Thinking about clip-ons for my Special. What mm?

[mrhammer2u]

A thread here said 37mm as well as MikesXS page. However when I just measured myself I got 41.5mm. I measured just below the triple tree where I assume the clip-on would go. I see 41 and 43mm advertised.
(my calipers were zero'd out and they are accurate)

I have a 79 special. Please advise....

[bikerphil]

That is the headlight ear you are measuring, the fork stanchion is 37MM. I wouldn't clamp over the outside of the ear, there is an air gap between it and the stanchion. You would need to modify /cut the headlight ear to run a 37MM clip on below the upper tree, or slide the stanchions up some and clip on above the TT, gonna lose ground clearance that way.

[mrhammer2u]

Thanks Phil. So I assume I would slide the headlight ear down a bit? I'm not by my bike or I would look.

[jetmechmarty]

Buy some aftermarket headlight ears. A new top triple clamp would be nice, too!


Put clubmans on it and it's done.

[bikerphil]

If you wanted to, an option would be to cut down the top of the headlight ear tubes the same amount as the clip on depth. You would have that unsightly center of the upper TT sticking up where the handlebars used to be. That new upper TT shown above would be a nice option, probably $$ though. I bet you could hack/grind off the center of the stock upper TT to get rid of the old HB mounts.

[TomB]

Usually clip ons are used with rearset footrests, I see in another thread you're also thinking about forward footrests. Not sure your combination will be too comfortable.

I was thinking about forward foot pegs (or controls) but when I hopped on my bike, I'm realizing that I will end up melting my ankles to the bone if I attempted this.

They sell kits for the XS but how the heck do you run these with our engines being so wide??

[mrhammer2u]

Hi Tom. My bike has been having an identity crisis. It doesn't know if it wants to be a a cafe or chopper...lol. Been researching options. Just bought window style drag bars with a 6" rise to try it out.

[TomB]

Haha, I know what you mean. I have an XJ11 that I'm thinking of putting ape bars on.

Not sure how to go about that, does anyone have any ideas? do you use Special top tree?

[79XS11F]

I would recommend drag or low bars. There bikes are somewhat heavy for clip-ons.

[Xarik]

Little bit of a resurrection of this post. You're helping me on another thread about my gas tank, but I'm wondering what you ended up doing with your bars? Mine has straight bars on there and it looks like a trick bike (like a bicycle bike), which is ugly. I'm going for the cafe look, so ones that angle down and inwards would be best....wondering what you did and if you have a picture? I'd rather not put a ton into a new triple tree or grind it down (that'd end up ugly)

[mrhammer2u]

I went with a supermoto style bar. Glad I did because I did not want to be too over my tank. I'm not claiming to have a cafe bike though.

[TomB]

Looks good