Flat Bar Heaven

[trumpy]

Got rid of the clip-ons and fitted a new flat bar conversion kit from Jack Lilley (UK) to my Speed Four today (sorry Devil I just had to do it!). At 53 the old back ain't what it used to be, also I have a couple of partially fused vertabrae in my neck which means that although I don't mind tucking in low over the tank, I can't get my head back far enough to see much more than about a hundred metres ahead! Tricky stuff when you have a bit of speed up (well speed for me anyway).
Nice piece of kit and fitting no real problem, just needed to re-route cables etc and fit the longer (supplied) brake line.
Went out for a quick spin to Bryce's Cafe at Wharepapa South (from Taupo).
Man, what a difference! I can still hunker down out of the worst of the wind on the straights and combined with a new set of Pilot Powers, the twistys have just become a real hoot. I am probably no faster if the truth be known but more confident and having much more fun.
It took a while to get used to the much lighter and more sensitive steering and much greater feed back thru the bars (didn't realise how hard I had set the front suspension...will have to re-look at all my settings) and the return trip was just great.
It will take a while to get used to different "look" of the bike but I am sure I have done the right thing for me.

[Aiolos]

Pictures??

[trumpy]

Will do monday.

[pritch]

Enjoy the ride.. The Speed Four is rated to be a great handling bike.

[trumpy]

Some pics of my flat bar conversion.
Although the bar rise is a little higher than I wanted it is fine in actual use. I had a lot of trouble finding a suitable bar that was not too wide but was short enough accros the crown to give me enough room to fit grips, switch blocks, levers, master cylinder reservoir etc. As it is I had only just enough space. In fact had to mount the brake reservoir on an angled bracket as it sits part way down the bar slope.
When I get to some twistys I find that I lean forward so that the chin of my helmet is mid tank and the top almost to the bar crown. In this position I am not too low but am riding with my arms bent and shoulder girdle relaxed. Seems to improve my control of the bike immensely.

[Pixie]

Some pics of my flat bar conversion.
Although the bar rise is a little higher than I wanted it is fine in actual use. I had a lot of trouble finding a suitable bar that was not too wide but was short enough accros the crown to give me enough room to fit grips, switch blocks, levers, master cylinder reservoir etc. As it is I had only just enough space. In fact had to mount the brake reservoir on an angled bracket as it sits part way down the bar slope.
When I get to some twistys I find that I lean forward so that the chin of my helmet is mid tank and the top almost to the bar crown. In this position I am not too low but am riding with my arms bent and shoulder girdle relaxed. Seems to improve my control of the bike immensely.
Another biker sees the light,and realises clip-ons are useless in the real world.
Enjoy the improved handling of your speed four Trumpy.

[trumpy]

Thanks mate. I just fail to understand why Triumph didn't put bars on in the first place like the Speed Triples etc. Perhaps it is to do with the Italian connection to the concept of the Speed Four. Maybe a classic case of style over function?

[Blackbird]

Nice conversion Robert - the twisties will be a whole lot easier now! Looks good too.:niceone:

Geoff

[Devil]

Are you sure it wasn't supposed to read 'Flat Bar Heathen'?

You could have just traded it on a speed triple ;)

Looks ok, but you're aware of my opinion already!

edit: As for the leaning forward, definately, no matter what the bars. Getting the weight slight forward of the normal riding position makes the bike handle beautifully. Ran a few experiments with weight at my last track day. I couldnt believe the difference!

[trumpy]

Would love to trade it in for a new Speed Triple but my financial manager has another opinion on the subject.......something to do with a new kitchen. Let's see.....kitchen?..bike?...kitchen?...bike?........ ...........???

Still not happy with the actual bars themselves so will keep looking for a set with the dimensions I want.

[Blackbird]

Would love to trade it in for a new Speed Triple but my financial manager has another opinion on the subject.......something to do with a new kitchen. Let's see.....kitchen?..bike?...kitchen?...bike?........ ...........???.

My Management has just ordered a new kitchen for the beach which actually equates to the cost of a new Blackbird. However, in an uncharacteristic display of generosity, she has allowed me to order a made to measure set of leathers from Tony B. I must have done something right recently.:Oops:

[kiwifruit]

looks good Rob :)