Changing clipons - ZXR750

[JamesLaugesen]

Well I've just bought QuinDaddy's ZXR750.
It has raised clipons (the L-shaped bar type) since he has a bad back.
I -on the other hand- have a fine back (usually, not this week though, great timing) so I want the original bars back on.

I've got the original bars.
I had a shot at doing it myself but the appeared magically secured in, possibly by a very powerful magnet.
Obviously no, they're secured in by the fork tube! Damn that little cut-out in the bar, haha.

So I need to drop the forks down to remove the bars, correct?
I don't have the gear to do that, so I'll just take it to a shop, or (if someone's willing) to someone's house for a hand with the fork-dropping in exchange for some cash.
Someone's house would be better for everyone, since they gain money, I save money, and still get to do most of the crap fiddly work myself instead of paying for it.

Peace
James

[I-K]

No need. You can just pull the top triple clamp off. Unbolt everything, heave the bike over so it's sitting on the stand and the rear wheel and tap the triple clamp off with a mallet.

Reverse the direction of tapping when it comes time to put it back on.

[JamesLaugesen]

Uuh ok cool, I was wondering about that.
So the bottom triple wont twist too much with the weight of the wheel and rotors?
Groovey.
If anyone else has any comments please post 'em so I have a level of confidence doing it, haha.

Thanks mate
James

[I-K]

Oh, it'll sag enough to make getting the top triple clamp back on a pain in the anal, but that's why you pull it up onto the sidestand.

Paranoid old me would be pulling fairing off just in case someone slips and causes the bike to fall over.

[Ment]

Paranoid old me would be pulling fairing off just in case someone slips and causes the bike to fall over.

what he said.

[greenmeanie]

No need. You can just pull the top triple clamp off. Unbolt everything, heave the bike over so it's sitting on the stand and the rear wheel and tap the triple clamp off with a mallet.

Reverse the direction of tapping when it comes time to put it back on.

What I-K said. I have race clipons on now so if i am unfortunate to bend a bar again it's an easy fix(no need to pull half the bike apart) .

With the factory bars you have to remove the top tripple so you can remove the bar end holders cause of the pin thing........fuckin pain in the arse.

[JamesLaugesen]

Race clipons just clamp in and rely on the friction to keep 'em there? That sounds much better.
Can you gimmie a rough idea of cost or some keywords to search for 'em?

One of my bar holders has a small crack in it, and the clipons appear to be getting on a bit.

Thanks

[greenmeanie]

Firstly race clipons aren't cheap and secondly you may experience more vibrations through the bars cause they don't have bar end weights like the factory ones. However i haven't really found this a problem just that the bars move around a bit more while on the gas/going over bumps etc.

I was tossing up between woodcraft or vortex race clipons.

I bought a set of vortex racing clipons from :

http://www.starcycle.com (USA).

They have some good gear on this site.
I also bought some other parts off them at the same time so shipping worked out ok(not that expensive).

Clipon sizes are based on the upper portion of the fork tubes which for zx7(91+) is 52mm.
When you fit them it can be a very fiddly/time consuming job cause you have to adjust bar tubes as so they are not hitting fairings/brake reservior etc. The bar holders that go around the fork tubes have 3 hex bolts plus the bars are held in with another 2 hex bolts.

If you don't want to buy overseas there are probably several places here you can try.
Mick Hone in Vic is a distributor for woodcraft however i think he wanted about $300 for a set of clipons when i enquired.
http://www.mickhone.com.au

I hope this helps a little james. Good Luck !