Why do road bikes have clip ons?

[nick crisp]

[quote author=nick crisp link=topic=15799.msg181319#msg181319 date=1422215418]
[quote author=BIG MAC link=topic=15799.msg181303#msg181303 date=1422206008]
If I recall Eddie Lawson managed fine without

Seem to remember he made good use of them on the YZRs 
[/quote]


And on his Z 1000 !


The American Superbike class race bikes in the late 70's/early 80's didn't have clip on's and iirc messers Cooley, Cooley, Spencer, Lawson, Rainey and co didn't have any problems making them go round corners quickly :-)
[/quote]


Spencer, Lawson et al came from dirt tracking, with "normal" handlebars, where drifting was the technique needed. They adapted that style first to the superbikes:





and then to the GP 500s. But if straight bars are so good for speed, why does no one use them in MotoGP, road racing, BSB, WSB etc? Just because talented riders can manage with one thing, it doesn't mean they can't do better with something different.