# Motorcycle Q: What is a clip-on?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/motorcycle-q-what-is-a-clip-on/349953>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [March 26, 2006, 11:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/motorcycle-q-what-is-a-clip-on/349953 "2006-03-26T11:49:56Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 6\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Dog80](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/6bbea6/32.png) [@Dog80](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dog80)\
**Post date:** [March 26, 2006, 11:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/motorcycle-q-what-is-a-clip-on/349953/1 "2006-03-26T11:49:56Z")

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All supersport motorcycles seem to have clip-ons. What is the difference between a clip-on and a standard handlebar?

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**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\
**Post date:** [March 26, 2006, 2:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/motorcycle-q-what-is-a-clip-on/349953/2 "2006-03-26T14:34:44Z")

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A standard handlebar is a single piece, like on a bicycle. Sportbike have two handlebars (one for each side) that ‘clip on’ to the tops of the forks.

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**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\
**Post date:** [March 26, 2006, 3:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/motorcycle-q-what-is-a-clip-on/349953/3 "2006-03-26T15:24:01Z")

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For comparison I snapped a couple of photos.

[Standard](http://pw1.netcom.com/~heliboy/standard.jpg) handlebars on my Seca II. Note that they are attached to the triple-tree.

[Clip-on](http://pw1.netcom.com/~heliboy/clip-on.jpg) handlebars on my YZF-R1. They ‘clip on’ to the forks below the upper triple-tree.

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**Author:** ![AskNott](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asknott/32/5790_2.png) [@AskNott](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AskNott)\
**Post date:** [March 26, 2006, 5:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/motorcycle-q-what-is-a-clip-on/349953/4 "2006-03-26T17:05:40Z")

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As you can see, clip-on handlebars allow the rider to get into a lower “racer’s crouch.” They’re also a wee bit lighter than a full-length bar.

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**Author:** ![Dog80](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/6bbea6/32.png) [@Dog80](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dog80)\
**Post date:** [March 26, 2006, 6:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/motorcycle-q-what-is-a-clip-on/349953/5 "2006-03-26T18:24:49Z")

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Thanks guys!

BTW, I am going to get that R6 tomorrow 😃

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**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\
**Post date:** [March 27, 2006, 12:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/motorcycle-q-what-is-a-clip-on/349953/6 "2006-03-27T00:31:12Z")

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> [@Dog80](#):
>
> Thanks guys!
> 
> BTW, I am going to get that R6 tomorrow 😃

When come back, bring photos.