Triumphrat

Kramocker · 01-03-2008

Hello fellow R.A.T brothers and sisters and Happy New Year to all. By now most of you have seen Thrux-ton-Up's post about adjustable clubman bars. TU was also kind enough to do the research and locate Mike Cook form American Cafe' Racers. It turns out that Mike has a shop in Chatsworth, CA, just about ten miles from my house. I contacted Mike and told him that I was interested in his bars but wasn't sure if I'd be comfortable with them or not. Mike asked what I rode and I told him. As fate would have it, he'd never seen his bars on a Bonnie, and was anxious to do so. Mike said that if I'd bring the Bonnie and allow him to photograph it with his bars installed that he's do the labor and let me take her for a spin before I decided to buy them. How could I pass? I met Mike and his girlfriend Sabrina at the shop. We sat and had a cupper and the very British Mr. Cook answered about a thousand questions. I got to see the pictures of the ACR Supermanx as it was being built. The man is an artist and a craftsman. There's only one of these in existence. The second one is being fabricated in his shop as we speak and I got to see it. Here's a link to the finished product: http://www.bikernet.com/bikebarn/Pag...sp?PageID=1388 Eventually we headed out to the garage, and mike began to remove the Bonnie's original bars in preparation for the ACR Adjustable Clubmans. Here's some pics for you...

Here's a link to the rest of the pics: http://s226.photobucket.com/albums/dd84/kramocker (did that work?)
We had to remove the right mirror and relocate the throttle cables in front of it instead if behind as the return of the throttle was somehow impeded. We also had to tweak the position of the brake line banjo fitting to avoid the brake line taking a sharp turn. The front turn signals are in the way. I'd like to go to smaller "bullet" style indicators. This will allow even more positions with the bars. I love 'em! Super comfy and endless variations of position. I'd also need to get some bar end caps or bar end mirrors as the old one's can not be refitted. These bars are not cheap at $150.00. Let me tell you why. These bars are hand made by Mike, one pair at time. The fit and finish is impeccable; as fine as any I've seen. Mike can make them for you in 1" or 7/8". If you want to contact Mike here's how:
Mike Cook
American Cafe Racers
9422 Irondale Ave
Chatsworth CA 91311
818 534 6838
americancaferacers@earthlink.net

Please note that I am not in any way affiliated with Mike Cook or ACR. I'm just a fan and I wanted to make sure that Bonnie lovers everywhere know how bitchen these bars are. Now if I can just get him to make some rearsets...thanks again Mike and Sabrina and Thrux-ton-up for making me aware

Cheers,

SK

robnobrakes · 01-03-2008

Good looking bars.

Bonafide · 01-03-2008

Roll up in the guy's shop/garage ... he installs the bars and allows you to try em before you buy em. That's rockin.

I'll get to see what they look like on Thrux-ton-up's T100 this weekend.

Cool write up Kram.

Thrux-ton-up · 01-03-2008

The T100 is getting new Sport Demons so I still can't get it out in the sun. But here is a shot showing the bars. Mike was a great guy to deal with on ebay, nice you got to try em out and see his shop! I road with the bars over the weekend and liked em, but feel I may need to trim about an inch per side for my best fit.

D9 · 01-03-2008

Great post, great story, good pics... & nice bars too....Mike sounds like one cool dude... WOW the supermanx is amazing!... the confluence of design & craftsmship at that level is mindboggling to say the least... definitely genius at work!

Cheers,

D9

ggRAT · 01-03-2008

John (Thrux-ton-up),
Did you have to "relocate the throttle cables" in front of the mirror as "Kramocker" did?
Would ACR bars that are 1" shorter eliminate the potential for that binding in your opinion?
GREG (ggRAT)

markbvt · 01-03-2008

Mike's a great guy. My friend Jesse and I helped him out a few years back with the ACR logo and website (now offline, unfortunately). If I ever make it out west I'll definitely need to swing by his shop and say hi, and maybe pick up a set of those clubmans for my Bonnie!

--mark

Thrux-ton-up · 01-03-2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by ggRAT

John (Thrux-ton-up),
Did you have to "relocate the throttle cables" in front of the mirror as "Kramocker" did?
Would ACR bars that are 1" shorter eliminate the potential for that binding in your opinion?
GREG (ggRAT)

Sorry no help here Greg - as the photo shows I ditched the right mirror long ago, I had no problems with any cables in a variety of positions I tried the bars at. But as my mirrors are bar ends - there would be no issues anyway.

ggRAT · 01-03-2008

I'm always looking for modifications that allow me to adjust the riding position to "fit" various riding situations. A good example for this need would be a leisurely 150 mile ride to the mountains with the bars in a more upright/standard position, then when in the mountains, adjust the bars to a lowered/forward position for the twisties.

The ACR Clubmans look like a good choice.

(Someday I hope to find a genius engineer to design pegs that would "flip" from a touring/standard position to an agressive/rearset position and then I'll have the UNIVERSAL bike.)

Kramocker · 01-03-2008

It appears that in my haste to post late night while still high on adrenaline after my ride; that I made an egregious error. I thanked Thrux-Ton-Up for finding Mike Cook. It was in fact fellow R.A.T. member Jon -Law from Omaha, Nebraska that did the research and found Mike Cook, ACR and the information that allowed me to contact Mike. I need to thank Jon-Law properly. If not for him my Wednesday night would have been far less bitchen and I'd still have tricycle bars on my creamsicle. THANK YOU JON-LAW!!!! I'd also like to add a thousand apologies as well.

Cheers,

SK