Im always reading that clip-ons give better handling and make it cheaper in event of an off, what I don’t get is how they don’t cost any less than say Suzuki standard handle bars infact thay cost a lot more so what am I missing?
They are just handle bars right?
Any info on the + and - of clip-ons is welcome
So really aftermarket clip-ons are more of a fashion statment as they have no real money saving benfits in day to day riding?
My great, great gran always said following fashion was exspensive and stupid, I guess she was right im stupid
Now which ones should I get im putting my bike back together and if I can afford a decent pair I might as well put them on now?
DA, the position of the bars is adjustable with race clip-ons, so typically you would lower them down the forks a tad to get a better race position, and also spray them out from the tank so you get more leverage to change direction.
I had some on my last 750 (Woodcraft) and loves them, but they don’t have bar-ends, so on rides over 100 miles, the vibration would numb my wrists at times. Great for the track, not so for a road-bike.
As Gareth has pointed out, they are great on race bikes. You do any damage to the bar its just a case of putting in a new one without having to remove the top yolk to do it all. It can save you bundles of time, something us racers don’t have a lot of. Same really applies on the road, if you bend one, you should only have to replace the bar itself and that will in turn either save time or money, even both. The less you have to remove from the bike, the better.
I hear what your saying chuffster, you also just told me I have to remove the top yoke to put the new handle bars on
thats gonna take ages and I’m no bike mechanic but I may give it ago.
Removing the yokes is something you only do once, and it’s very easy, just one big nut in the centre, and then pull it off by pulling one end at a time. To put it back on, use a rubber mallet, or improvise with a tea-towel and a hammer, hitting it in the centre, then when it’s mostly back in place, bolt-up and the nut should force it down the rest of the way.
DA, when I installed some Woodcraft clipons to my K5, I took some photos as shown below. I ended up not running them in the end as they were for the 750 and did not fit the thou properly, so had to remove them (rubbed the master-cylinder against the air-scoops), but the process is the same for any clipons really.
The only thing I haven’t included is how you get the left-hand grip off the OEM clipons and onto the new ones. My technique, and some have different ones, is to get a screwdriver and some WD40, prise the grip off the bar and squirt the WD40 at the top and bottom of the grip, then it should just wriggle off. The throttle grip doesn’t need to be removed as it sits onto the throttle control, which will just slide off when disassembled.
I just recived my new standard suzuki clip-on
man its light, it looks so much heavier and chunky when on the bike.
Firm Renthal grips needed methinks!
Okay im going to fit a new OEM clip-on after my hospital visit tomorrow anything else I need to know before I start?
I can’t think of anything off the top of my head. It can be fiddly, but you’ve just got to persevere. It’s the same principle as the above photos, i.e. detached, slide out, slide in, secure.
Thanks for the help Jay.
Jay what did you use to get that odd shaped bolt off???
Odd? The flower-shaped stem nut? A regular socket, big size, 20 I think?
Thanks Jay I realised it was a Standard nut size 32 
even though I covered the nut with a cloth it still managed to get scuffed when I put it back on… its no longer a sexy looking nut so im going to have to reorder another one!
Try turning it upside down. I did that once when not using the right size socket.
