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Clip-ons or handlebars?

Squidly McSmearstain

Squidly McSmearstain

Well-known member
Joined
Jul 26, 2006
Location
San Ramon
Moto(s)
2024 Triumple Speed Triple RS, KTM RC390
I have a 2009 Daytona 675 as a track bike. I keep it street legal, but 85% of the use it sees is on the track. I'd ride it on the street more, but I'm 44 and hate the ergonomics of the clip-ons (I have a Brutale as a street bike because the ergonomics are so much better for every day use).

I'm entertaining the idea of getting a track bike with handlebars.

I'm never going to be a racer. I do ~5 track days a year. I'm "flirting" with A group times. This means I can do a SLOW A group lap on occasion, but I'm generally at a relatively fast B group pace.

I'd love to get comments from folks who regularly track a bike with handlebars. Does the riding stance of the handlebars make the track day easier or more difficult or it doesn't make a difference? Do I lose anything by tracking a bike with handlebars? Do I gain anything by tracking a bike with handlebars.

What it boils down to is that I'd like to use my track bike on the street for occasional rides. I'd like to still improve my track riding and get comfortable with A group times (I think realistically I'm going to "top out" in the bottom 1/3 of the A group). I'm in my mid-forties and I can still "hump the tank", but if I don't lose anything by going to handlebars I'd like to know.

Thoughts?
 
The wise one will say you can do anything with a good set of handlebars and a Scotts damper :rolleyes :afm199
 
Go ahead and go with handlebars; you wont lose anything. Everything stays the same, except your hands are in a different spot. I ride an SV650 w/ handlebars and switch back and forth with my R6 throughout the day.
 
thedub said:
Go ahead and go with handlebars; you wont lose anything. Everything stays the same, except your hands are in a different spot. I ride an SV650 w/ handlebars and switch back and forth with my R6 throughout the day.
Click to expand...

So, no issues on front tire grip (weight on the front)? Do you notice any difference in effort or stamina between handlebars and clip-ons?

THANKS for the info!!
 
I had to start paying attention to getting my upper body lower when I took the bike with handlebars out. It definitely doesn't feel as natural on the track with the bars.

But it is great fun.

http://www.gotbluemilk.com/web140627/6/imagepages/image9.html


What's more the issue with the streetbike on the track is that, well, it's sprung for street. It's a little soft for the track. At my (moderate) speed, I don't GAF.
 
Squidly McSmearstain said:
So, no issues on front tire grip (weight on the front)? Do you notice any difference in effort or stamina between handlebars and clip-ons?

THANKS for the info!!
Click to expand...

No issues with front tire grip or weight on the front end. I don't really notice a difference with stamina because I don't have a problem riding the R6 for a 20 minute session or a 6 lap race. But, it is easier to ride because handlebars are wider than clip ons, giving you more leverage for counter steering and the handlebars give you nice solid platform to support yourself during braking.

Roadstergal said:
I had to start paying attention to getting my upper body lower when I took the bike with handlebars out. It definitely doesn't feel as natural on the track with the bars.

But it is great fun.
Click to expand...

That's true. You are going to feel like your hand is really close to your face at first. :laughing
 
Be prepared for Twitch-O-Matic steering for the first week or so, until you get acclimated to all that leverage you'll have on the front wheel. Love the bars on the Multistrada, they make street riding maneuvers a snap, even if I have to pay more attention during lanesplitting due to the (slightly) increased width. :ride
 
Ironic. I am 45 and I am going the opposite way on my Street Triple (adding Apex GP clip-ons). As a tall dude I find the upright bars are too short a reach to be comfortable in a tuck. I think this all comes down to preference and ergos.

Of course, maybe in a month I will be singing a different tune. Its been a decade since my only ride had clip-ons.:afm199
 
i guess its about preference but if you set up your clipons, rearsets and levers right that to me goes a lot further than rocking handlebars where its tricky to tuck, and adjusting the clipons a bit for the street might just do the trick?

edit: then again i'm only 25 and could care less about sitting on a torture rack all day in city traffic
 
go with whatever is the most comfortable and lets you move around the easiest
I have stock bars on both of the bikes I ride currently, but have had clipons on many others
 
Do you want to trade your 675 for my FZ-1? It has bars! :D

The reason I've kept it all these years is for that very reason. That and the low end torque they tuned the R1 engine down to with the Gen1. It's a GREAT mountain carver for any age but yet I wouldn't have a problem using it for a ride to get back home (Indiana) either. I already did an 1800 mile ride on it over 4 days to Utah and back for WSBK 2009 for example.

Every time I think it's time to trade it in, I go for a ride on it and something always makes me decide that I'm holding on to it. If something hits me at the right time and the right place I'll sell it. But... it's kind of a hard sell just because the Gen1 FZ-1 was just done so right. :teeth

In all seriousness though... it's not the bars that make the difference so much as confidence and comfort.
 
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Squidly McSmearstain said:
So, no issues on front tire grip (weight on the front)? Do you notice any difference in effort or stamina between handlebars and clip-ons?

THANKS for the info!!
Click to expand...

A couple things happen on the track. (For the record, Kevin Schwantz preferred bars not clipons)

1. You have to work harder to weight the front, as the bars place you further back.
2. Steering is much easier, thanks to the bars. The downside of this is that you need eggshell grip holding on the bars. The SLIGHTEST input is magnified much more than it would be on clipons. The result of this is that you may be wobbly as hell in the corners till you figure out the process.
3. Bars often hit windscreens or fairing stays if the bodywork had clipons. Don't expect a clean fit.
4. Often your cables will be too short for the bars.
5. :afm199
 
Squidly McSmearstain said:
I'd love to get comments from folks who regularly track a bike with handlebars. Does the riding stance of the handlebars make the track day easier or more difficult or it doesn't make a difference? Do I lose anything by tracking a bike with handlebars? Do I gain anything by tracking a bike with handlebars.
Click to expand...

I don't regularly track bikes with handlebars, but I have taken my BMW to the track. I've found that my BP makes handlebars somewhat uncomfortable.

If your are fairly agressive in your BP (tucking, hanging off, etc.) the handlebars tend to put your wrists at an odd angle, which reduces your control over the bike and increases wrist fatigue.

For track endurance, relaxation is the best thing you can focus on. I've run some marathon 80 minute track sessions in the past; learning to relax on the bike is key.
 
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