Those visiting the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb next year may see a reduction in the amount of sports bikes taking on the 12.42-mile course after the event organizers banned motorcycles that feature clip-on handlebars, which includes most sports bikes out there today.
"Only motorcycles manufactured with one piece handle bars as original equipment will be permitted,” read a statement from the PPIHC. “Only OVM one-piece handlebars will be permitted. This Rule does not apply to bikes in the Pikes Peak Challenge Sidecar Class."
In nearly 100 years of the event, there have only been six fatalities due to crashes. However, the latest two have both been sports bike riders competing within the past two years of the event: 54-year-old Bobby Goodin in 2014 and 39-year-old Carl Sorensen in 2015.
According to Roadracingworld.com, clip-on handlebars had been banned in the past but were undesired by the riders anyway, due to the fact that a good portion of the course was not paved. Shortly after paving was complete in 2011, the rule was lifted, clip-on handlebars came in and lap times dropped.
The latest rule change has proven controversial, as Roadracingworld.com noted that motorcycles with one-piece handlebars can be easily tuned to go just as fast as motorcycles with clip-on handlebars, and that motorcycles with one-piece handlebars are known to not handle as well.
