Monster Clip-ons...

External Since: Oct 03, 2003 Posts: 2

Ladies, Gents,

I just installed Motostrano clip-on handlebars in place of the
motocross-style OEM handlebar originally installed on my Monster M9000Sie.
I bougth the $125 USD clear-anodized billet aluminum ones that install on
top of the triple clamp. No adjustment to the fork height was required,
although I had to rotate the banjo bolts on the forward controls to better
clear the mini-fairing. The clip-ons are very light and visually clean up
the tripleclamp area considerably

What a difference!! In my opinion, it cured a number of things that I
disliked about the bike. In fact, it changed my mind about trading for a
more sporty bike altogether. Here is what I found.

First, the riding position is greatly improved. With the old bars, I would
slide forward in the stock seat and end up with my crotch up against the
tank and my knees hitting the bulges on the side of the tank. With the
clipons, I sit comfortably in the middle of the seat, and my knees tuck
nicely into the indentations on the side of the tank. It's still
comfortable enough for long rides, and the footpegs don't feel out of place
anymore. By the way, I'm 5'-10" and 155 lbs.

Second, ease of maintenance is improved. Now I can tighten the head
bearings or adjust the forks without removing the handlebar. On my M900Sie
with adjustable forks, the old bars forced me to loosen the handlebar clamp
and temporarily roll the handlebar forward out of the way before any
ajustments could be made.

Thirdly, the stock mirrors are now set a little wider, thanks to the droop
built into the clipons. Now I can easily see behind and around me instead
of looking at my elbows. Real bar-end mirrors like Napoleon Baren's are now
an option as well.

Forth, I can now use real bar ends, bar-end sliders, or bar end mirrors with
the new clip-ons. The OEM handlebar was thick alloy and had a smaller
internal diameter than most handlebars. Napoleon Baren mirrors required
substantial modification to fit, and still occasionally loosened up and
liberated themselves.

Fifth, the bikini fairing is actually useful now. Since I am sitting
slightly lower, there is less wind blast on my chest. It's easy to tuck up
against the tank when high speeds are necessary.

Overall, I'm very happy. The best $125 USD I have spent on the bike so far.
I was very hesitant on changing my beloved Monster, as most aftermarket
parts are actually a down-grade rather than an upgrade, but in this case I
would say clipons are a 'must-have' for this bike. YMMV.

Howard
M900 Sie
Denver, CO

External Since: Aug 19, 2003 Posts: 21

Hi Howard,

Congratulations! That's sounds awesome. I would love to put clip-ons on
my M800 dark, but I've been worried about moving the triple clamp. I only
have about .75 inches of space on top of the top triple clamp.

How did you manage to install the clip-ons without moving the triple clamp?
Where you just lucky to have enough space, on top, to install them?

Do you have some pictures of your bike with the new clips-ons? I'd love to
see them installed.

Regards,
AC

"Howie2092" <hroepnack.DeleteThis@comcast.net> wrote in message
news:EY3fb.392497$2x.131950@rwcrnsc52.ops.asp.att.net...
> Ladies, Gents,
>
> I just installed Motostrano clip-on handlebars in place of the
> motocross-style OEM handlebar originally installed on my Monster M9000Sie.
> I bougth the $125 USD clear-anodized billet aluminum ones that install on
> top of the triple clamp. No adjustment to the fork height was required,
> although I had to rotate the banjo bolts on the forward controls to better
> clear the mini-fairing. The clip-ons are very light and visually clean up
> the tripleclamp area considerably
>
> What a difference!! In my opinion, it cured a number of things that I
> disliked about the bike. In fact, it changed my mind about trading for a
> more sporty bike altogether. Here is what I found.
>
> First, the riding position is greatly improved. With the old bars, I
would
> slide forward in the stock seat and end up with my crotch up against the
> tank and my knees hitting the bulges on the side of the tank. With the
> clipons, I sit comfortably in the middle of the seat, and my knees tuck
> nicely into the indentations on the side of the tank. It's still
> comfortable enough for long rides, and the footpegs don't feel out of
place
> anymore. By the way, I'm 5'-10" and 155 lbs.
>
> Second, ease of maintenance is improved. Now I can tighten the head
> bearings or adjust the forks without removing the handlebar. On my
M900Sie
> with adjustable forks, the old bars forced me to loosen the handlebar
clamp
> and temporarily roll the handlebar forward out of the way before any
> ajustments could be made.
>
> Thirdly, the stock mirrors are now set a little wider, thanks to the droop
> built into the clipons. Now I can easily see behind and around me
instead
> of looking at my elbows. Real bar-end mirrors like Napoleon Baren's are
now
> an option as well.
>
> Forth, I can now use real bar ends, bar-end sliders, or bar end mirrors
with
> the new clip-ons. The OEM handlebar was thick alloy and had a smaller
> internal diameter than most handlebars. Napoleon Baren mirrors required
> substantial modification to fit, and still occasionally loosened up and
> liberated themselves.
>
> Fifth, the bikini fairing is actually useful now. Since I am sitting
> slightly lower, there is less wind blast on my chest. It's easy to tuck
up
> against the tank when high speeds are necessary.
>
> Overall, I'm very happy. The best $125 USD I have spent on the bike so
far.
> I was very hesitant on changing my beloved Monster, as most aftermarket
> parts are actually a down-grade rather than an upgrade, but in this case I
> would say clipons are a 'must-have' for this bike. YMMV.
>
> Howard
> M900 Sie
> Denver, CO
>
>