I guess I would have to ride a bike (GS) with them first to understand it. I like the bars where they are!

The factory clip ons are heavy steel - not hollow aluminum like many after market ones. They also have heavy bar ends. Result? no more vibration than stock bars (which are also steel with heavy bar ends.) The material they're made from makes a difference. material of the grips also makes a difference.

OK so convince me. Why would I like them?

When I was in Idaho riding on the Salmon river on a stock GS500F I ran down every bike I came across and I am an old guy that will only push the speed limit by 5mph. Most people will slow down under the speed limit in tight corners. I just kept like cruise control and kept me speed and caught even GSXR's. I was laughing in the helmet to my self. Check Google Maps and see where I was riding. Chalis Idaho to Salmon Idaho on Hwy 93!

You won't like them. Stay with what you have. They're not for you.

OK then why do you say that? Expound?

Quote from: adidasguy on October 26, 2010, 10:29:35 PM
You won't like them. Stay with what you have. They're not for you.

oh! burned...

Quote from: 007brendan on October 26, 2010, 11:39:51 PM

Quote from: adidasguy on October 26, 2010, 10:29:35 PM
You won't like them. Stay with what you have. They're not for you.

oh! burned...

Don't incourage bad behavior. It makes you sound as immature as the comment.

The clipons I had were steel tubes, but they were still hollow, not solid. I don't think that was the main issue though. I think the biggest reason the stock clipons feel better than aftermarket clipons is because of those rubber bushings between the top triple and the handlebar clamps. My clipons were off of a CBR f1 and just clamped straight to the fork tubes so the vibrations went straight to my hands. On the stock clipons at least those vibrations have some rubber between the forks and my handlebars.

It all depends what kind of riding you're doing. If you're happy with the stock bars then just stick with them. It's no different than the fact that when I'm at work I put my feet up on the legs of my chair and usually lean forward with my elbows on the desk, while some people lean back with their feet sprawled out infront of them. Some people are just more comfortable in different positions. Aside from that, next time you're out going 70mph just easily take your hands and shake the bars back and forth. You'll feel how easy it is to upset the front end, and the whole bike will be wobbling. Clipons don't do that. You can try the same on most bikes with clipons and the front end won't move. Getting that extra weight over the handlebar just makes the handling that much more stable. If you usually ride on roads where your speeds are 50mph or lower, it really doesn't matter, but it's a bit easier to be more confident at higher speeds with the clipons.

Yeah the vibs can be a bit rough with fork tube mounted clipons. I solved a lot of that by filling mine with bb's, and then later adding foam grips.

Well, a couple of minutes with a hammer and my bar ends now fit 

Somthing else i noticed after driving around DC. Clipons are great for twisties, backroads and highway but not very good for the city.  The aggressive stance is not as confidence inspiring when darting through traffic

Quote from: JPFL8 on October 26, 2010, 07:25:31 PM
So does anyone have any 89 or European clipons that would fit an 05f that they are looking to sell?
Im not a huge fan of how the stock bars look and I would like to try a more aggressive lean.

You can buy just the risers and the 89 top plate and mod the 89 tubes. I had a set of those risers somewhere ... but no use asking me to search, I have a whole GS motor I have lost and cannot find in my garage, my van/trailer and my welders shop, a little clip on dont stand a chance.
Cool.
Buddha.

I mean if I rode my bike any significant distance I probably would not be looking at them at all but my commute to work is about 7 minutes/4 miles on winding country roads, so I think I could put them to good use without to many negatives. Besides that, i only ride my bike on fun rides in which I spend more time on winding roads looking for other winding roads that I have not ridden on yet.

Quote from: tt_four on October 27, 2010, 04:30:00 AMAside from that, next time you're out going 70mph just easily take your hands and shake the bars back and forth. You'll feel how easy it is to upset the front end, and the whole bike will be wobbling. Clipons don't do that. You can try the same on most bikes with clipons and the front end won't move. Getting that extra weight over the handlebar just makes the handling that much more stable. If you usually ride on roads where your speeds are 50mph or lower, it really doesn't matter, but it's a bit easier to be more confident at higher speeds with the clipons.

Yes, for typical street riding, handlebars provide better control over the bike than clip-ons. Why is that a bad thing?

Not on a GS. Really, except under very very few situations 89 clip on's trounce the 90-09 bars.
Some rare cases of wrist and upper back/neck issues I can see 89 clip on's not being ideal, however I'd then venture to guess they oughta give the euro style a try. The only bad part of an 89 clip on is the fact that they are hard to find. Euro is even worse.
And nothing ever comes close ... I made those things in my avatar, still if a 89 clip on showed up @ my door cold and wet I wont ever turn it away.
I made true clip on's too, and on my bikes they actually worked, unlike the ones I sold that people had swivel etc ... 89 clip on's beat them too.

89 clip on's are the Chuck Norris of GS handlebars. That is it.

Cool.
Buddha.

Quote from: burning1 on October 27, 2010, 01:37:55 PM


Yes, for typical street riding, handlebars provide better control over the bike than clip-ons. Why is that a bad thing?

I didn't say anything was a bad thing, just giving an example as to how clipons feel significantly more stable than upright handlebars. Upright bars are more comfortable, give you more leverage, and have some other benefits, but some people prefer stability and tossing their weight around a bike, instead of just sitting up and steering. I like both, it's just all preference.

Quote from: The Buddha on October 27, 2010, 07:01:22 AM

You can buy just the risers and the 89 top plate and mod the 89 tubes. I had a set of those risers somewhere ... but no use asking me to search, I have a whole GS motor I have lost and cannot find in my garage, my van/trailer and my welders shop, a little clip on dont stand a chance.
Cool.
Buddha.

So you get the 89 clip ons, bar risers and you bend the bars a little bit?

No ... 89 top plate, euro risers and 89 bars with grooves for the new risers.
It saves you on shipping the 10lb box from europe, its now down to a 3lb box. If you find risers by themsleves the ywill likely be cheaper too as they are not complete.
Cool.
Buddha.

Quote from: JPFL8 on October 27, 2010, 09:43:13 PM

Quote from: The Buddha on October 27, 2010, 07:01:22 AM

You can buy just the risers and the 89 top plate and mod the 89 tubes. I had a set of those risers somewhere ... but no use asking me to search, I have a whole GS motor I have lost and cannot find in my garage, my van/trailer and my welders shop, a little clip on dont stand a chance.
Cool.
Buddha.

So you get the 89 clip ons, bar risers and you bend the bars a little bit?

Quote from: tt_four on October 27, 2010, 06:59:08 PMI didn't say anything was a bad thing, just giving an example as to how clipons feel significantly more stable than upright handlebars. Upright bars are more comfortable, give you more leverage, and have some other benefits, but some people prefer stability and tossing their weight around a bike, instead of just sitting up and steering. I like both, it's just all preference.

* Nods...

What I've noticed about clip-ons is that they provide much better wrist angle and leverage when I'm hanging off and really tucking in. For more common street body positions, the leverage just isn't there. Sure, the bike feels stable, but IMO it's akin to trying to steer your bike by grabbing the handlebars closer to the triple clamp.

Don't get me wrong, I've met people who are significantly more comfortable with clip-ons. This is especially true for riders with bad backs, where resting some weight on the front end helps to reduce pain.

my question is that.....whats the going rate for a set of 89 clipons? I'm in the progress of removing mine, switching to a standard bar. I found the clips to be to turned in for my liking, and wanted something a little wider. My clipon bars have been bent, drops by previous owners and one by myself so they may have to be replaced.

Quote from: burning1 on October 28, 2010, 02:47:12 PM


Don't get me wrong, I've met people who are significantly more comfortable with clip-ons. This is especially true for riders with bad backs, where resting some weight on the front end helps to reduce pain.

Heather likes them more on the GS because she thinks it makes the bike feel smaller. Size seems to be one of those things that's always based on opinion as well. I hear just as many tall people saying "I have long arms and can only use clipons" as I hear saying "I have long arms and can only use taller handlebars"