Triumphrat

RandyDTFR · 04-02-2006

So the Southbay Clip-on Removal Kit has been successfully removed. While at it, I also changed out the rear brake pads, the TOR exhaust for a set of Predators and gave the bike a well deserved cleaning.

As promised, I took photos of the operation (scroll down to the bottom of pg.6) then afterward a quick ride to make sure everything was in order :-)

My impressions:

- CRK removal vs stock setup;
Clip ons look MUCH better! The CRK is more comfortable, but for me changed the personality of the bike. I thought of it in a different manner... with the clip ons its different from most everything out there. With the handlebars it felt average. Still an enjoyable ride, but not special. I had a hard time overlooking it.

- Predators vs. TORs;
(Keep in mind I'm not a fan of the obnoxious cruiser type pipes) TORs were a big improvement over the stock sound of a farting goldfish. They were nice, but those days when my wife would ride along on her Staintune equipped Bonnie next to the TOR Thruxton I always felt the TORs didn't quite measure up. They were OK on their own, but next to her's the sound didn't match the Thruxtons attitude. Thats all changed now. Not wanting LOUD pipes, just something more befitting the Thrux I wasn't sure I'd like the Predators. No worries there! They are a bit louder, but the tone is spot-on for the style of the Thruxton - a hot rod Bonneville has arrived. I really didn't think I'd like them as much as the Staintunes, but for this application they are perfect. Very happy indeed :upthumb:

- EBC brake pads;
This was an easy job once I had the right size pads. That was the hard part. The first set I got from my favorite local shop (non-Triumph dealer). It was an honest mistake so no harm, but being anxious to get the job completed before the weekend I stopped at the nearest Triumph dealer (the one I really don't like) and four hours later I was home, with wrench in hand. I only rode about 10 miles and still have to give them time to seat in, but I'm happy so far.

Had I allowed the dealer to do these jobs I'd be looking at somewhere around $400 in labor. And I'd have missed out on the satisfaction which comes from doing the work myself.

Next on the list are front brake pads, new chain, fresh oil & filter and modified Napoleon bar end mirrors (modified to fit the Thrux).

'Till next time :chug:

~Randy DTFR
Ride safe!

Mancha · 04-02-2006

So watcha gonna do with the CRK? I have this fantasy of switching over to clubman handlebars.

milwaukeethrux · 04-02-2006

Hey good for you for tossing out those ape hangers and going back to the clip-ons!

FattRat · 04-02-2006

Though it's a personal preference thang....
I'm STOKED about my Flander's "Clubman" 1" bars!

I don't have a Thruxton, so I know nothing of the clip-ons. My standard Bonnie came with bars the could be mistaken for the mini ape-hangers on yer kid sister's pink bicycle. I personally thought they were a bit narrow.

I changed out to the M-bars as marketed by our vendors, and have been running them for thousands of miles. They look really sharp in Black..... But to angle them in such a fashion as I think they are to be used, put undue pressure on my hands/wrists/forearms. I eventually angled them almost literally parallel to the ground. The resulting wrist angle was all wrong, and prompted me to steer the bike like you would expect to have to do with a steering wheel.

I ordered the Clubman bars for my Bonnie, because they most closely resembled the bars I put on my Sprint RS with the aid of an LSL handlebar kit. Imagine my surprise when I held them up to the factory handlebars, and found them to be of a similar angle, albeit a little less radical. Whereas the M-bars were causing my back between the shoulder blades to spam, yesterdays 200 mile ride didn't have me stretching for relief until the end of the day. The Clubmans are the bomb! They have less of a rise than your sister's ape-hangers, so they put you in a position to take care of business if ya have to....

More interesting still...... upside-down factory bars with risers. I had my factory mini ape-hangers powder coated Black along my risers from newbonneville.com. To run upside-down factory bars, you gotta have risers, otherwise they will hit the gas tank, or the top of tubes. The look good! The angle and placement ain't bad either! I haven't ridden with them, as I chose to put my Clubmans on.....

RandyDTFR · 04-02-2006

Mancha;
Haven't given it much thought what I'll do with the kit. Right now its sitting quietly next to the toolbox. I almost started to change out to the clubman bars, but figured if I'm going to be taking the grips and stuff off, I might as well put the clipons back on.

milwaukeethrux;
Right on brother :upthumb:

FattRat;
I had the Flanders flat/wide bars on my bonnie and loved them. I later had plans to buy the clubman bars when Triumph released news of the Thruxton- the rest was history

These are very much personal things, and what works for one might not do it for another. Aint it cool?! :-D

~Randy DTFR
Ride safe!

[ This message was edited by: RandyDTFR on 2006-04-02 20:10 ]

Mancha · 04-02-2006

FattRat: I'd still love to see a pic of your bike with the Clubmans on.

Randy: That CRK is worth some money. I would offer you some for it, but some of the parts (the brake line, the handlebars) wouldn't be of much use to me.

I wonder if I could just have some extra holes drilled into the top of my triple clamp, and then throw on my own risers and Clubmans? Anyone know if a reason I couldn't do that?

FattRat · 04-02-2006

Though you can't see much, here is a couple pics of my newly installed Clubmans. The first was taken yesterday after a rather 'spirited' run on a narrow goat trail of a road to Lick Observatory. (the Black standard)

The second one is in my garage..... the flash helps, but the image is only meant to give you an idea.

[ This message was edited by: FattRat on 2006-04-03 08:02 ]

Mancha · 04-03-2006

Those don't look like clubman bars. Clubman bars, to my knowledge, have a dogleg in them, making them hook forward like horns:

05Truxter · 04-03-2006

Hey, I agree with Mancha, those aren't what I've thought clubman bars are... I'd call the bars you've got "superbike" bars. Doesn't really matter what they're called, they look cool.

I also swapped out my clip-ons. I put a few thousand miles on the bike, and never really got used to the stock clip-ons, and had been looking at the options. The need to make a modification was forced on me. In January, I dislocated and broke my wrist in two places and needed modifications of my own at the local operating table. I decided on the Helibars, just because it looked like the least amount of dicking around and would provide a good bit of rise so that there'd be less weight on my gimpy wrist. Overall, the installation wasn't bad, all the peices to the puzzle are included with the kit. I'm not crazy about the looks, but the riding position seems like it will work. I haven't been able to ride much yet beyond a couple trips around the block - my splint makes throttle control iffy! The pins come out of my wrist tomorrow and needless to say I'm ready to try the helibars on a longer ride.

mg · 04-03-2006

Thanks Randy,

Haven't been able to decide... keep the clip ons, move them above the triple clamp or go with a removal kit.

I like FatRat's Bonnie but to keep the feel of the Thruxton I think upside down Mbars might be the trick. My regrets to the member that posted this to his album, I can't remeber where I got it from. Sorry I can't give credit where credit is due.

Here's a pic