Handelbars

[al_roethlisberger]

Wow, those are really nice! But they are kinda pricey

 

Their "S" style risers seem to be close to what several of us were hoping to get out of the Williamsville risers Val purchased....

 

Maybe if we sent them a photo of the Williamsville product and said, "..hey, for example, something like this would be perfect if you could also just move the mount back a 1/2 inch over the fork tube crown as well..." ??

 

al

[twhitaker]

My LeMans and I live about 80 miles from the place. I'll contact them and see what hoops I'll have to go through. Maybe I can get a set at a BIG discount.

[twhitaker]

My bike has been signed up as the donor. I'm taking it there next Monday. Pray for good weather.

[al_roethlisberger]

EXCELLENT! I'm glad to hear someone has already taken them up on their offer! Otherwise I was thinking a cross-country trip might be in order

 

 

I wrote them an email, and sent photos of the Williamsville product for comparison last night. Here's their response:

 

Al-

 

Thanks for your note and the excellent images.  I have to tell you,

we've

never gotten as much input, and high quality input at that, on any new

product concept as we have on this one.  This is important to us, as it

is

rider and owner input like that you've provided which is the critical

determinant for us of what we spend time doing, and what products we

develop.  So, let me go on record as saying you've certainly got our

attention, and in my opinion, you Guzzinis are terrific!

 

From the images I've received over the past few days, I really do

think we

may have something pretty readily adaptable to the V11 Sport... can't

say

without doing some hands-on study whether my impression is right, what

degree of adjustability will be possible, whether stock hoses/cables

will

work, or if, for that matter, we would have to create a new riser for

the

bike.  But we are certainly willing to give it the time and attention

necessary to find out and see what's involved.

 

I'd be interested in finding one of your henchpersons in the Columbus,

Ohio

area who could bring his/her bike in for some measurements, fitting,

and

general development work.  This is a common mode of operation for us,

and we

have a standard compensation deal for folks who help us out in this

way...

we can be very flexible with schedules and generally don't need to keep

the

bike for long periods at a time.

 

So if you know of someone, please have him/her contact us, or give me

contact info, and we'll follow up.

 

Meanwhile, please accept my sincere thanks for your interest,

enthusiasm,

and outstanding input.

 

Best-

 

-Alfred

 

 

Alfred Kobacker, President

Cycle Cat division Ideanamics, LLC

800 Morrison Rd.

Columbus, OH 43230 USA

 

ph:614-577-8080

fax:614-577-8019

 

 

So yeah, this is great news that you've volunteered

 

 

Did they give you any idea what the turnaround for R&D might be?

 

My only concern is that their products seem a bit pricey, but if it's just the risers and no bar, I noticed some were closer to $400USD.

 

thx!

al

[twhitaker]

The ultimate cost of the system depends on the extent of the job. His concerns centered around the potential interference points. I mentioned the brake fluid reservoir and he said he has a relocation kit available if needed. If new brake lines and or even throttle cables are needed those would be included in the kit. They seem to be very cooperative. If the job is exceedingly simple he would need the bike for a couple hours and I could come back in a week or 2 at the most for the installation. I intend to leave the bike there for a week or so. Maybe I can get a peg relocation kit too.

[al_roethlisberger]

A little more from the Cycle Cat folks:

 

 

Al-

 

Well, thanks for your enthusiasm, too!

 

A little clarification.  All of our bar mounting systems come with our

bars.  The bars are a very significant part of the system, and stock

bars

cannot be used with our risers.

 

On the other hand, the issue of the Throttlemeister, at least, should

not

be a problem, as Throttlemeister now makes an adapter specifically for

our

bars.  We stock them as does Throttlemeister, so they're readily

available.

 

As for heated grips and the like, as long as they are designed for

standard

7/8" od bars, I don't imagine there will be a problem there, either.

 

The differences in price that you see with our various models have to

do

with the inclusion of cables, hydraulic lines, and such.  If the kit

does

not require these items to reach full height and range of adjustment,

they

are not included (example: DBR-1 for Ducati 748/916/996/998).  At the

other

extreme, some kits, in order to achieve full range of adjustment, need

one

or more cable or hose extended.  When this is the case, the cables or

hoses

are included, always, so that every kit always has everything needed,

as we

say, "in the box".

 

The hydraulic lines we supply are made for us by Spiegler, and are SS

braided and shielded lines.  They're very nice.  The cables for

throttles

and clutches where applicable, are made for us by a company in

California

using teflon lined jackets.  They, too, are very good quality.  So its

a

good package.

 

But I cannot, without seeing the bike, even guess what will be required

for

the V11.  I can, however, tell you that the kits requiring no lines,

hoses,

or cables, retail for $290.  The kits which are fully loaded with brake

lines, multiple throttle cables, and perhaps a clutch cable, get up to

$515

(example: ABR-1/11 for Aprilia Mille/Mille R).  So the V11 kit would be

somewhere between the two extremes.  To be sure, we do everything we

can to

keep the price as low as possible.

 

As for R&D time, it really depends upon what's involved.  If we have to

do

a whole new riser for the bike, it can be 6-12 weeks depending upon the

schedules for our machines.  If we can work with an existing riser, it

can

be half that.  If we really luck out and have something that bolts

right

up, it will be almost overnight.

 

The good news, as you may know, is that we have arranged to bring a V11

in

on Monday, so at least we'll get started pretty quickly.  We'll do our

best

to keep you advised of progress, and if you don't mind, can designate

you

the official messenger for your list... we'd do that ourselves, but

unfortunately, we are saturated with list and group communications

already,

and really cannot handle any more.

 

I hope this is helpful!  If not, or if there is any respect in which we

can

be of further service, please let me know.   We're happy to help out

any

way we can.

 

Best-

 

-Alfred

 

 

 

 

Seems like a bunch of really nice folks, and they are quick to communicate back, which I think indicates good customer service. So all good things.

 

Terry and I will let everyone know more as this develops...

 

 

al

[joe camarda]

Well, I'm hoping that the system they come up with will work on a V11 Sport which has the clip ons mounted beneath the upper triple clamp. Can anyone see why it shouldnt?

[al_roethlisberger]

hrmm, techically I don't see why it wouldn't work... but it would probably only raise them to the height of the OEM LeMans bars, mabye 1/4 inch higher?? I would think something like the Verlicci bars might offer more adjustability and height. Not sure though..

 

al

[al_roethlisberger]

I'm liking these guys more and more

 

 

Al-

 

No apologies necessary!  Our products are unique in many ways... I wish

people would ask more questions.

 

There are two reasons why we only use our bars.  The first has to do

with

mechanics, and the second with performance.

 

The heart of our system is bar angle adjustability.  All of our systems

provide the potential for 8 degrees of bar angle adjustment, which many

people, including I, think is as or more important to optimizing

ergonomics

than is bar height.  But that's another subject.

 

Anyway, we spent many months evaluating different ways of achieving bar

angle adjustment, and came to the conclusion that the best way, the

safest

way, and the way which provided optimal dynamics for the bike, was the

way

we do it.

 

That is, the angle on our system cannot shift dramatically, even if all

the

screws are loose.  There is no practical way for the system to fail

catastrophically.  When one gets into the realm of adjustable

motorcycle

components, this becomes, or at least should become, one's initial

concern.  If a design or system can address such safety issues, it is

then,

and only then, worth considering further.

 

So, we developed the eccentric adjustment sleeve, which also functions

as a

collet, essentially, in clamping the bar.  Making the sleeve work as a

collet is expensive, but we do it because it clamps with

extraordinarily

even force, and significant power.  This (finally) gets us to the first

reason we only use our bars.  We need the base of the bar to be solid,

in

order to properly clamp, without distortion over time.  This is a

mechanical matter, but it also relates to performance, as any

imperfection

in fit can translate to a loss of feel or sense of feedback from the

bike.  Our bars and clamping system have a "welded-on" sense to them.

 

As for weight, our bars, comparing comparable lengths of stock Ducati

bars,

for example, our bars are approximately 15% heavier.  But that's not

the

whole story. Our bars are machined from solid stock, and are even

machined

inside.  They are not made from tubing.  The reason we do this is, by

machining them inside and out, we can make them do exactly the shape we

want them to be, to do exactly what we want them to do... by machining

varying internal diameters in the bars, they are not only significantly

stronger than straight tubing, but they are also  very effective in

damping

vibration.   We have been told that our bars are extremely "quiet".  

That's

the other performance reason for making the bars as we do.

 

I guess you're getting the sense that, when designing a product,  we

really

don't start from a point of cost considerations.  We start with

questions

relating to optimal performance, and what is, theoretically, the best

one

can achieve with no limitations on materials or cost.  We then design

to

meet that target, and worry about getting costs controlled through more

efficient production, or sometimes, taking substandard margins.  But we

don't ever compromise design to meet a price point.  That's just not

Cycle Cat.

 

Sorry if I ramble on subjects like this... its just that these things

are

close to the heart of who we are, and I feel, worth a little time.

 

Many thanks, again, Al.  Please never hesitate to contact us!

 

-Alfred

 

 

 

al

[Guest Tony]

I've had the Cycle Cat bar system on the '02 ST4-s for several months and am very pleased. Alfred is a real enthusiast! When I talked to him last year about the ST-4s bars, I mentioned that my '01 V11S bars were perfect for me, but that many Le Mans owners were changing bars, and might he consider a Guzzi product. He said he was considering it.

 

Tony in Baton Rouge

'01 V11S

'02 ST4-s

'98 Calif EV

'96 DR-650

[al_roethlisberger]

Question:

 

So, does anyone know(have measured) if the top of the 43mm 2003 forks are larger in diameter than the 2002 and earlier 40mm forks? This will be important to know for the manufacturers of these aftermarket risers so that they can have a 40mm and 43mm version if so.

 

Has anyone measured the crown of the 2003 forks(and clip ons) and compared them to a 2002 or earlier V11 Sport/LeMans?

 

This will also be a good thing to know if one has to change out the top triple-clamp if upgrading forks.

 

al

[al_roethlisberger]

Here's the current status from Cycle Cat:

 

 

Thanks for the follow-up.  This project will not be a quick one.  Not

because its particularly difficult, but because it is going to take a

new design, and we are very much booked up on the machines for the

moment.

 

I wish I could say it we'd have something soon, but I doubt it will be

before the end of the summer...

 

But we'll keep you advised.

 

Thanks, Al.

 

-Alfred

 

I haven't heard anything from GenMar for a while either, so I guess this Summer is going to be a "bust" for any new risers

 

al

[joe camarda]

Al, Like so many women I've known, they've lead me on, only to dash my hopes bitterly against the shores of desolation and despair. All is misery, all is bleakness and bitterness unbridaled. Immeasurable woe and unrequitting sorrow everlasting.

 

Well, after a six-pack I've snapped out of my semi-eternal funk and have decided to move on to plan "B", the tubular bars. But, darnit, those "Cyclekats" sure looked sweet!

[jrt]

Welcome to the harsh, unforgiving world of Italian motorcycles, Joe. I'm afraid the only thing you can do is take a trip. A long trip. With curves and changes in elevation.

Trust me, I'm a doctor.

Cheers,

Jason

[Guest Aussie Kim]

This was posted on www.wildguzzi.com by a Mr Hagan if anyone's still interested in Handle Bar Risers for 2000 and up V11 Spine Frames. Also Mike didn't like the original photos taken (mentioned below) so they've been re-done. The V11 sport he refers to below is now an '02 Scura.

 

>>>Mike Haven posted this on the Topica Board. I have never done business with MPH, but old hands know what a great Guzzi dealer he is. Almost bought a leftover '02 Scura from him before lust for the Ballabio's red got me. Was VERY impressed with his taking the time to talk as he did. Yes, he was selling, but he went way beyond the required.

 

Anyway, this is a typically great initiative for Mike Haven. If this kit is anywhere near to as good as the raised stock bars on my B'bio (and it may very well be better), it will be super for all of those who don't...errr...lean as well as we used to back in the old 20th century!

 

**************

V11 Lemans and Sport bar riser exists! Michael Haven

Aug 07, 2003 17:01 PDT

 

First I want to say thanks to those that expressed interest when I first floated this project over a year ago. It was a lot of learning about getting things made in small quantity from a napkin design..... I am not an engineer, designer, CAD programmer or any such.. As of todayIi have a set installed on my Lemans. It works, it brings the

bar up and back . The ergo changes can be seen on my website as of tomorrow, I have pics of my scrawny self on a stock bike and on the kitted Lemans. (Tho the

stock bike photo is a v11Sport, the original bar postion is within 6 mm to a Lemans). The set back and height change is visible. There is no interference with body work as on some kits like this. Custom length brake and clutch hoses are required, I have sourced these from Spiegler, the best I have found. Contact me for more details, plan to be shipping in 4 weeks. first dibs to those 20 guys who replied last year.

 

--

Michael Haven

MPH Cycles, Inc.

16510 Park Row

Houston, Texas 77084

(281)647-6557

(281)579-8885

Fax (281)579-9035

http://www.mphcycles.com