[sidharth]

the bike went down very very slowly and the handle bar got bent. does any one have any experience with replacing the handlebar (45$ at oneidasuzuki)? the grips look like they're on there permanently and I can not figure out how to remove the handle bar itself from the steering column.

any help would be very much appreciated

or how about putting woodcraft clip-ons on?...they'd be sweet but i think it'd be a wee bit more complicated.

 

[evilbologna]

Do the clip-ons. Just do it man. All the cool people are doing it.

 

[GMslave]

Sawzall.

 

[Guest]

I'm not exactly sure what you're asking so I'm just gonna throw out a few things:

On the bar clamps just below the ignition switch there are four M6 bolts that secure the handlebar to the upper triple clamp, but they're hidden under chrome covers. Just gently (they're chromed plastic) pry up the covers with a pocket knife or small screwdriver.

I personally wouldn't concern myself with saving the grips. They're about $10 to replace so you could just cut 'em off. If you want to reuse them wedge a screwdriver in under them and shoot some carb cleaner in there. Wiggle the grip around, repeat until it slides off. Carb cleaner is also good when you put them back on; a little shot acts as a lube and then evaporates leaving the grip tight.

$45 is a lot for a handlebar. $15 or $20 is more like it (Bikemaster) or eBay maybe. If you really want to spend the money you could step up to Suburban Machinery bars for $100 (IIRC); they are highly regarded.

Before you lay out the cash for clip ons, jump on your bike and imagine grabbing bars that are 4 to 6" lower than the stockers. Oh and you'll need to rework (shorten, flip, cut and weld etc) or replace your headlight brackets (the steel part, not the aluminum triangles) since they will be in the way of the clip ons.

No big deal, but if you buy anything other than OEM Suzuki bars (or SM bars, maybe) you'll need to drill locating holes for the switch pods. The pods have a little plastic anti-rotation pin that mates with this hole to prevent them from slipping. If you just cut the pin off the switch pods will most likely slip.

Hope that helps out a little.

 

[sidharth]

I'm not exactly sure what you're asking so I'm just gonna throw out a few things:

On the bar clamps just below the ignition switch there are four M6 bolts that secure the handlebar to the upper triple clamp, but they're hidden under chrome covers. Just gently (they're chromed plastic) pry up the covers with a pocket knife or small screwdriver.

I personally wouldn't concern myself with saving the grips. They're about $10 to replace so you could just cut 'em off. If you want to reuse them wedge a screwdriver in under them and shoot some carb cleaner in there. Wiggle the grip around, repeat until it slides off. Carb cleaner is also good when you put them back on; a little shot acts as a lube and then evaporates leaving the grip tight.

$45 is a lot for a handlebar. $15 or $20 is more like it (Bikemaster) or eBay maybe. If you really want to spend the money you could step up to Suburban Machinery bars for $100 (IIRC); they are highly regarded.

Before you lay out the cash for clip ons, jump on your bike and imagine grabbing bars that are 4 to 6" lower than the stockers. Oh and you'll need to rework (shorten, flip, cut and weld etc) or replace your headlight brackets (the steel part, not the aluminum triangles) since they will be in the way of the clip ons.

No big deal, but if you buy anything other than OEM Suzuki bars (or SM bars, maybe) you'll need to drill locating holes for the switch pods. The pods have a little plastic anti-rotation pin that mates with this hole to prevent them from slipping. If you just cut the pin off the switch pods will most likely slip.

Hope that helps out a little.

thank you so much, that is a lot of good info...i think i'll replace the handle bar...it seems like my mechanical skills wouldn't be able to handle doing the clip ons right now...even though cafe-racer 650s are so hot.

 

[Doozer]

Go for the Suburban Machinery type one. They are one inch higher than the svs clipons. Even though they are handle bars they are low enough to give the sv that cafe racer look we all like.

 

[DrummerDaveB]

When I lowsided at the gap, my bars got bent.

They're not that hard to replace.

Remove the bar ends, right side controls, MC, then left side controls & clutch perch.
Your left side grip is glued on.   Best way to do it is to get an air compressor & blow air all around it which should free it up.  Some people use WD40, or a small screwdriver to unstick it from the glue. 
Pull it off, then unbolt the bars from the triple.

Reinstallation is opposite of removal.

 

[bmetz99]

Where are you located? I've got a set of stock 1st gen handlebars that are in great condition. Yours for $20+ shipping.

Bill