Handlebars
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Handlebars
I have shortened the bars on previous bikes such as V-Stroms et al. since I prefer the response after removing an inch or so on each side. I found the R's bars just a wee bit wide for my liking. My question is: does anyone know of a technical obstacle to doing this on an R?
The are some obstacles, none insurmountable but unfortunately it's not as easy as it would seem:
1) The bar end weights are screwed into threaded end pieces with are welded to the ends.
2) The left side grip is attached to the handlebar by two screws that go into the handlebar.
3) The end sections under the handlebars are polished, so depending how much you'd cut off, you may have a slight drag on the grip (I don't know that one, as I haven't measured it).
So you would have to get the ends rewelded, drill and tap two new holes for the set screws and (possibly) sand/polish a section of the bars.
As I said, no KO criteria, but no Plug and Play either.
1) The bar end weights are screwed into threaded end pieces with are welded to the ends.
2) The left side grip is attached to the handlebar by two screws that go into the handlebar.
3) The end sections under the handlebars are polished, so depending how much you'd cut off, you may have a slight drag on the grip (I don't know that one, as I haven't measured it).
So you would have to get the ends rewelded, drill and tap two new holes for the set screws and (possibly) sand/polish a section of the bars.
As I said, no KO criteria, but no Plug and Play either.
Oliver
2008 R1200GS
2008 R1200GS
Thank you Oliver. Just the information I needed. Have you tried this yourself? How far from the end of the bar is the welded bit?
The set screws and sanding/polishing are not a problem but the rewelding of the weights might be. I suppose one might use short set screws to hold the weights. Wait, why not just replace the weights with some insertable, threaded aftermarket types. I would be installing something similar to a Throttle Meister anyway.
The set screws and sanding/polishing are not a problem but the rewelding of the weights might be. I suppose one might use short set screws to hold the weights. Wait, why not just replace the weights with some insertable, threaded aftermarket types. I would be installing something similar to a Throttle Meister anyway.
I have not tried to shorten the bars, but ran into similar issues b/c I wanted to swap them out.
The welded bit is a smaller diameter piece at the very end of the handlebars. I kind of hard to explain w/o a picture, but take off the weight and you'll see what I mean (or if you didn't buy yet, have the dealer do it in the showroom - it's one torx bolt). However, rather than rewelding the threaded piece, you can hammer in an M10 nut to give you something to bolt the bar end weight to.
The welded bit is a smaller diameter piece at the very end of the handlebars. I kind of hard to explain w/o a picture, but take off the weight and you'll see what I mean (or if you didn't buy yet, have the dealer do it in the showroom - it's one torx bolt). However, rather than rewelding the threaded piece, you can hammer in an M10 nut to give you something to bolt the bar end weight to.
Oliver
2008 R1200GS
2008 R1200GS