Bandit Alley
MODEL SPECIFIC => SUZUKI BANDIT 250 & 400 => Topic started by: Racerruss-ducati on November 12, 2006, 11:40:44 AM
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Hi All,
I found this in my garage recently. It is a B4 factory upper triple clamp from a European model, designed for use with clip on handle bars, not the bolt ons that the US models came with. If anyone wants it, I will take $35 for it. Shipping will be about $9.00 to anywhere in the US. I thought I would give the dedicated people on this board dibs, but if I don't here from anyone, it will be going on ebay in a week.
Email me with questions to racerruss at nc dot rr dot com.
(http://w2.bikepics.com/pics/2006/11/12/bikepics-721340-full.jpg) (http://w2.bikepics.com/pics/2006/11/12/bikepics-721342-full.jpg)
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Well shoot. I just got a set of clipons and that upper triple clamp from overseas not too long ago or I'd be allover this one Russ. Did you do the smoothing yourself or did you purchase it that way? I have access to a full machine shop on campus but am not sure as to how I can utilize the resources to put a nice finish on the nasty triple clamp that I have.
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just mill the top of it like that one! Those lines on that one are from the cutter passes they used a small cutter that is why there are so many lines nice job though you could polish that like chrome or leave it that way looks good either way cheers good buy to anyone that want one
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Hi Nate,
I gave you a set of clip ons with the bike, didn't I? I think they were in the bottom of that spare parts box. I hope you didn't buy a set. BTW, if you put clips on it, you will have to modify the headlight brackets. There are a few posts on this board describing the procedure.
Anyway, the triple is a "your a peein" model meant for clip ons, not a machined US model. The two holes are for an extra bolt used on factory clip ons to make sure they don't slip. I dusted off the top with an end mill because the original finish was a little scuffed up from a key ring and the clear coat had come off in spots. The shiny spot is where I had my stopwatch ty wrapped on.
Later, Russ
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cool, new it was milled with something no harm good part i wouldn't even be scared to mill one with the handle bars id just mill the bar part off! Nice job machinest :beers:
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I just sent u a paypal. So where can i get a nice clip on to compliment this triple tree?
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Try this. You may be able to find some used ones for under $100 if you watch ebay. Search for 41mm clip ons under motorcycle parts.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/VORTEX-RACING-CLIP-ONS-41MM-BMW-STRADA-575353_W0QQitemZ4648414062QQihZ002QQcategoryZ35587QQrdZ1QQssPageNameZWD1VQQcmdZViewItem
Thanks for the payment, I will try to get it shipped tomorrow.
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Russ, I still have the vortex clipons that you gave me with the bike. I tried fitting them and found exactly what you said, that the headlight bracket would need to be modified. I wasn't a big fan of how low they sat on the forks either, so I got the european triple tree and clipons from some guy across the pond (since they sit on top of the triple tree, only a few inches lower than the stock bar). I havent' tried fitting them yet as I still need to machine them some as I said. Now that I think of it, anyone need a cheap set of vortex clipons?
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doqq:
Here is a set of the european clipons that will bolt to that triple tree. This is the same guy that I got the parts from. Shoot him an offer for the parts and shipping and he's likely to accept it.
http://cgi.ebay.com/SUZUKI-400-BANDIT-HANDLE-BARS_W0QQitemZ190051210095QQihZ009QQcategoryZ10534QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem
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Wasn't there an issue though with the Euro forks being longer so that you could poke them up through the tree and the clip-ons though?
For some reason I remember seeing the post to somewhat the effect that for the handlebar models, you would have to drop the trees drastically to use the non-tree clip-ons.
-Randy
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Yeah there was some issue there. I havent done a test fit to see, but it would seem that dropping the forks an inch (if that much) would set them up high enough to hold the clipons in place.
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so the triple tree i just bought from russ wont work with regular clip ons?
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It'll work fine as long as you know you have to:
-mod the headlight bracket for under the tree installation
-Know that you'll have to drop the front end a very large amount (possibly bottom the fork into lower crown) to acheive over-the-tree installation.
This of course, depends on the clip on.
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what if i bought the european model clipons? would i still need to do mods to the forks?
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Russ, I'll apologize in advance if I'm killing you sale. Sorry man.
There is nothing you can do to mod the forks to add length to the stanchions, unless you have non-handlebar model forks. I would also advise against dropping the tubes down that far for obvious reasons.
This of course is based on speculation because I don't know whether the non-handlebar triple is phyisically lower than HB triple and certainly I can't claim personal experience due to still running HB myself and not doing the conversion. I had looked into it and decided against it for most of those reasons, I found a compromise and went that direction instead.
I can advise looking at the companies like Tommaselli and Heli-Bar that make a clip-on in 41mm or whatever the Bandit happens to be that has an offset built into it to raise it above where a standard non-offset clip-on would go. CycleCat also makes an adjustable clip-on but they're some serious dollars.
-Randy
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its ok buddy, I paid for the triple tree already. Now i just need to figure out what works. If not im going to go with the gsxr front end conversion. Thanks for all your help though.
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Actually there is a product that might let you use that top triple with the stock european clipons. They're called 'fork tube extenders' or something similar. I can't remember where I saw them, but try google. They are a big slug of 41mm OD aluminum that is basically a very very thick fork tube cap. You would not have to change your fork position and these would stick up enough so you could clamp the clipons to them.
Now, if these things would be strong enough for this purpose, or if they have the proper threads for our fork tubes, I have no idea. I just came across them when I was looking at changing bar position, might be something you would want to consider.
Regards,
Steve
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The modification to the headlight bracket is probably the best in this case. I would not use the fork tube extenders because they could come unscrewed under heavy brake loading if the clip on was attached to it. The triple bracket is the same geometry as the stock US Bandit model, just without the stands for the handlebars. I am not sure what the European bikes used for a headlight bracket, you may be able to buy those on Ebay, but I am not sure. When I used this upper triple and the clip ons, I did not have a headlight on the bike (track day bike). Be a fun winter project either way.
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I'm not sure the fork extenders are strong enough for this application, however they will not come unscrewed with stock Euro clipons because those have the extra mounting bolt to stop them from turning.
The Euro headlight brackets won't help doqq if he goes with the Vortex clipons under the top triple. Since the Euro clipons are mounted above the top triple, the clearance issues are no different than with the NA handlebar models.
If you do decide to go with above the tree clipons doqq, you MAY be able to find clipons from a NA market Suzuki with 41mm forks (like a Katana) that would work. May be cheaper than importing a pair.
Regards,
Steve