harley guys can't understand why you'd want to lean over on a motorcycle, and people with clipons can't understand why you'd want to ride a bike sitting straight up. It's like an outfielder always wondering why the shortstop is always crouched in the 'ready' position, and the shortstop wondering why the outfielder is always out there looking around picking his nose. Anyway, can't wait to actually go riding again with the old bars back on, and just wanted to throw that out there in case anyone had been considering it. I know we got a ton of new guys here this past week or two who were all asking about good mods. They made the bike feel much smaller and more manageable. Mine are even under the top triple, but you can slide the forks up an inch and put them on top of the triple if you're worried they'd be too low.

Also got that R6 shock on, no grinding necessary!

[tt_four]

Oh, and I've heard a couple people talk about replacing their 1/4 turn stock throttles with 1/5 turn sv650 throttles, especially when they use clipons because it's hard to turn your wrist that far with the lower bars. I didn't feel like buying another throttle tube just to try it, but when I had my throttle apart I glued a piece of ziptie, probably about 3/4 inch worth around the throttle tube where the cable rests. I didn't check it yet to see how much I increased the cable pull, but it definitely felt a little better. I didn't think it'd do much, but I think it actually made the bike feel a bit stronger.

[smaeda]

Cool. Just a question. Do you have to get different rearsets to match the lower position or is it fine to leave it where its at?  I'm considering clip-ons and didn't know if I had to raise the rear-sets for a more comfortable position.

[Eduardo]

I've always liked the idea of using clip ons, but being 6'2" I've thought I may be a bit too uncomfortable being so crouched over.

Any other tall riders have any experience using clip ons on the GS?

[tt_four]

I hear a lot of taller people saying they don't want to try clipons because they think it would be too cramped, even though all you're doing is moving the bars further away from your torso, both forward and down, so I would think it would be even better for someone who's tall. I don't so much think of it as 'crouched over' as I do 'leaning forward'. You've only got to crouch and tuck in if you want to, which I did with my other bars anyway, just awkwardly with my hands next to my shoulders.

I'm only 5'7, so don't take my word for it. I'm always just confused when people talk about not wanting clip ons for that reason. It feels smaller when I'm moving it around in my basement because the bars are lower and skinnier, but it's a little more stretched out when I'm on it. I still tend to lean forward with the dirtbike bars, the only difference is with the taller bars I have to keep my elbows poked out and my hands closer to my chest, especially if I am going over 60mph and want to actually lean into the wind instead of getting beaten by it.

You also have a better range of adjustability, you could get some that are slightly wider, and angle them even more forward to be more stretched out.

Smaeda: I think the normal footpegs are fine. I think they're tucked back a little further than they needed to be for the old bars I had, so they do fine with lower bars. I don't get to the edges of my tires, but if you do ride aggressively you could put some on for better ground clearance.

[tt_four]

Just a quick update after a quick 10 mile loops around town.... Those handlebars vibrate like crazy. I'll probably keep an eye out on ebay for some heavy bar weights that came off some random bike. The weight should help a little. The last bars I had on vibrated pretty well too, but it was subtle, and just enough to start to numb your hands after riding a while. These ones you could feel the first time I got up to 5k rpm, plus it feels so much more solid since my hands are right next to the forks and don't have the rubber bumpers between the top triples, or the length of the handlebars to dull it. Turns feel so much better now. There's barely even a concern when I'm taking a turn like there was with the dirtbike bars. The front end just feels so much more solid on the ground that there's not even a question about stability. It's a little harder to swerve around potholes and things like that as I'm now steering more with my body than my hands. It's fun using my weight to turn again, instead of just steering the bike all the time.

I'll have to try it for a little while before I decide if I like the bars under the triple clamps, or if I want to move them above. They're not too bad, and it's a good position for riding, but I do a lot of slower riding, and it may be a little more than I need, but I'll see how it goes.

Overall if I can get rid of some of that vibration I'll be set.

[black and silver twin]

Im 6ft tall and love my clip-ons over the tree, I hated them under the tree. I have stock rear sets which are comfortable even with the clip-ons but I do wish they were 1" up and back mainly for ground clearance (my boots have been getting worn fast lately.