almost40
July 1st, 2009, 06:34 PM
I just finished my illegal first ride with my clip-ons and rearsets.(Illegal because my bike is stripped for the track) Ill start by saying, WOW what a difference. The clip-ons move the bars down and forward about an inch and a half each way. That combined with the rearsets, back 2 inches and up one. Make for a much more sporty position. I suspect if your a tall guy with long arms and legs you wont notice much of a difference.(tall guys tell me what you think) You will most likely not like the rearsets as it brings your knees up a bit. (Im short, 5' 7") I noticed the longer reach to the bars right away. That combined with the new foot peg position puts you up over the tank and in a much more race bike position. I liken it to my old ZX-6. Sporty, yet still comforable. Streched, but not too streched. I rode a few off-ramps and a twisty section near my home, and the new position allows me to get alot farther off the bike than before. I feel its eaiser to "attack" the corner in my newfound position. The woodcraft combo seems ideal for track use but not so ideal for those seeking everyday comfort. If you think the 250 sits too upright and doesnt have a sporty enough position then spend the $375 at Richards racebikerentals.com store and get yourself these 2 add ons. Theres a good DYI for the clip-ons (by Kkim the DYI master) and the rearsets are easy enough.
I no longer have a tail light, but Ive read here somewhere, that its not required to buy the rear tail light kit because you can just rebend the original spring to fit. Im sure this is true because I rebent mine and i can see it moves the switch. (Dont ask why I didnt just take all that off.) I only encountered 2 minor issues with these kits. 1) The rearset on my brake side didnt leave all that much clearance for the parts attached to clear the swingarm. Its the bolt that holds the brake lever on, (it was touching it barley) and the brake reservoir itself. ( it looked like it might hit if the rear suspension was compressed.) I put a 5/16 washer behind the rearset on each bolt to fix it. 2) I get a slight rub on the inside of the cowl plastic at full lock with the clip-ons (the clamp for the clip-on attached to the fork is what rubs.) I know this rub is because i have the clip-ons pushed down the fork about an inch. Its nothing serious just a wee bit of a rub that I can live with. Ill reserve final judgement on these 2 add ons until after my next Track day. If todays brief ride was any indication of things to come. I know Im gona love em.
For the record I did a vibration test. I rode to 80mph and coasted all the way down to 30mph. No handed and didnt see any vibration at all. I did NOT attach the original weights to the clip ons. They are, as they were shipped to me.
I no longer have a tail light, but Ive read here somewhere, that its not required to buy the rear tail light kit because you can just rebend the original spring to fit. Im sure this is true because I rebent mine and i can see it moves the switch. (Dont ask why I didnt just take all that off.) I only encountered 2 minor issues with these kits. 1) The rearset on my brake side didnt leave all that much clearance for the parts attached to clear the swingarm. Its the bolt that holds the brake lever on, (it was touching it barley) and the brake reservoir itself. ( it looked like it might hit if the rear suspension was compressed.) I put a 5/16 washer behind the rearset on each bolt to fix it. 2) I get a slight rub on the inside of the cowl plastic at full lock with the clip-ons (the clamp for the clip-on attached to the fork is what rubs.) I know this rub is because i have the clip-ons pushed down the fork about an inch. Its nothing serious just a wee bit of a rub that I can live with. Ill reserve final judgement on these 2 add ons until after my next Track day. If todays brief ride was any indication of things to come. I know Im gona love em.
For the record I did a vibration test. I rode to 80mph and coasted all the way down to 30mph. No handed and didnt see any vibration at all. I did NOT attach the original weights to the clip ons. They are, as they were shipped to me.