Author Topic: Clubman bars....ouch ! (Read 1930 times)

1 Thump · « **on:** July 05, 2012, 09:30:59 PM »

I just installed the clubman bars on the bike......and ouch! my wrists hurt. I tried several combinations but in stop and go traffic there is just too much stress on the thumb side of the wrist, especially when using the clutch or front brake levers.

Lowering the bars to ensure a more square weight on the wrists results in another issue.... the instrument control clusters on both sides hit the tank which has increased the turning radius quiet a lot.

I put them on to reduce the wind drag but this is just too uncomfortable.

AgentX · « **Reply #1 on:** July 07, 2012, 03:21:18 AM »

Maybe one advantage of clip-ons over Ace bars...adjustability.

1 Thump · « **Reply #2 on:** July 08, 2012, 11:55:18 AM »

Absolutely. Clip ons would need casquette removal though. I am going to try drag bars next.

AgentX · « **Reply #3 on:** July 08, 2012, 01:23:18 PM »

Yeah...I like the sans casquette look myself.

The Thunderbird triple clamps available direct from India (and/or maybe through a dealer?) are a direct re-fit on the Bullet fork...perfect for clip ons. They might also be useful for drag bars, since they put the bar clamp in the more modern-conventional position atop the triple tree instead of behind it. Might help your reach if you were using drags. You'd need to fabricate gauge cups or some other sort of mount for speedo etc. with these. That's what I have done myself. There's also a top crown with a speedo mount built in which is also cheap direct from India.

Both, I think, are available from Hitchcock's at much greater expense. But what might also interest you most is the clubman bars someone here had which were higher and flatter than most. I think it was barenekd but can't swear to it.

Or adjustable clubmans??

http://www.rearsets.info/handlebars.html

barenekd · « **Reply #4 on:** July 08, 2012, 04:43:11 PM »

If you try drag bars or clip ons with the seat in a stock position, you will be very cramped up. The distance between the bars and seat is just too close. You need an estended tank and more rear set seat to make tose bars work. The clubman bars are the only way to get the reach out where you need it without the tank and seat expense.
You will need the fork stops to be shimmed to keep the bars out of the tank with any of those bar options.
Bare

AgentX · « **Reply #5 on:** July 08, 2012, 08:55:32 PM »

More than just the seat position is the leg position. I just don't get how people ride low front bars with the stock, chair-like seating position. Obviously it's working for some, but IMHO, rear-sets are a necessity.

barenekd · « **Reply #6 on:** July 09, 2012, 01:25:54 PM »

As you say, rear sets are rather handy when you want to get lower on the bike. I did ride mine for awhile with the clubman bars and stock footpegs until I found a set of rearsets. It wasn't the greatest, but my legs are short, so I wasn't too cramped up.
Bare

boggy · « **Reply #7 on:** July 10, 2012, 12:24:53 PM »

Thump, I bought a pair of clubmans from Dime City. They are flatter, with less pull back than the ace bars from Enfield (or the EMGO ace bars). They positively killed my wrists the first hour of riding. Pulling the clutch was torture. Thought it was a deal-breaker. I was really pissed after doing the work and because the look was exactly what I was after so I figured I'd give it a week. Took about 3 or 4 rides on the bike for my wrists to adjust. After that, no problem and I love the feel and position. I know that sounds insane, but that's just how it worked out for me. I've heard the more swept back ace bars are more comfortable than the clubman bars.

I don't have rear-sets but I'm not too large at 5'8"/165 pounds. I'm pretty comfortable... I don't feel to squashed or anything. An inch taller, or a slightly larger mid-section and I might. If I ate too much for lunch that day, sometimes I'll get cramped up - It's not a natural gas-passing posture

But I do enjoy the posture quite a bit.

On this topic, I wanted to try some low superbars or really low moto bars but they mount so far back from the forks. What I like about the ace/clubmans is that it puts the handles directly out from the fork. That's one huge reason I'd love to ditch the casquette and go with some moto-bars. Seeing them on folks RE's with the casquette on, they just look so far back. I want those bars right above the forks. I prefer a forward lean to an arm-chair position. I just don't know what the hell I'd do about that rats nest in the light.

1 Thump · « **Reply #8 on:** July 10, 2012, 03:00:03 PM »

Their website is a breeding ground for ideas. They got a ton of stuff.

AgentX · « **Reply #9 on:** July 12, 2012, 05:59:04 AM »

Quote from: boggy on July 10, 2012, 12:24:53 PM

Seeing them on folks RE's with the casquette on, they just look so far back. I want those bars right above the forks. I prefer a forward lean to an arm-chair position. I just don't know what the hell I'd do about that rats nest in the light.

Order the "thunderbird" model front end yokes from India...that's reason #1 I ditched the casquette. Bar position. #2 was the thought of swapping my street-tracker stance for racier clip-ons once I'm back Stateside someday.

AgentX · « **Reply #10 on:** July 12, 2012, 06:23:16 AM »

Quote from: barenekd on July 08, 2012, 04:43:11 PM

If you try drag bars or clip ons with the seat in a stock position, you will be very cramped up.

You can get forward offset clip-ons, though...

1 Thump · « **Reply #11 on:** August 06, 2012, 04:11:33 PM »

Put on the drag bars yesterday. Without any instrument controls (switches) mounted the bars just kiss the tank on a full turn. Once the switches are mounted they will definitely reduce turning radius but not as much as the ace bars did. So these are going to stay. I will try to get the vintage controls/switches. They look less bulky.

barenekd · « **Reply #12 on:** August 06, 2012, 06:15:19 PM »

I drilled and tapped holes in my fork stops and put bolts in to make adjustable fork stops. Works well. Didn't have to cut the fork angle much to clear the tank. Still plenty of steering lock for u-turns.
Bare

1 Thump · « **Reply #13 on:** August 06, 2012, 06:20:52 PM »

Yep that is the next step.

My wrists gave up very quickly at the angle you have setup your clubman bars. I have also ordered 3" seat springs to lower the seat height and a small fly screen that will need some work to get it on the bike.

boggy · « **Reply #14 on:** August 08, 2012, 10:55:36 AM »

Post up a pic when all is assembled. I'd like to see how the drag bars look.

1 Thump · « **Reply #15 on:** August 08, 2012, 01:21:10 PM »

barenekd · « **Reply #16 on:** September 12, 2012, 12:59:39 PM »

You have to use a them a few times to get your wrists used to them. Mine were a bit sore the first few times, but now I find them quite comfortable.
I have no desire to change them to anything else now.
Don't give up too soon.
Bare

Rob Vespa · « **Reply #17 on:** September 12, 2012, 02:56:59 PM »

Quote from: barenekd on September 12, 2012, 12:59:39 PM

You have to use a them a few times to get your wrists used to them. Mine were a bit sore the first few times, but now I find them quite comfortable. I have no desire to change them to anything else now. Don't give up too soon.

This is a helpful thread. I've recently been riding a bike with comparable bars and my left wrist/hand began to hurt to the point I considered getting an x-ray. As much as I don't want to, I may take a break for a day or two and see if it eases up. Give it time, as suggested. I didn't consider that new bars might be the cause, as I've been loading and unloading bikes.

Ducati Scotty · « **Reply #18 on:** October 16, 2012, 01:55:12 AM »

How about these?

http://www.britcycle.com/Products/Handlebars/521_563.htm

I believe these are copies of the bars from a BSA A65 Lightning Clubman model, part # 521-563. They are really mild for a clubman. The pic above is a test fit on my 2010 C5. With the center section set level they drop about 2 3/4" along the length of the grip area. Without the switch gear mounted they also miss the tank on both sides by about a thumb width at full lock. I think they felt more comfortable with the center section angled down about 12 degrees, and like that they do hit the tank. Still, they are much wider and have much less drop than the BikeMaster bars you can get in every moto shop in town. If you want clubmans but your back isn't what it used to be, these may be the bars for you.

They were about $60 CDN and about $82 US total delivered.

Scott

JVS · « **Reply #19 on:** October 16, 2012, 03:55:58 AM »

Cool! Those resemble the ones Bare has

or it is just me.

Might have some clearance issues?

Ducati Scotty · « **Reply #20 on:** October 16, 2012, 04:09:25 AM »

With the center section level you might just make it. It was more comfortable angled down, and then you're going to make contact. Like Bare, you'll have to shim the stops a bit but not much.

Scott

barenekd · « **Reply #21 on:** October 16, 2012, 12:04:49 PM »

Those look very close, if not the same as mine. I did get them from a vintage Meridan Triumph shop. Mine are mounted pretty much straight forward to keep the bars out of the tank as much as possible. I still needed about 3/16" or so shimming behind the fork stops, but it didn't cut the steering radius much. Still adequate to make a decent U-turn. I drilled and tapped a hole in the fork stop tabs for a 6mm bolt, then screwed it in until I had the clearance I wanted.
I have found the bars and the bike to be quite comfortable.
Bare

Ducati Scotty · « **Reply #22 on:** October 16, 2012, 03:39:04 PM »

Might be the same if yours also came from a Brit bike shop. There were also one or two other pairs that were similar, one that sat a little more forward.

Scott

barenekd · « **Reply #23 on:** October 16, 2012, 05:29:04 PM »

The biggest I can see between those and mine is the ferruling is a little wider on mine. Mine might be 1/2" deeper on the rise. Very close.
Bare

Ducati Scotty · « **Reply #24 on:** October 16, 2012, 05:50:15 PM »

Could be the "same" bar made by two different manufacturers. Artistic license.

Scott

1 Thump · « **Reply #25 on:** October 17, 2012, 12:28:59 PM »

I have to admit I could not find the 'fork stop'. Where is it ?

barenekd · « **Reply #26 on:** October 17, 2012, 01:09:51 PM »

the fork stop is a little about 1/2" wide tab sticking up on the lower triple clamp beside the lower fork bearing. It hits a boss on the frame off the lower fork bearing.
The bolt head in the picture is the one I put in as an adjuster.
Bare

Craig McClure · « **Reply #27 on:** November 04, 2012, 01:42:21 PM »

I am using the Bikemaster Superbike Bars on mine, they are very comfortable on longer rides & distribute the weight well-with the right amount of lean into the wind. When I was younger I was comfortable with Drag Bars. I had Clip ons on my 58 BSA Goldstar Clubman, & couldn't stand riding it for very long stretches. Like to point out that several "mature" Road Racers I've known have Used the Superbike Bars with excellent results Racing. Just in case you need the excuse. Riding is more fun if comfortable. Will try to include a picture of my bars. Cheers, Craig McClure, Jasper Ga. USA

LarsBloodbeard · « **Reply #28 on:** November 04, 2012, 08:07:36 PM »

I had clubman bars on one of my bikes that were too angled for my taste. I stuck with it for 2 years & 18k miles and got a little more used to them, but never felt comfortable.

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Author Topic: Clubman bars....ouch ! (Read 1930 times)