How many of you have clip-ons on your bike???

How many of you like your clip-ons???

How many of you put clip-ons on and then took them back off again???

How are they for city driving???

Check out the Tarozzi units from Fast from the Past. I have tried the ultra cheap ones (basically a bar welded to a clamp), to the "standard" clip ons, but the best I've had are the Tarozzi's.

With the clip ons as high as I can get them, I can actually grip the tank with my legs and let go of the bars - so there isn't a lot of pressure on my wrists. I've tried to mount them lower, but can't travel long distances like that.

I have clip-ons on my race bike, but not on my street bike. Clip-ons on a street bike are a pain - uncomfortable for anything but the twisties, and not at all necessary for the kind of riding I do on the street. Big improvement for the track though.

No one ever listens to me on this subject, but seriously, don't waste your time installing clip-ons on your street bike. Too many freeways between home and the nice roads. It sucks to limit your travel range to 100 miles from home or so.

So for street use (that's really all I do) keep the stock handle bars on? How do the guys on the 600's feel as that's all they have is clip-ons???

I have clipons.  Works for me.  Rode a 400 mile day once.  Have done a few other 200+ mile days.  It's not torture for me, and I'm not so young anymore....  Really, I think it is what you get used to.  I rode a friend's FZ6 one day and by wrists hurt after 30 minutes!

It's a point of contention between myself and a few other members of the board. I've done 600 mile days with clip-ons - I just wouldn't recommend it. But to be honest, unless you try you won't know for sure whether or not you like it. There are a number of guys here who swear that clip-ons are the hot shaZam!. You might feel the same, you might not.

If you have a GS500E, the easiest swap is to install clubman bars. Will get you bar positioning similar to clip-ons, without as much hassle, and at a lower cost. Makes it easy to revert back, as well. With that said, they aren't as adjustable as clip-ons, and I've heard a few people say they don't like the position as much as with the clips.

You might also wait until you can find a set of the 89 clip-ons. Very popular here, so if you don't like em you could probably sell them at your cost.

Yeah trhe 89's are what I am looking for. I posted a WTB thread in the sale section so maybe some will come up for sale. do you have any burning???

Nope. I ran woodcrafts, but I didn't have to worry about the headlight bracket and I wanted something super agressive.

The OEM "clip-ons" come in 3 flavors or height/angle/sweep-back.
There is the 1989 model - sold world wide.
Then there is a model sold in Canada, Europe and elsewhere but not in the US. This fits the 30012+ larger tanks.
The third model only fits the 1989-2000 tanks due to more sweep-back of the bars (slaps larger tanks). They were sold in Europe but I do not know if elsewhere.

Many "purists" do not consider these "clip-ons" because they do not "clip on" to the forks. They do work fine and are quite comfortable. The hand position is only a little lower and forward compared to the stock type bars. You do lean forward more than with stock bars.

Katana and some other models in the 1980's had similar style bars which mounted to the top plate. In fact, some of the steel bars can even be used on the GS500 clip-ons. Top plates can't be interchanged because they mount different and there is different fork spacing.

I've been riding with them over a year - all types - though I do not have the 3rd type on any bike at present (got a shaZam! load of that type of bar clip!). They can be quite comfortable.

The 1989's:


The Non-USA ones that fit all tanks:


The Non-USA ones that fit only the 1989-2000 tanks:

Me riding with third type of "clipons" and i can say that they are enough comfortable to me. Cant say anything more because i didn't ride with other gs's with different handlebars..

I have fitted the Suburban Machinery SM2 bars and quiet like them. To me cornering feels so much more natural.
I haven't seen any of the factory type clip-ons in Australia. I'm interested to know if anyone has experienced both and how they compare. Cheers

Edit: To answer your question, I have the SM2 bars and recently Gimbel rear sets. I'm 6'2" and need the leg room. The rear sets suit the more aggressive position perfectly. It's a different bike and suits my purpose of zipping around town and weekend hills rides. I love it! It's not how I'd set it up for interstate touring though..
That's the beauty of customising the bike to suit you. Make it yours

I like the SM2 Bars too. They are easy to find( http://www.suburban-machinery.com/GS500F.htm) , and if you ever move to a SV650, it's a direct swap. Not the best bars on the interstate, but neither is the GS the best bike for the interstate. 

I have Pro-Taper SE CR High Bend dirtbike bars on my street bike. Best mod EVER.

The stock GSXR clips I have on the '96 don't seem like they'd be very fun to ride on the street with..

Well Thanks to one of our GSer's cobalta70 and advise from Adidas I found some Euro shorts on Ebay complete. I'm sure they won't be here until after Christmas but at least they are on there way.

I think while I am at it I will upgrade the front springs & oil weight as well.

Damn this little GS is turning out pretty sweet 

Like AdidasGuy says ~ not all clipons are the same, and the GS500 ones were a little different design than traditional clip-ons. One thing I found makes a real difference is the bar angle. Steeper angle down works better in a racing stance, while flatter angle is better for the open road.

I used to think Clip-Ons would be awesome on the GS500 until I sat on a real sportbike (my future bike - the CBR600RR) and realized it would be stupid and a waste of money to get Clip-Ons on the GS500. Here's why:

Tank positioning - The tank on a real sportbike is designed to help you get hunched over your handlebars, the gs500/gs500f tank isn't designed to do this.

Rake - The GS500/gs500f has a very relaxed rake closer to that of a cruiser/standard than it's GSXR cousin. I speculate that turning on a GS500/gs500f with clip-ons would be noticeably more difficult than it's sportbike cousin as well.

Clip-On Positioning - The available Clip-Ons for the GS500 series bikes are above-triple clip-ons similar to the ninja 250 series. These aren't real clip-ons and give you a really awkward wrist position when you've rode on a real sportbike and expect to be literally on top of your handlebars.


There is no functional purpose to clip-ons on the GS500 with it's pogo-stick suspension, budget quality parts, small tires, and small engine size. I've realized that putting clip-ons on this bike is akin to putting glue-on scoops on a civic.


Go with a more conservative handlebar choice like the superbike bars. They're a little more aggressive (and to me, more comfortable) than the stock bars. At 5' 9" ish the superbike bars help me line up with the windstream coming off the stock windscreen so it's not pushing my head back all the time.

Dear Doctor:

Have you been on a GS500 with the OEM "clip-ons"?
They are a totally different thing that what you find on the other bikes you mention.
The OEM's are not much different than stock bars in terms of hand position and body position. I urge you to check pas threads. I had a photo of me on Suzi and superimposed the outline of me ion Suzi with the OEM clip-ons. There is a little difference, but not that much.
When you speak of things, seems you're talking about crotch rockets. Not the same thing.

The OEM's look cool. Are VERY comfortable and a nice modification for a GS500. They were sold in Europe through 2000. Slightly more sporty riding position and a nice look. And so you don't consider them "real clip-ons". So what? Call them whatever you want. They're a different handle bar. There were Bandits, katanas and other bikes with similar types of handle bars.

Don't bash the OEM's until you have actually been on a GS500 with them.

You don't like the suspension? I guess you haven't upgraded the fork springs. You don't like the tires? Get a different bike or change the tires.

It is clear you hate the GS500 and don't belong here.

In fact, you speak pretty negatively about the GS500 so I suggest you get rid of your GS500 and get something you like.

Quote from: adidasguy on December 15, 2011, 12:21:04 AM
Dear Doctor:

Have you been on a GS500 with the OEM "clip-ons"?
They are a totally different thing that what you find on the other bikes you mention.
The OEM's are not much different than stock bars in terms of hand position and body position. I urge you to check pas threads. I had a photo of me on Suzi and superimposed the outline of me ion Suzi with the OEM clip-ons. There is a little difference, but not that much.
When you speak of things, seems you're talking about crotch rockets. Not the same thing.

The OEM's look cool. Are VERY comfortable and a nice modification for a GS500. They were sold in Europe through 2000. Slightly more sporty riding position and a nice look. And so you don't consider them "real clip-ons". So what? Call them whatever you want. They're a different handle bar. There were Bandits, katanas and other bikes with similar types of handle bars.

Don't bash the OEM's until you have actually been on a GS500 with them.

You don't like the suspension? I guess you haven't upgraded the fork springs. You don't like the tires? Get a different bike or change the tires.

It is clear you hate the GS500 and don't belong here.

In fact, you speak pretty negatively about the GS500 so I suggest you get rid of your GS500 and get something you like.

That's such a 15-year-old thing to say. The OEM clip-ons ARE NOT clip-ons. They're modular handlebars at best. Clip-ons CLIP ON to the forks (as the name implies) typically under the top triple to facilitate the maximum aggressive position the bike affords.

As for your shot at me -

I am going to upgrade as soon as I have the money and a buyer lined up for my motorcycle. I'm starting to think I'm the only one with a mind that isn't distorted enough to see the GS500 for what it is - a budget bike for new riders. I shouldn't have to put 2000 USD into a bike to get it to work good. I've spent $500 since I've got my bike to get it where I want it (no cat, no airbox, jetting PERFECTLY, yoshi exhaust, pod filters, new fuel lines, sport demon tires) and I refuse to pay any more. I'll deal with the pogostick suspension for a while until I can sell it this summer. I'm a fan of EFI, anyway. The sooner I can get rid of carbs for good - the better off I'll be. I'd rather not turn my bike into a glorified Honda Civic and ride it for what it is, enjoy it for what it is, and sell it to someone who will love it the same. I take meticulous care of my GS500, I ride it all the time, and I push it as far as it goes every single chance I get. I love my GS500, but I understand it's a budget motorcycle. Maybe you should view it the same way.


Sorry I hurt your feelings with reality.

Whatever. Read the past posts.
Who the f**k cares what you call them? I'm well aware of what the OEM's are and what the term "clip-on" means to some people.

If you recall from prior posts and I quote myself:

"Many "purists" do not consider these "clip-ons" because they do not "clip on" to the forks. They do work fine and are quite comfortable. The hand position is only a little lower and forward compared to the stock type bars. You do lean forward more than with stock bars."

You're too bent out of shape over semantics and clearly do not like the GS500 nor the OEM bars being referred to as "clip-ons". You've hijacked and ruined a good thread on the OEM bars with your silliness and petty beatching about nothing important other than your hatred of the GS500.

Whatever. I have no idea who stuffed a cob up your butt over this topic. I won't waste any more of my time on you.

PS: While you're at it, you better give a royal beeeeatch to the owners of this site because the main page refers to the 1989 "clip-ons".
"Did you know? In the USA the gs500 came with clip-on bars only in 1989"

Bazinga!   

-Jessie