bar rotation pics, as requested. - Motorcycle-Journal Forums

digitalbroccoli · 07-12-2007, 08:00 PM

Or, as I like to call it..."Uncle Broccoli's guide to gaining a few inches"

I installed a different seat and different footboards, and I found that it felt like I was "reaching" for the bars when I was sitting in a comfortable position. My first thought was to buy a differnt set of risers, or even spacers, then I realized there's geometry to play with in our current bars. If you look at the bars, why not rotate the rise toward the back of the bike, essentially making them rise sort of up and back, instead of just up?

These are the bolt covers we're working with. They are hex head bolts underneath, and you'll need to remove the chrome button covers. I used a very tiny bladed flat screwdriver, and sort of wiggled it in between the cover and the bolt, and gradually pulled them out.

Before...

After...

this gives us access to the 4 hex head bolts. They're in there pretty good, and we're going to be a little careful breaking them loose. See that shiny tank? pretty chrome? Yeah bub, now's not the time for breaking out the BFH and whacking away on an allen wrench. You miss, you're gonna cry. (I'm no responsible for big freaking dents...you're on your own, go slow, and be careful)

They'll break loose, and we want to loosen them relatively equally. Same number of turns on all 4 bolts. Like lug nuts. That way when we re-tighten them, we know they're equal. bar clamps work better when they're equal.

This pic shows the bars before and after I rotated them back a couple inches. From the side, you can see the mirrors and bars are lower than they were by about an inch or so. Before on the right, after on the left.

From behind, its a lot more noticeable. I haven't adjusted the mirrors yet in the after pic on the right.

be careful. make sure you have clearance on the tank on BOTH SIDES after you rotate them back a bit. Like this...

Once you've got them rotated a bit, and checked your clearance, tighten those hex head bolts back up, good and tight. Don't forget to put the cute little chrome buttons back in. This is strictly an amateru mechanic sort of thing, really easy to do, and nothing to be scared of. Just remember to tighten everything you loosened, and you'll be right as rain.

Then, adjust your mirror mounts where they clamp on to the bars. (hex head key again, easy as pie) Once they're where you want em, you're done. Leaving an inch of clearance or more on both sides, I was able to rotate them back to get almost 2 inches closer to the rear of the bike. I didn't adjust either control box as they didn't bother me where they are now. If the starter box on the right side and the light control/signal canel box on the left aren't comfy, adjust them the same way you did the mirrors. Easy stuff.

Now, instead of reaching for the bars, they're comfortable. Feels completely different, and all it cost me is 20 minutes of working. (would have been 10 without taking pictures) So, all you folks who wanted pictures and a write up...there ya are!