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How timely, I just put clip-ons on my '05 just yesterday. I opted to go with the WoodCrafts which are race oriented and do not rise.
All I can say is WOW how this bi*ch handles and WOW I think I've broken my back!!
I've been struggling with this handlebar/clip on issue since I got the bike. for those of you who are not so limber anymore, are looking to ride for hours at a time, use the bike for commuting or any other stop and go, STICK WITH THE BARS. You just cant beat the utility and comfort.
for those who are still limber, already used to the sportbike reach and crouch, the WoodCrafts I have are really, really aggressive and mount below the triple clamp. So know that the stance is a commited ass up hands down so if your up for it, get the name of a good chiropracter.
It looks mean as hell! I'll post pictures in a day or so once I figure out how to post pics on this thing. I rode yesterday and today and my lower back is killing me but I'm smiling like a crazy man just out the nut-house.
I'm going to give it a chance and see if I can figure out how my body has to adjust to this new position but the 'feel' of the bike is somehow hightened, the handling is turned up a notch or two on this already fantastic handling bike, your weight is distributed differently and it really makes carving fun.
I must stress that I am in a seriously aggresive crouch. I chose the WoodCrafts because the fork clamps are two piece, meaning i didnt have to take off the triple clamp in order to install them, all in all it took me about 2-1/2 hours to do everything. and the turn from lock to lock has the bars and levers closely moving between the instrument bezel and the headlight housing maintaining free onobstructed movement.
Some months ago I attempted the same thing with a set of LSL's that have about a 1-1/2" risers but the bars and controls just couldnt clear the instrument housing, and because of their typically conventional design the triple clamp had to be removed to put them on so I had to take the bike to the dealer to do it and cost in labor alone to try putting them on, fitting the controls on deciding it wasnt going to work, taking them off and putting the original stuff back on cost me almost $500 in labor alone (the very cool guys gave me a break because of the lack of success and knocked $200 off the labor cost). This decision was a gamble on my part because there was/is no '05 speed triple clip-on solution they were aware of, so they had no fault in the lack of success at that initial attempt.
I have the flyscreen on my bike and wanted to see if I could keep it without it getting in the way of anything and I had to reshape the thin metal mount for the brake fluid reservouir to raise it and move it back so that it would clear the edge of the flyscreen. I dont have any sophisticated tools or anything so I had to bash the living hell out of if with a hammer and pliers to shape it (a photo will follow to show), but it now looks like a misshapen sorry piece of very abused metal but it works.
I believe 'SATO's' is also another a manufacturer of clip ons that are hinged so that those who dont have all the necessary tools to get into taking off the triple clamp and want to do the work themselves can give it a shot.
The woodcraft set costs $150, the SATO's I found were $250. I didnt end up using the bars supplied by Woodcraft because the ends are plugged with hard plastic and I wanted to use my CRG bar end mirrors so I used the bars from a set of LSL clip-ons I had from a prior purchase. No doubt I'm certain you can use drills/pliers/wrenches, etc to get the bar ends off butI had these already hollow ones available so I used them.
Streetfighter purists will tell you you've screwing with the spirit of the bike and the essence of what a streetfighter is all about, but truth be told I just dont fight that many streets and at the end of the day I just want what will make me happy.
It's not a perfect solution truth be told, I think I've killed my ability to go seeing the sights and easy riding for hours and hours at a time which is what I could do easily before. I need a aptly skilled ethnic type woman to give me massages at more frequent intervals than previously and I'm not itchin' for the 'happy ending', but like I said, once the road opens up it feels awesome and hell, I can always change my mind and undo things if needed.
If clip-ons are your thing, give em' a shot!
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