Tricky tricky Apex Clip-Ons

[NAKID]

Well, I started quite the project tonight. I figured it would take me an hour tops. Well, I quit after 2.5 hours.

I tried mounting them above the triple. All was fie until I tried to mount the brake lever and MC. The line would just not reach no matter what.

So, despite the fact that I didn't want them below the triple, that was the route I was going to have to take. So, I loosened up the pinch bolts (again) and grabbed my bottle jack, a couple bricks and a block of wood.

Jack on the bricks, block of wood under the left side of the front head, and started lifting. Ran into the next obstacle, the brake lines were pulling taught before the forks were low enough to get the new clamps on.

So I had to remove the brake calipers, only you can't remove them with the wheel on, so I just let them hang and started lifting again.

Now they started pushing on the front fender. So that was the next thing to come off.

Started lifting again and the brake lines were just about at their max. One more thing to try, unbolt the bottom of the "U" bracket so the lines could get just a little more slack.

That worked and I was able to get the clamps on.

There was the next obstacle, the clamps installed as intended, would hit the headlight mount. Switching the right for the left wouldn't work either because the bars would be at an upward agle, not down like they should.

Solution? Turn the clamps upside down. The pinch bolts for the clamps wouldn't hit the headlight mount and the bars would be at the proper downward angle.

I decided to quit for the night when I realized that I would still need to remove the fairing, headlight and gauges so the brake and clutch lines will reach.

Hindsight? The lines MAY have reached if they were routed under the gauges and still mounted above the triple. Now the question is, do I really want to take the whole thing apart again to find out? Stay tuned, I'll probably work on it tomorrow after I get home from work.

[Dietrich]

I was wondering where you were....Looking forward to seeing the finished product.

[herm]

he,he......... i totaly sympathize with you dude. figuring out how to make it all work was a major PITA when i recently put on my clip ons. fwi, i removed the top triple to put mine on, so didnt have to mess with wheel/fender/brake issues like you mentioned.

any who,......good luck, and post up when the product is ready for market wt:

[NAKID]

Well, it's done. I decided to remove them again and put them on top. I left them uspide down because it seems easier to get to averything. I completely removed everything from the front end, headlight, fairing, u bracket, etc to get the lines routed just right to make it fit. I still may cut off the back part of the upper fairing mount so it's not such a tight fit for the brake and clutch lines.

So, clipons above the triple, adjusted the levers for a good down angle, headlight readjusted and everything tightened back up.

Since it's 230 AM here, I'll wait til tomorrow to get a couple pics and post up. So far, I like them...

[Monstyr]

Glad you found a solution.
Installing clip ons is the most frustrating job I've done and theres no short cuts as such, basic trial and error everytime. I'd say if you are planning to install clip ons then you should also budget for new lines as the oe ones just wont fit, I also had to use a split line rather than two complete lines as the double banjo at the master fouled the headlight, and also a few days and a few cases of beer, theres nothing that cant be solved by drinking beer and staring at it for a few hours . There is absolutely nothing so frustrating as finding out your set up wont work because of an unforseen poxy little problem forcing you to stop and fix it, in my case a new banjo bolt for the master cylinder, if I'd forseen that I'd have bought one and had it sitting ready rather than leave my bike looking like a roadwreck while I then had to go and get one a few days later.
As much as you didn't want to at first, taking the front apart makes things a whole lot easier, otherwise its too much of a task to then have to do the fiddly little job chains to enable something that would otherwise be a simple task.
As in any job the sequence is important to make things straightforward, however there seems no set way to fit clip ons and everyone seems to do it slightly differently which is why it seems such a pain when you do it yourself. When its finished you feel really satisfied though as its like working out a puzzle rather than bolting some bling on.

[NAKID]

Lines work for me. The split brake line is stock on mine. I am considering trimming a little off the ends of the faring mount so there is no question about the lines...

[Qfactor]

Had a similar experience w/. someone's bike and those clip-ons...


hahaha


Q

[Jnaids07]

Ahhhh, brings back not so good memories. 

Not only did I install clip-ons, but I also thought it would be fun to add the headlight/gauge lowering project into the mix.  Talk about compounding an already complicated issue.   

But.. I finished the project and it looks great now.   

[ICON]

Let's see some pics on them clipons sir. 

[He Man]

NAKID, was it that bad? i help chcadder install his and it took just as long, but we figured with piss cup resoviors it would a lot easier.

Defintely want  to see some pics man!

[NAKID]

Nope, not really any easier. You still run into some clearance issues. Those are all resolved now so I should be fine. I'll get pics up soon...

[Bill in OKC]

I really like the rizoma reservoirs - did you do the rear brake also?  I've looked at the Rizoma site and they are listed by volume/height/diameter and bottom or side outlet.  Could you give the rundown on what reservoirs you used?  Thanks!

[NAKID]

OK here's some pics

Haley checking out the new clip-ons


Haley in Full Tuck


Cockpit shot


Side view


Here's a couple shot of the parts I needed to trim so the lines wouldn't bind


And

[He Man]

have you accounted for the front being dropped? I would love to run my clip ons on top. Your kids hardcore, got a nice tat already.

[NAKID]

Well, I tried, but it looks like the rear is already as low as possible...