Cycle cat clip ons? anyone with any pictures?
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G
Guest
·I'll take some. I've been meaning to anyway. Should have them posted tonight.
Joined
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729 Posts
Took some pics for you. They're of poor quality, and I'm embarrassed. They'll give you an idea though.
Here's the right side. You can see the hub that is bolted to the triple, the clipon goes over the hub. The hub features a twist-off cap that allows you access to your fork adjustment screws (if your bike is so equipped). You can also see that my cap fell off... It must have vibrated loose about a week ago and I lost it. The stock controls fit the supplied bar nicely, and the bar itself is adjustable with an allen wrench. Stick the wrench into the bolt that's coming out of the bar on the clipon end (visible in the pic just below the brake fluid reservoir) and turn - the bar will move fore and aft, up and down. That particular bolt doesn't look terribly elegant, and when I was putting it together I thought I was doing something wrong, that it couldn't be this banal. But it works, and you get used to the way you have that odd screw sticking out of that odd place in that odd kind of way.
You have to re-adjust your controls after you're done adjusting the bars, but hopefully you'll only set them up once. Just make sure everyting's to your liking before you torque anything down.
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In the second pic you can see both clipons, and you can also see the problem I'm having with them. They interfere with my steering damper mounting bracket. To be a perfect fit for me, the whole setup should be mounted in a just ever so slightly more clockwise position on the right, and a slighlty more counterclockwise position on the left. Alas, no can do. The outsides of the bars are pointed too far forward, and it hurts my wrists after long rides (and no, I don't put any weight on my wrists at all - it's the angle at which I'm forced to hold on to the bars). It bothers me enough that I'm going to replace them with regular, superbike-style clipons once I find the time to do the research and tinkering involved with that... Also notice the blue anodized cap on the left hub. Very tacky, and not becoming of a bike with this kind of sex appeal.
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Finally, as a bonus, a pic of what the bike looks like from the front with the Cycle Cats installed. Notice also the Cycle Cat sliders.
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One last problem I have encountered is that they're shiny ("they" being the hubs in this instance). Very shiny. I was very, very pleased with the craftsmanship that went into these pieces of beauty and literally drooled over their finish when I received them in their stylish little boxes. However, when I took the bike for a test ride one sunny Southern Californian day I just about blinded myself permanently as the sun's reflection off those hubs burned holes not only through my retinas, but straight through my eyeballs!! I'm not kidding you when I say that it was painful! I have since purchased a dark smoke visor and that along with the fact that I've allowed some dirt to accumulate on the bike (and the beautiful clions) has made things a bit better.
The clipons also came with bar end sliders, and the way the bar ends themselves are fabricated they make installation of the aforementioned sliders mandatory. I used to run those cool CRG barend mirrors, but couldn't mount them to the Cycle Cats. So more big bucks were spent on mirrors...
I feel bad about the fact that they don't work for me. Cycle Cat has been an excellent company in every other respect. Their customer service is way up there with the best. So is the quality of their products. I would (and will) buy from them again. It's only that I couldn't get this particular item to work for me.
-R.
Here's the right side. You can see the hub that is bolted to the triple, the clipon goes over the hub. The hub features a twist-off cap that allows you access to your fork adjustment screws (if your bike is so equipped). You can also see that my cap fell off... It must have vibrated loose about a week ago and I lost it. The stock controls fit the supplied bar nicely, and the bar itself is adjustable with an allen wrench. Stick the wrench into the bolt that's coming out of the bar on the clipon end (visible in the pic just below the brake fluid reservoir) and turn - the bar will move fore and aft, up and down. That particular bolt doesn't look terribly elegant, and when I was putting it together I thought I was doing something wrong, that it couldn't be this banal. But it works, and you get used to the way you have that odd screw sticking out of that odd place in that odd kind of way.
You have to re-adjust your controls after you're done adjusting the bars, but hopefully you'll only set them up once. Just make sure everyting's to your liking before you torque anything down.
In the second pic you can see both clipons, and you can also see the problem I'm having with them. They interfere with my steering damper mounting bracket. To be a perfect fit for me, the whole setup should be mounted in a just ever so slightly more clockwise position on the right, and a slighlty more counterclockwise position on the left. Alas, no can do. The outsides of the bars are pointed too far forward, and it hurts my wrists after long rides (and no, I don't put any weight on my wrists at all - it's the angle at which I'm forced to hold on to the bars). It bothers me enough that I'm going to replace them with regular, superbike-style clipons once I find the time to do the research and tinkering involved with that... Also notice the blue anodized cap on the left hub. Very tacky, and not becoming of a bike with this kind of sex appeal.
Finally, as a bonus, a pic of what the bike looks like from the front with the Cycle Cats installed. Notice also the Cycle Cat sliders.
One last problem I have encountered is that they're shiny ("they" being the hubs in this instance). Very shiny. I was very, very pleased with the craftsmanship that went into these pieces of beauty and literally drooled over their finish when I received them in their stylish little boxes. However, when I took the bike for a test ride one sunny Southern Californian day I just about blinded myself permanently as the sun's reflection off those hubs burned holes not only through my retinas, but straight through my eyeballs!! I'm not kidding you when I say that it was painful! I have since purchased a dark smoke visor and that along with the fact that I've allowed some dirt to accumulate on the bike (and the beautiful clions) has made things a bit better.
The clipons also came with bar end sliders, and the way the bar ends themselves are fabricated they make installation of the aforementioned sliders mandatory. I used to run those cool CRG barend mirrors, but couldn't mount them to the Cycle Cats. So more big bucks were spent on mirrors...
I feel bad about the fact that they don't work for me. Cycle Cat has been an excellent company in every other respect. Their customer service is way up there with the best. So is the quality of their products. I would (and will) buy from them again. It's only that I couldn't get this particular item to work for me.
-R.
G
Guest
·hey viking, which model is that, where did you get it, and how much. I think I want the same bars on my S4...
thanks
thanks
Joined
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729 Posts
You mean which model bike? It's an S4 Foggy. It's a regular S4 with a few performance upgrades, a fun paint scheme and a numbered and signed batch on the tank. Only 300 were built, they can be found used on eBay or Cycletrader. I think they went for something like $18k originally, but can be had for lots cheaper now. Somebody told me today that only 100 were imported to the States, dunno about that number.
Many were bought by colletors who never really intended to ride them, so every once in a while a low-mileage, pristine one pops up for sale. Do an online search, there's lots of info on the Foggy floating about the net.
The clipons are, uh, Cycle Cat. Got them through Chris Kelley's California Cycle Works. If you can wait a couple weeks until I've got my superbike-clipon project figured out you can buy mine.
-R.
Many were bought by colletors who never really intended to ride them, so every once in a while a low-mileage, pristine one pops up for sale. Do an online search, there's lots of info on the Foggy floating about the net.
The clipons are, uh, Cycle Cat. Got them through Chris Kelley's California Cycle Works. If you can wait a couple weeks until I've got my superbike-clipon project figured out you can buy mine.
-R.
terrible_viking,
CycleCat has already addressed most of your complaints.
When I was talking to Alfred about getting my bar kit, he mentioned that I would have interference problems with my damper because of the riser clamp. I told him I thought they picked an unfortunate choice of location for that clamp. Well, he didn't say anything, but he put me on hold for a few minutes; when he came back to the phone, he said he would make two sets of special risers that would work with the DP dampers (one for me and one for his S4). The caps I was able to order in a different anodize (I didn't think blue would look cool on the Foggy either). And, I think you can get the rest of the kit in several other, not-so-bright, colors if you want (Scott S. has black). The glare only bothered me for the first week or so (I keep checking out how cool they looked while I was riding...). Finally, last week I found out you can order their bar sliders turned to accept CRG mirrors (of course, this is after I've Dremeled mine).
I agree, their customer service is great, and their response to customer feedback truly refreshing.
Anyway, I have heard that all new CycleCat S4 risers now have the clamp in the forward position. That may be an option worth considering. (weird, I lost my right cap too...$16)
![]()
CycleCat has already addressed most of your complaints.
When I was talking to Alfred about getting my bar kit, he mentioned that I would have interference problems with my damper because of the riser clamp. I told him I thought they picked an unfortunate choice of location for that clamp. Well, he didn't say anything, but he put me on hold for a few minutes; when he came back to the phone, he said he would make two sets of special risers that would work with the DP dampers (one for me and one for his S4). The caps I was able to order in a different anodize (I didn't think blue would look cool on the Foggy either). And, I think you can get the rest of the kit in several other, not-so-bright, colors if you want (Scott S. has black). The glare only bothered me for the first week or so (I keep checking out how cool they looked while I was riding...). Finally, last week I found out you can order their bar sliders turned to accept CRG mirrors (of course, this is after I've Dremeled mine).
I agree, their customer service is great, and their response to customer feedback truly refreshing.
Anyway, I have heard that all new CycleCat S4 risers now have the clamp in the forward position. That may be an option worth considering. (weird, I lost my right cap too...$16)
Joined
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729 Posts
Tom,
That's sweet and some truly good news. I'm impressed (with Cycle Cat). Must've been some bad timing on my part then, cos I've only had mine for a month or two.
-R.
That's sweet and some truly good news. I'm impressed (with Cycle Cat). Must've been some bad timing on my part then, cos I've only had mine for a month or two.
-R.
G
Guest
·When I got mine (a month ago) they came like terrible vikings. One phone call later and they overnighted me the correct ones free of charge. Great customer service. Will have to order some new caps as my blue doesn't go with the bike.
p.s. nice to see so many familiar names.
Joined
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729 Posts
They're a little higher and make your seating position a bit more upright. They're also a bit further apart, I think, but that may be subjective. I bought them because I broke off one of the stock ones in a high-speed crash in the canyons and figured I might as well try something new. I think I may be going the other direction next, I really don't like the upright seating position for the kind of riding that I do.
-R.
-R.
Just to clarify things a bit...
I've got the tall CycleCats, I believe t_viking's got the same ones.
They're about 3/4" to 1" higher than the stock bars.
The stock bars were too low and angled funny for me, and nothing was adjustable. The levers and switch housings were all pin/hole located on the bars. I didn't like the angle of the levers, and the left switch housing was a little awkwardly placed.
CycleCat also makes a version that is lower than stock.
For me, it was just improved ergonomics that I was looking for.
The "eye candy" aspect is just a bonus!
I've got the tall CycleCats, I believe t_viking's got the same ones.
They're about 3/4" to 1" higher than the stock bars.
The stock bars were too low and angled funny for me, and nothing was adjustable. The levers and switch housings were all pin/hole located on the bars. I didn't like the angle of the levers, and the left switch housing was a little awkwardly placed.
CycleCat also makes a version that is lower than stock.
For me, it was just improved ergonomics that I was looking for.
The "eye candy" aspect is just a bonus!
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