Triumphrat

rudebwoy85 · 04-30-2005

Hey y'all,
I'm wondering if any of you guys who have put clip-ons on your triple have pictures of yourselves actually riding your bikes with them on, not sitting but kinda in 'ride mode'.

I have an '05 and pretty frequently ride on the highway and find the only way I can tolerate my 40 minute 80-85 mph ride is to lay down on the tank. Granted that clip-ons are not inherently as comfortable as tall, wide flat bars, I'm really itching to get a set put on. When I'm laying on the tank, my forehead is virtually over the triple clamp and I have that 'tip of the spear' sensation being out there fairing-less which I dont mind at all.

I'm 6'-3" with slighly long arms so reaching comfortably wont be a problem but I've not been having too much luck with trying to visualize how I will look with standard clip-ons or risers. I do like the more aggresive look of the bike with clip-ons (as per Mbeebe900's pic), but am unsure if I would be better served by risers which will offer additional comfort over standard (i guess).

All in all, I'm looking for something visual that will help me make the right choice rather than throwing money away on a bad decision.

Also comments are welcome if you have some advise, any of you guys out there happy with your clip-on choice

[ This message was edited by: rudebwoy85 on 2005-04-30 13:33 ]

rudebwoy85 · 04-30-2005

Hey y'all,
I'm wondering if any of you guys who have put clip-ons on your triple have pictures of yourselves actually riding your bikes with them on, not sitting but kinda in 'ride mode'.

I have an '05 and pretty frequently ride on the highway and find the only way I can tolerate my 40 minute 80-85 mph ride is to lay down on the tank. Granted that clip-ons are not inherently as comfortable as tall, wide flat bars, I'm really itching to get a set put on. When I'm laying on the tank, my forehead is virtually over the triple clamp and I have that 'tip of the spear' sensation being out there fairing-less which I dont mind at all.

I'm 6'-3" with slighly long arms so reaching comfortably wont be a problem but I've not been having too much luck with trying to visualize how I will look with standard clip-ons or risers. I do like the more aggresive look of the bike with clip-ons (as per Mbeebe900's pic), but am unsure if I would be better served by risers which will offer additional comfort over standard (i guess).

All in all, I'm looking for something visual that will help me make the right choice rather than throwing money away on a bad decision.

Also comments are welcome if you have some advise, any of you guys out there happy with your clip-on choice

[ This message was edited by: rudebwoy85 on 2005-04-30 13:33 ]

bikeordie · 04-30-2005

hey man, i share your same problems. i'm an inch shorter than you but still feel the same on the long highway runs as you do. i am for sure interested in puttin some clipons on my bike however i havent yet and have no pics. however, my only concern is the deviation from what i love best about the S3 and that is how i can lean the ***** into turns... cant do the same with clipons...

if you end up getting them, give us all a full report and let us know how it handles! good luck!

bikeordie · 04-30-2005

hey man, i share your same problems. i'm an inch shorter than you but still feel the same on the long highway runs as you do. i am for sure interested in puttin some clipons on my bike however i havent yet and have no pics. however, my only concern is the deviation from what i love best about the S3 and that is how i can lean the ***** into turns... cant do the same with clipons...

if you end up getting them, give us all a full report and let us know how it handles! good luck!

04-30-2005

Hello I am also 6,3 and have clipons on my speed triple and I dont know if I am getting old (30) but they kill my arms and hands after about 20min on the bike. I think the the clipons put alot more wieght on your arms from being so far forward. They do make the bike look alot cooler and I dont think I will change back but they will hurt your arms. Plus its its a little harder to wheelie with your wieght forward. I will try to get my girl friend to take a pic of me on the bike so you can see.

04-30-2005

Hello I am also 6,3 and have clipons on my speed triple and I dont know if I am getting old (30) but they kill my arms and hands after about 20min on the bike. I think the the clipons put alot more wieght on your arms from being so far forward. They do make the bike look alot cooler and I dont think I will change back but they will hurt your arms. Plus its its a little harder to wheelie with your wieght forward. I will try to get my girl friend to take a pic of me on the bike so you can see.

SprinklerHead · 04-30-2005

Please post a pic. That one photo of the triple with the clip-ons looks really nice. Now I'm already thinking about pulling off my bars and getting clip-ons. I have about a 45 mile commute each way and I'm currently doing it on a GS500, the wind does get a bit old after awhile, I wouldn't go back to a full fairing bike, but lower bars does seem like a good option.

Anyone consider getting clubman style bars instead? Use the stock risers with lower angled bars like the old cafe's.

aikojo · 05-01-2005

Hey Rudebwoy

Wish I could help with a couple pics, but Im in the same boat as you. The long commutes have been rough lately and Clip-Ons look to be a promising fix. I talked to a couple manufactures of Clip-Ons the past week to see if they'll offer a Application for the Speed triple. I learned that the majority of the makers were not interested in producing a set for the 05 S3 right away and felt it would be better to wait to see if their was a large demand for the application. Cycle Cat on the other hand seemed to already have the S3 in mind and was glad to know 05 S3 owners are looking for Apps. for their Bikes. During the conversation to Cycle Cat I mentioned that if I lived closer I would be glad to lend them my bike for a week to help hurry development, and they seemed to be very interested except that I live 2600 miles away. So if anyones interested and lives in or near Columbus OH you might want to give them a ring.

link to Cycle Cat Connect
http://www.cyclecat.com/ccconnect01-01.htm

Rudebwoy yes your correct, the pic is of a CC Clip-On Kit.... THANKS!

rudebwoy85 · 05-01-2005

I was talking to a friend of mine about this delimma and he told me to stop my bitchin' if I wanted a wind-friendly sportbike I would've gotten a wind-friendly sportbike. He just doesnt quite get it.

The combination of all around high level capabilities offered by the S3, the insurance premium savings over a similarly displaced fair'ed sportbike are what makes us who have made the choice very satisfied over all with our decision on the bike. If much like many others, you can only justify having one bike, there are very few ideal choices that trump this one.

That being said, that godd*mn wind can be a b*tch, and the only way to minimize it's effect is to tuck-in. I like the look of the CycleCat kit aikojo displayed, they look like they will raise the height of the bars above the triple clamp, this looks like it'll offer some level of improved comfort over standard clip-ons that mount below the triple-clamp forcing you to lean forward and put even more weight on to your wrist.

I know heli-bars are also a choice, but I just cant find anyone that has a set for an '05 speed triple with the USD forks (52"), understandable because the bike is so new but all the other options I've seen other than the Woodcrafts require dropping the forks off the triple clamp to get them on meaning for me at least that this will have to be something I'll have to pay a more knowledgable mechanic to install for me, what do they charge now...$72 per hour. So at best it looks to hover around $450 or so for total costs.

[ This message was edited by: rudebwoy85 on 2005-05-12 17:12 ]

Agkistrodon · 05-02-2005

I have a 00 s3 that i bought with clip ons installed. I have not ridden one with handle bar so i have no comparison just ride input. when I first got the trip I thought it was a bit windy but as ive ridden it more it does not bother me so if its new to you give it time. That being said I can sort of tuck in with the clip ons to avoid wind. this bike is as good as any with clip's i've ridden and if your hands hurt your trying to hard. i did 295mi today with no pain numbness or complaints at all unless you count state troopers