Motorbike handle bar change?

[chef]

is it really hard to change the handle bars? or pretty straight forward, any advice?

thankyou.

(for my hyo gt250)

[YellowDog]

Lots seem to do it without much trouble.

Everything comes off easy enough, it's just making sure you put it all back together in the right order.

Those little washers, springs, nuts, and screws are all quite important.

[CookMySock]

It's not hard. The bars have to be the same diameter. They have to be straight where they go through the clamp bit. All the bits have to be carefully unbolted and swapped over without breaking anything or losing any tiny screws out of it.

Do the job on a CLEAN concrete floor so you can see any dropped bits easily. DONT do it on a gravel driveway or on the grass.

It will take three times longer than you think.

You won't have the right size screwdriver, and you will burr a screw off, so it looks like crap.

It probably wont go back together because something is missing, and you wont be able to ride it to work, so have a backup vehicle.

The clamps will be loose on the bars afterwards, and the controls will move around.

Good luck, and have fun!

Steve

[YellowDog]

Yes, I might be a good idea to buy an after market bat that is actually designed for your bike.

Round Peg into Square Hole and all that good stuff.................

[Subike]

Got a carmera phone?
Take pics of where everything fits on the handle bars before you start,
That way you can refer to them upon reassembly.

Place a towel or old blanket over your tank to prevent scratching.
Place bike on an old bed sheet laid on the floor to catch the droppings.
They stand out really well on mums best white linen

Make sure you have all the right tools for the job,
Screw drivers, allen key wrenches, spray bottle of soapy water and good music.

Take your time to loosen every thing off,
make sure you loosen your clutch cable at the handle bars..
But most important of all. Relax and take your time.
1/2 hr should find you finnished if you are tool savey
2 hrs if your a learner.
Enjoy!

[BAD DAD]

All good advise already given. One more point... check that your cables and brake lines will be long enough if new bars are longer, taller etc.

[James Deuce]

Like subike says, make sure that you put a couple of towels on the tank to rest the bars on once they're removed from the clamps. This means you can leave the original bars there and swap each component from the old bars to the new bars with everything right there.

You may need to remove pin locators from the switch blocks. Make sure that you have something like clear cloth tape to wrap around the new bars so the switch blocks won't rotate around the bars.

[short-circuit]

You may need to remove pin locators from the switch blocks. Make sure that you have something like clear cloth tape to wrap around the new bars so the switch blocks won't rotate around the bars.

If you are replacing with an aluminium bar you can drill locating holes for the pins - it's not hard

[James Deuce]

I've had an aluminium bar fracture around the drilled hole, so I don't do that any more.

[CookMySock]

You can clamp a piece of sandpaper between the bar and the controls, so they don't move.

Steve

[MotoKuzzi]

I've had an aluminium bar fracture around the drilled hole, so I don't do that any more.

I wondered about that, just removed a set I'd fitted to my Guzzi in the never ending quest for the perfect riding position:shit:

[crazyhorse]

Why would you replace them? Don't tell me its another fault with these kind of bikes. If its not broken, then don't fix it......

[James Deuce]

It's not a fault crazyhorse, but the biggest reason for replacing them is improved steering. The stock bars on my Z750 are so flexible I can bend them visibly with only a modicum of pressure. A pair of aftermarket bars like Renthals will improve steering dramatically.

The next reason is ergonomics. Doesn't matter how I rotate the stock bars around in the clamps on the Zed the angle of the bars still bends my hands outwards.

The next reason is looks. No need for your handlebars to look like towel rails if they don't have to, is there?

[CookMySock]

The GT250 bars are fine to ride with - certainly a lot easier than the GT250R. The number one reason to fiddle with any part of your bike, is for fun.

Steve