Handle Bars

[andycam]

There's been some talk about switching back to bars (from clip-ons in some cases) to provide comfort on the long Deal's Gap rides.

I'm seriously considering it myself. I bought bar-end mirrors for the clip-ons, but they don't fit the inside diameter on the ends(?!?). So I want to modify the stock bars by shortening the ends by 2.5 - 3 inches. I'm hoping that this will duplicate the steering effort/feel of the clip-ons with less leaning forward. Has anyone attempted this and what were the results?

Also, can chrome OEM bars be powder coated? Anywhere in the Del. valley to get it done?

Thanks!

[sodark]

Andy, I don't know if I'd cut them that much shorter, I'd try just 3/4" on each side first.
You need to make sure the controls will still mount when you shorten the bars because they will be on the bends and you won't have anywhere to mount your levers.

I'd agree the high bars would be better for the riding, maybe even for the Dragon to be honest.
The more comfortable you are the better you'll ride

As for powder coating, you'll add to the circumference and some of the parts that are very close tolerances, like the levers will be tough to fit and will probably scrape off the paint.

Just my 2 cents...which leaves me with 8 left....damn I'm broke...lol

[deval1]

We put some $22 superbike bars on Keiths bike with very little modifications
Here's some pics of what the bends look like on all of the options
http://www.ridenow.com/product/detai...asterbars.aspx

We got them from

http://www.hvccycle.com/Handlebars.htm

[tomacGTi]

I've been contemplating going to clipons forever and I even have a set of Euro-market clip ons for my bike but I still really like having a tube handlebar for whatever reason. The ones I'm using are Coerce Hyperbars:

http://www.motospecialties.com/store...20Hyper%20Bars

They're the absolute lowest 7/8" aluminum bars that I could find without resorting to a clubman or Suburban Machinery bar. Renthal has a couple of options as well but for me these things are great. Low enough for good body position and high enough so that you're not in the full-blown croutch all the time.

They're a little more expensive than a Bikemaster bar but I think they're worth it. Added bonus is that I think the width is perfect, they're as wide as the Euro-spec clipons for my bike.

-Randy

[Clopstyle]

Originally Posted by tomacGTi

They're the absolute lowest 7/8" aluminum bars that I could find without resorting to a clubman or Suburban Machinery bar.

You say that like its a bad thing [cheeky] I have the SM bars on my bike and love them. They were first installed right-side-up which was not that much different from stock, however they were narrower, which it sounds like what you may be looking for. I have since flipped them up-side-down and they are close to clip ons without the full commitment(about 1.5" higher). Of course if I ever feel the need they can be flipped back over in a matter of minutes.

Have you ever thought about adjustable bars like convertibars or the adjustable cycle cat ones?

[tomacGTi]

Would you believe I actually had a set at one time Jason?

Thing is, for the SV (which mine were for) I had the type ones which were wicked-low in comparison to the type 2's which is pretty much what you've got. If I had the 2's I would have kept them but to buy them outright was about $160, a little too rich for my blood. That and the fact that at the time I was going to pull the trigger to buy them I had hit the deck and bent my original HyperBars. That kind of sealed the deal for me there.

Andy, they're another good option. Picture a clip on at the same height as the factory riser and that's what these are. Like I said, they're pricey but as Jason can attest, they're damn good. Well made and fairly vibration free. I'm sure these guys can throw out some pics but here are some I dug out of the search:

http://www.ducatimonster.org/smf/ind...topic=101555.0

There's a similar, cheaper option through the link I had above but the difference is that they're powdercoated steel versus the stainless that the SM bars are made of. I also don't know if they'll fit as well as the ones designed for the Monster.

-Randy

[Clopstyle]

Thats funny, the 2 crappy cell phone pics of the black bike in that thread are mine [cheeky] The 1st pic of my bike has the SM bar right-side up with Marco's stock risers cut down 7/8" and the 2nd pic is with my stock risers uncut and the bar up-side down. So if you use the stock risers with the SM bar right-side up it will be pretty close to the stock bars and just a few minutes to flip the bar if you want a more aggressive position. [thumbsup]

[andycam]

Thanks for all the great suggestions guys! [clap] All of your solutions made sense to me. Looks like I got some research to do. . .

I really like the clip ons I have, especially after I put them under the top triple clamp. But I ain't gettin any younger.

That said. . . Marco you feel you got another tail chop in you? I just paid the bike off so I feel like I can go a little crazy. >

[lauramonster]

Sniff* Sniff* Is that a Garage Day in the air??

[andycam]

Originally Posted by lauramonster

Sniff* Sniff* Is that a Garage Day in the air??

Ahh, the sweet smell of spring and power tools! ;D