What are the advantages of clip-on handlebars ?

mithun · 18th September 2006, 07:18

As of today, the Pulsars are having the most comfortable handle-bars among the mobikes in India. But even I've seen some guys swapping even the nice handles of Pulsars with clip-on handlebars !!!

After riding some bikes with clip-on handlebars, I've felt that it's nice for city-riding and it adds sportiness to the bike's character. It's quite uncomfortable for long rides(It's painful even for rides of 20 KM at a stretch) and the body aches are the by-product of the clip-on handlebars.

But even the new Pulsar DTS-Fi comes with clip-on handlebars !!! Is it just to add a sporty look to the bike ?

So what are the real advantages of clip-on handlebars ?

Also feel free to add any other cons which I had missed out...

iamkapilb · 18th September 2006, 09:19

First let me correct you. Its not just the handlebar that makes ride comfortable. Its the whole seating position comprising of foot-peg position, seat and the handlebar. Pulsar is having a bit sporty position which many find uncomfortable when compared to say Unicorn in long rides. Also the foot peg in pulsar is a bit too forward. Having said that i dont mean unicorn's seating is the best. It feels very very commuterish. If u can live with that fine. The best seating for long rides is Karizma's. Its very sporty yet awesomly comfortable.
Coming to your Clip-on question. It looks cool. If u have a fall and IF ur clip-ons are of good quality, only one will have to be replaced not the entire set. Thats all i can think of. Regarding the new 220cc from Bajaj, they say its got some damping mechanism which keeps the handle grip vibration free. So may be to implement that they have used clipons. Who knows, lets wait and see..

mithun · 22nd September 2006, 04:34

Quote:

Its not just the handlebar that makes ride comfortable. Its the whole seating position comprising of foot-peg position, seat and the handlebar.

But handle-bar has it's own role as far as handling & driving comfort is concerned in the case of bike and a lot depends on the handle-bar style !!!

Quote:

Pulsar is having a bit sporty position which many find uncomfortable when compared to say Unicorn in long rides.

I've only said that the handle-bar of Pulsar is more comfortable when compared to other Indian bikes.

I'm asking about the fuss related with clip-on handlebars...

mithun · 20th February 2010, 18:14

Will the handling improve(a little bit) if I fit a clip-on handlebar on my P150 v2 ? I feel that the Pulsar is too front heavy and that's good only for higher speeds.

I've heard that the clipons of new Pulsar 150 2010 is a direct fit on older P150s.

aargee · 20th February 2010, 19:39

Clip ons help you to lean more on the bike & distribute your body weight overall in the bike rather than sitting in at one place; other thing is that leaning gives you more aerodynamic position; next is overall length (the width from left to right) of handle bar is reduced, this affects your steering capability. Also, your weight on the handle bar becomes little more that your regular handle bars due to this; which in turns causes to put on little more effort that can be felt more on longer rides.

mithun · 28th February 2010, 10:48

aargee: Thanks for your advice !

Well, I've heard that clip-ons are not comfortable for long drives. Is there any 100% truth in that statement ?

Will clip-ons improve the slow speed handling of a bike when compared to a normal handle on the same bike ?

theMAG · 28th February 2010, 10:58

I had a clip-on 3-piece handlebar installed on by erstwhile CBZ. I liked the slight change in dynamics it effected in the "steering" of the bike at all speeds. I remember that its was more comfortable (to me) than the stock handlebar -which used to give me stiff elbows.

mithun · 28th February 2010, 11:52

Quote:

Originally Posted by theMAG

I had a clip-on 3-piece handlebar installed on by erstwhile CBZ. I liked the slight change in dynamics it effected in the "steering" of the bike at all speeds. I remember that its was more comfortable (to me) than the stock handlebar -which used to give me stiff elbows.

Thanks for the info !

But what about the long rides say about 25-30 KMS at a stretch ?

theMAG · 28th February 2010, 12:29

Quote:

Originally Posted by mithun

Thanks for the info !

But what about the long rides say about 25-30 KMS at a stretch ?

I used to ride it for 25-30 kms stretches almost daily for a total trip of 40-60 kms. I personally liked it. But I guess the comfort factor varies between people based on their height etc. I'm 5'11".

aargee · 1st March 2010, 12:08

Quote:

Originally Posted by mithun

Well, I've heard that clip-ons are not comfortable for long drives. Is there any 100% truth in that statement ?

Will clip-ons improve the slow speed handling of a bike when compared to a normal handle on the same bike ?

To an extend yes, they're not comfortable for very long distances; But again it depends on the bike's built; For instance, compare the clip ons with Apache & R15, the clip ons with R15 are less comfortable compared to RTR; this is an example that I'm trying to show where the bike's built depends on the comfort w.r.t comfort of clip ons. However, clip ons help reduce the vibrations to a great extend;

Also, remember, more the length of the regular clip ons, the better you'll be able to steer; Yes, the slow speed can be handled better due to the short length of its nature while increasing your effort on the slow speeds compared to the regular handle bars; hope you got the point.

Sheel · 1st March 2010, 14:41

advantages for me--

the riding position is more sporty and un-forgiving which helps me concentate

disadvantage-- tiring after ~200kms and you need a chai/pee break

mithun · 7th March 2010, 18:34

Thanks for everyone's advices !

How would you rate the overall comfort & quality of the new clip-ons of the 2010 Pulsar 150 ?

(Alok) · 9th March 2010, 20:34

Quote:

Originally Posted by theMAG

I had a clip-on 3-piece handlebar installed on by erstwhile CBZ.

MAG, Previously i heard only about 2 piece handle bars. What are 3 piece handle bars? Please provide some more details.

amit_purohit20 · 10th March 2010, 20:07

1)Clip on handle bars have one advantage to the rider that they can be adjusted for reach and handlebars cannot-They have to be changed.
2)Clip ons are light(if made of correct material as in superbikes) in weight.
3) I percieve that in an accident where only one clipon is damaged say Right hand side one so only that clipon can be replaced,not the same with a simple handlebar.

About vibrations,position other things can be all achieved in simple handlebars too.It has nothing to do with clip-ons.One can design a clipon and even a simple handlebar to have a sporty seating position.Nothing to do specific to a clip-on.
Its only that Indian bikes have clip-ons that give sporty riding position and so people think this has something to do with clip-ons.

aargee · 10th March 2010, 20:15

Quote:

Originally Posted by (Alok)

MAG, Previously i heard only about 2 piece handle bars. What are 3 piece handle bars? Please provide some more details.

What I assume from 3 piece are, 1 - the plate that seats on the front forks & 2 & 3 are the clip on handles.

18th September 2006, 07:18	#1
mithun BANNED Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Cochin Posts: 2,195 Thanked: 269 Times	What are the advantages of clip-on handlebars ? As of today, the Pulsars are having the most comfortable handle-bars among the mobikes in India. But even I've seen some guys swapping even the nice handles of Pulsars with clip-on handlebars !!! After riding some bikes with clip-on handlebars, I've felt that it's nice for city-riding and it adds sportiness to the bike's character. It's quite uncomfortable for long rides(It's painful even for rides of 20 KM at a stretch) and the body aches are the by-product of the clip-on handlebars. But even the new Pulsar DTS-Fi comes with clip-on handlebars !!! Is it just to add a sporty look to the bike ? So what are the real advantages of clip-on handlebars ? Also feel free to add any other cons which I had missed out...
	() Thanks

18th September 2006, 09:19	#2
iamkapilb BHPian Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Mumbai Posts: 93 Thanked: 9 Times	First let me correct you. Its not just the handlebar that makes ride comfortable. Its the whole seating position comprising of foot-peg position, seat and the handlebar. Pulsar is having a bit sporty position which many find uncomfortable when compared to say Unicorn in long rides. Also the foot peg in pulsar is a bit too forward. Having said that i dont mean unicorn's seating is the best. It feels very very commuterish. If u can live with that fine. The best seating for long rides is Karizma's. Its very sporty yet awesomly comfortable. Coming to your Clip-on question. It looks cool. If u have a fall and IF ur clip-ons are of good quality, only one will have to be replaced not the entire set. Thats all i can think of. Regarding the new 220cc from Bajaj, they say its got some damping mechanism which keeps the handle grip vibration free. So may be to implement that they have used clipons. Who knows, lets wait and see..
	() Thanks

20th February 2010, 18:14	#4
mithun BANNED Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Cochin Posts: 2,195 Thanked: 269 Times	Will the handling improve(a little bit) if I fit a clip-on handlebar on my P150 v2 ? I feel that the Pulsar is too front heavy and that's good only for higher speeds. I've heard that the clipons of new Pulsar 150 2010 is a direct fit on older P150s.
	() Thanks

20th February 2010, 19:39	#5
aargee Senior - BHPian Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: TSTN Posts: 6,358 Thanked: 10,077 Times	Clip ons help you to lean more on the bike & distribute your body weight overall in the bike rather than sitting in at one place; other thing is that leaning gives you more aerodynamic position; next is overall length (the width from left to right) of handle bar is reduced, this affects your steering capability. Also, your weight on the handle bar becomes little more that your regular handle bars due to this; which in turns causes to put on little more effort that can be felt more on longer rides.
	() Thanks

28th February 2010, 10:48	#6
mithun BANNED Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Cochin Posts: 2,195 Thanked: 269 Times	aargee: Thanks for your advice ! Well, I've heard that clip-ons are not comfortable for long drives. Is there any 100% truth in that statement ? Will clip-ons improve the slow speed handling of a bike when compared to a normal handle on the same bike ?
	() Thanks

28th February 2010, 10:58	#7
theMAG Distinguished - BHPian Join Date: May 2006 Location: Avon, CT Posts: 7,196 Thanked: 1,823 Times View My Garage	I had a clip-on 3-piece handlebar installed on by erstwhile CBZ. I liked the slight change in dynamics it effected in the "steering" of the bike at all speeds. I remember that its was more comfortable (to me) than the stock handlebar -which used to give me stiff elbows.
	() Thanks

1st March 2010, 14:41	#11
Sheel Team-BHP Support Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Purnea (Bihar) Posts: 10,016 Thanked: 15,147 Times View My Garage	advantages for me-- the riding position is more sporty and un-forgiving which helps me concentate disadvantage-- tiring after ~200kms and you need a chai/pee break
	() Thanks

7th March 2010, 18:34	#12
mithun BANNED Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Cochin Posts: 2,195 Thanked: 269 Times	Thanks for everyone's advices ! How would you rate the overall comfort & quality of the new clip-ons of the 2010 Pulsar 150 ?
	() Thanks

10th March 2010, 20:07	#14
amit_purohit20 BHPian Join Date: May 2006 Location: mumbai Posts: 705 Thanked: 1,006 Times	1)Clip on handle bars have one advantage to the rider that they can be adjusted for reach and handlebars cannot-They have to be changed. 2)Clip ons are light(if made of correct material as in superbikes) in weight. 3) I percieve that in an accident where only one clipon is damaged say Right hand side one so only that clipon can be replaced,not the same with a simple handlebar. About vibrations,position other things can be all achieved in simple handlebars too.It has nothing to do with clip-ons.One can design a clipon and even a simple handlebar to have a sporty seating position.Nothing to do specific to a clip-on. Its only that Indian bikes have clip-ons that give sporty riding position and so people think this has something to do with clip-ons.
	() Thanks