Bar question for GS500f

[shiplemw]

I dropped my bike the other day in a very newb fashion, ie: putting the centerstand down on warm asphalt, so now I busted my fairing on the right front portion where the large fairing comes into the smaller fairing.  The wheel was also in the lock position and it came down on the right handlebar screwing up the screw for the endpiece and also pushing my handle bars over and twisting them up about 30-40 degrees. What do I have to do to loosen my handle bar holders (for lack of a better word) so I can re-adjust my bars?  I can't ride with it the way it is because I feel like it is unsafe.  IT may have bent the bolts in the bar hold down brackets but looking at it I have no way to just take them out and see.  Is there some special trick?  THanks for your help,

mike

ps.  GS500F is the bike i'm working on.

[The Buddha]

They have those decorative plastic buttons on the allen head bolts... so take those off and get one of those allen head sockets... Somple allen wrenches wont do cos they will be cranked down tight...
Cool.
Srinath.

[perfdrug]

just an observation, but a lot of F's have been being dropped recently.
but i'm glad they're selling. hopefully an aftermarket will follow.

[shiplemw]

probably a lot of new people I would imagine would be the reaosn, i'm new.  I saw the decorative caps but wasn't sure if they were bolt stops for something coming up from underneath.  I may tweaked those but definately a bit better than trying to take it back and have them fix it if I cn do it myself.

What can I do for the end of my grips? that large metal piece that got all scratched to heck.  I wasn't planning on replacing it now but maybe in the future.  Maybe I'll make something trick out of some stainless steel or some aluminum to dress it up a bit.  Any idea as to why they are on there? (dumb newb question I know)

mike

[perfdrug]

you used the bar ends (the metal scratched piece) as they were intended. to protect the bars in the event of a crash.

and everyone here would agree that you should do the work yourself. it makes owning a bike all the more fun. ask questions as you need to, and i can guarentee you'll get help.  

[shiplemw]

Quick question:
what is the best way to pop off those dressy covers that hide the allen bolts?

mike

[chinox22x]

Quick question:
what is the best way to pop off those dressy covers that hide the allen bolts?

mike

a pointy object.  they come off fairly easily.

as far as bar ends,  u can grab either aluminum*bling* or carbon fiber bar ends for about 10$ at any popular online site.  Also, if you do get them, get the ones with the rubber.

[Steve-C]

They have those decorative plastic buttons on the allen head bolts

Wish I'd know tha a couple of days ago!

I thought the nuts were similar to the ones holding the clock faces on, and was wondering how the heck to loosen them off!  Even tried jamming something into the split pin hole whilst trying to turn the nut... :dunno:

Eventualy saw the little gap on the top, and tried fitting a flat head screwdriver in there...off pops the cap and reveals the allen bolt....

[Kerry]

In case it will help someone in the future, here is what the Allen bolt caps look like on my '99.

Yes, they are definitely plastic.