Hitchcocks Forum

Recently, I purchased and received the following:

PART No. DESCRIPTION PRICE
93052 CLIP ON HANDLEBARS, sold as pair FOR 535 CONTINENTAL GT (41mm) BLACK

My mechanic, Manuel, is installing these items and I’ll opt to have them placed below fork top yoke.

However, Manuel has a concern. The bars do not have the guide holes that are used for mounting the clutch and brake controls. He is reluctant to drill holes in the bars for this purpose, being under the impression that the integrity of the aluminum bars will be compromised by doing so.

Can anyone please advise us on this matter and/or send us the clip-on handlebars installation instructions?

Any assistance you can provide will be greatly appreciated.

Well I would say it will depend on the wall thickness of the handlebars, and also the size of the holes that you have to drill.
I recently fitted different handlebars to a Bullet sixty 5 and had to drill holes to accommodate the locating pegs on the switchgear.

I have in the past also drilled renthal alloy bars for locating pegs too, and never had a problem at all, but these bars do have quite thick walls.

I have a Harley too, most of their handlebars are drilled or slotted to take internal wiring .

However it really does depend on the hole size and wall thickness of the bars !

Regards

Richard

When I changed the bars on my bike to the new ace bars they had no holes so I just removed the pegs/locating studs by pulling then out the switch gear with pliers there not that essential. Not found the switch gear moves without them.

If you can pull out the locating pegs without damaging them I would try that, if the switch gear doesn't move problem solved !

Hi there. Just thought I'd let you know that I have drilled holes in clipons many times. I've raced in the manx grand prix with them and they have been fine I doubt you will be putting any where near the forces I was putting on them so I would drill them and forget about it. Hope this helps.

Hi Waltcs.

How did you eventually get on with this as I am thinking of buying the clip ons and mounting them under the top yoke. Have you any pictures of your bike with the bars fitted and how do you find the reach and comfort of the bike now.

Thanks

Also , did you have to buy or make up new cables or just re-route the originals ?

Tried the ace bars, no holes so I drilled them 4mm(?). The controls are plastic and have little grip, they couldn't be tightened enough to grip without the peg. Same would apply to clip-ons. Some 'hockey-stick' clothe tap under the control mat help but some risk of the plastic thread stripping if tightened too much (should be enough 'meat' to re-tap next size up).

Measure twice, centre punch and drill once.



Now H's Ace bars didn't suit my old back on the C5 with its forward feet positions although front control was good.

And is I write this there was a knock at the door and some ace bars have just arrived from India now that I've changed my mind.

They appear to be 'flat', angle back but not down and don't extend as far forwards as H's. They would lay flat on a table if they weren't slightly twisted, doh! They'll hit the C5's tank, NBG

Any takers for surplus bars?

A little story about taking the pin out the controls

I used to run a couple of race bikes as track day tools. Fast 600 type things. They had clip ons on and I did not drill a hole, just removed the pin. Did the controls up tight and they seemed fine

After a couple of sessions I was coming up to a bend hard at about 130 and pulled on the brakes hard, they worked but not as well as normal. I thought I had cooked them so I took it a bit easy for the rest of the lap but by the time I got to the hairpin I had almost no brakes and had to pull off the track.

I thought I wasn in for a big brake rebuild bill until a mate rotated my controls so they were not stopping the brake lever coming back.

No brakes is more of a danger than 1 4mm hole in a thick wall tube.

Hi, I have just used the original bars and mounted them below the top yoke. Although they only have one pinch bolt each side, I have put a nut and bolt through the hole to get some proper purchase on the clamp. Never had any probs at all. They do fit to, despite the shape of them, you can mount them quite close to the underside of the top yoe and postion them so they don't hit the tank on full lock.