Clip-ons - whats the best?

[alex.s]

So i'm in the market for a pair of clip-ons... i like the woodcraft because of the way they mount under the triple tree bracket with stock front fork heights, but i like the fact that the kitaco clipons are $120.
if you buy the kitaco's, you have to mount them on top with the triple tree brace lowered an inch, right? but lowering your front forks an inch or so is supposedly beneficial to handling? if it is i would think i would want to lower them regardless, which would mean there would be no sense paying more for the woodcrafts if i'm not going to use them for their advantage of mounting under the tripletree bracket.

what do you guys think? would anyone recommend NOT lowering the front and going with kitacos?

[DEXSPEED]

me personally i'm going w/ kitacos,i asked kkim about the pro's of lowering the front end an inch.i'm going for it!

[alex.s]

are there any con's to lowering?

[DEXSPEED]

the bike will be more sensitive to steering,if you are not comfortable w/ the bike,maybe dont do it yet.

[alex.s]

would the bike be more prone to wondering on things like metal grates? or just easier to dive in a turn? would i want to weight the bars if i lower it to add stability? would weighted bar ends make much of a difference anyway? or would i want to go all out on a damper?

[rockNroll]

Originally Posted by alex.s

are there any con's to lowering?

For some people, yes. The bike already sits too low and hard parts scrape too easy. I've already put rear sets on and hacked the kick stand mount... if I lowered the bike an inch I'd probably start dragging the body work

[DEXSPEED]

a damper makes more of a mechanical sense to work best.not sure about the grates and weights.

[rockNroll]

Originally Posted by alex.s

would the bike be more prone to wondering on things like metal grates? or just easier to dive in a turn? would i want to weight the bars if i lower it to add stability? would weighted bar ends make much of a difference anyway? or would i want to go all out on a damper?

Bar weights aren't gonna do much, they are there absorb vibration and I can't tell the difference between having them and not (I don't run weighted bar ends). The biggest thing that affects how your bike reacts on grates is the tires. Same bike ... a handfull on open-grate bridges with one tire and then not too bad with a different tire, it's just something motorcyclists have to deal with.

A steering damper looks trick... I want one! Get one if you like, but don't do what a lot of people do and expect it to fix things it isn't intended to fix.

[ztrack157]

Also you will not be lowering the top clamp an inch if you went with kitaco. The kitaco clamp is about an inch but some of the forks stick out of the top of the clamp in its stock position. The actual mount of lowering you'll be doing is closer to 10-14mm (I haven't measured lately).

[alex.s]

Ok... lets see if i get this straight...
lowering will make it dive faster with the cost of reduced ground clearance.
the clip-ons will help posturing (which contributes to better handling and weight distribution) and give a slightly torque'ier hold on the forks.
dampers are only really good for preventing tank-slappers and one-off rocks/jolts.
bar weights are basically useless in high-performance motoring. (comfort not being a factor in performance)

[ztrack157]

pretty much. The amount of reduced ground clearance is equal to the size of a finger nail.

[sixstring]

I've seen a 250 with clip-ons above the triple. From personal experience, I think the woodcraft ones sit ever so slightly down and forward.

I went for the woodcraft ones just because I got them for $140, and for $20 bucks I like the look of the bars under the clip ons. PLUS if you don't have to remove your triple if you ever wanted to mount under the handle bars

But for you, if you don't mind the look (or like the look of handle bars over the triple) and your on a tight budget, the KTC is a fine product and you can't go wrong with it.

[Mr_Pete]

Originally Posted by sixstring

I've seen a 250 with clip-ons above the triple. From personal experience, I think the woodcraft ones sit ever so slightly down and forward.

I went for the woodcraft ones just because I got them for $140, and for $20 bucks I like the look of the bars under the clip ons. PLUS if you don't have to remove your triple if you ever wanted to mount under the handle bars

But for you, if you don't mind the look (or like the look of handle bars over the triple) and your on a tight budget, the KTC is a fine product and you can't go wrong with it.

If you don't mind me asking, where'd you get the woodcrafts at for only $140? Thanks.

[sixstring]

Special price at a local shop

[jamesbernatchez]

I got the Woodcrafts for $162 shipped from a track/shop out in Cali. I can't remember the name off hand. They seemed like it was shipped directly from Woodcraft in Mass. I love them! Well worth the price IMO.

[Choter]

Do any of the clipons have anything preventing them from twisting if the bike falls over, the factory handlebars bolt in with two bolts and therefore cannot twist unless it breaks it off. I see all the clip-ons just clamp to the tubes or to the top of them where they come out so if they were hit im sure they would twist and let the bike smash real good on the ground. Also do clipons save any weight over the factory handlebars?

[alex.s]

the bars that bolt on to the clipons bend in the event they go down, not the clipons themselves... I would think you wouldn't want to bend your forks if your bike goes down, but rather have the damage contained to scratching some plastics and damaging your controls

[whylee]

I just installed the Vortex 37mm clip ons on my 09 track bike. They look and feel great. There is no problem with any interferance. There is plenty of room for adjustment. I may try the woodcraft sometime if I get a good deal on a set, but the vortex are great. I will post some pics soon.

[whylee]

A couple pics of the Vortex. I used the plastic hole plugs that go on the frame with a dab of silicon to cover the top of the clip on clamp, they fit perfect and gives it a finished look. Not that it really matters since im not painting the plastic so nothing really looks finished.

[mike_sema]

Originally Posted by Choter

Do any of the clipons have anything preventing them from twisting if the bike falls over, the factory handlebars bolt in with two bolts and therefore cannot twist unless it breaks it off. I see all the clip-ons just clamp to the tubes or to the top of them where they come out so if they were hit im sure they would twist and let the bike smash real good on the ground. Also do clipons save any weight over the factory handlebars?

the KTC clip-on's are a lot lighter then the stock bars, and I would think that you would want the clip-on's to snap or brake or twist in a fall so you do not damage your triple or forks. I have the Ktc and I like the look over the woodcraft and you cant beat the price, I also modded my stock bar ends to fit them as I can feel a difference with them on and off, I am 5'6 and have no problems reaching the bars, I have been on a few 300 mile+ rides with them in the twistys and wish I did this a long time ago. and you are not lowering the bike by much at all but you do feel the difference during turn in

[ninja250]

I like how those KTC looks a lot but I'm concerned about the down sweep. Why is that there? To lower the rider? Does it change the way the bike feels? I don't think the stock bars have a downward sweep like that?

In my experience with bicycles, changing he sweep of the handlebars can have dramatic effects?

[mike_sema]

Originally Posted by ninja250

I like how those KTC looks a lot but I'm concerned about the down sweep. Why is that there? To lower the rider? Does it change the way the bike feels? I don't think the stock bars have a downward sweep like that?

In my experience with bicycles, changing he sweep of the handlebars can have dramatic effects?

I do not have a negative effect with the ktc clip-on's at all most sport bike have this same sweep, it gives you a better position on the bike for a better feel of the road the bike and you can tuck in better , there is no clearance issue with them either.

[ninja250]

Sweet.
I think those are the ones I will get when the time comes.
Thanks man. They look great on your ride. =)
Dig your windscreen too.

[Betlog]

When you get a chance, can you show a side-profile of the whole bike as well as the clearance on full lock? Thanks! Your bike looks great.

Originally Posted by mike_sema

the KTC clip-on's are a lot lighter then the stock bars, and I would think that you would want the clip-on's to snap or brake or twist in a fall so you do not damage your triple or forks. I have the Ktc and I like the look over the woodcraft and you cant beat the price, I also modded my stock bar ends to fit them as I can feel a difference with them on and off, I am 5'6 and have no problems reaching the bars, I have been on a few 300 mile+ rides with them in the twistys and wish I did this a long time ago. and you are not lowering the bike by much at all but you do feel the difference during turn in

[mike_sema]

Originally Posted by Betlog

When you get a chance, can you show a side-profile of the whole bike as well as the clearance on full lock? Thanks! Your bike looks great.

sure

[mike_sema]

my bad for the bad pics

[mike_sema]

and thanks Whylee for the idea

[whylee]

Originally Posted by mike_sema

and thanks Whylee for the idea

Your welcome, those caps really make it look much better.

[mike_sema]

yes they do I have been looking around for something to put up there to cover the forks but just couldn't find anything I dident even think of the caps from the frame

[mike_sema]

hey whylee do you plan on puting a damper on your race bike

[whylee]

Originally Posted by mike_sema

hey whylee do you plan on puting a damper on your race bike

Yes I do, I just need to see what is out there for it.

[Choter]

can you put a picture to show how close to the tank they come at full lock. Those pictures only show the windscreen side, thanks!

[00v_Lucky]

Originally Posted by mike_sema

the KTC clip-on's are a lot lighter then the stock bars, and I would think that you would want the clip-on's to snap or brake or twist in a fall so you do not damage your triple or forks. I have the Ktc and I like the look over the woodcraft and you cant beat the price, I also modded my stock bar ends to fit them as I can feel a difference with them on and off, I am 5'6 and have no problems reaching the bars, I have been on a few 300 mile+ rides with them in the twistys and wish I did this a long time ago. and you are not lowering the bike by much at all but you do feel the difference during turn in

+1 I agree 100%. I wish this was the first mod I did on my motorcycle. The handling has improved drastically IMO. maybe it is because I have been riding with the stock bars for over a year

[alex.s]

So i've installed the woodcraft clipons and WOW what a difference! you really do feel stretched out a lot more than stock. one thing I wasn't expecting was how much wider your arms are compared to stock. i must say, i love it! these and the new woodcraft rearsets really make the ninjette feel much more secure leaning it over in turns, and the wider grip really makes side-to-side transitions much smoother and easier.
they were pretty easy to put together and install... getting them set just right probably took the longest, but probably didn't take longer than an hour including ride-test-time... total install time was a little under 2 hours.

[TmP]

Where can I get black KTCs?

[QuarterBoreNinja]

Originally Posted by TmP

Where can I get black KTCs?

http://www.sportisimoto-usa.com/accessories.php

[TmP]

Wow, they have a lot of neat stuff!!!

Ignition added to the list of must haves
14k here we go!

[KTRacing38]

Originally Posted by Mr_Pete

If you don't mind me asking, where'd you get the woodcrafts at for only $140? Thanks.

Bayside Performance has them on sale right now:

Bayside Performance USA

Bayside Performance Canada

[natek]

i think i've decided on the woodcraft set. jw if anyone has had problems with them hitting the fairings or windscreen or anything else.

[alex.s]

there's only about 1cm clearance when set correctly. if you don't setup your brake lines correctly they'll rub on the top