Handlebar Swap

[jdbutler13]

OK, so I was rushing when I pulled into the bank yesterday and parked on the tiniest of slopes (I'm sure many of you know where I'm going with this and I feel dumb enough).
I race of the bike and as I'm running into the bank I see my bike going for a ride without me ...still standing straight which I can laugh at now, but at the time had several four letter words to say.
As I run after the bike I see it smash into a parked car and fall down. Luckily, the car I hit only had a small dent and the owner did not care. The only damage to the bike is a bend in the handle bars which I wanted to change anyways...I got some new cafe handlebars which I cannot wait to put on (I will put some pics after I promise)

Problem is now I've never have done a handle bar swap.
Is there a thread already up the will shed some light on the subject or can someone help.
I loosened everything, but I'm not sure if I can take the grips off by force, apply a lube or what. I was hoping to reuse the grips so I don't want to just rip them off.

Any help is appreciated

Also, If anyone knows where I could get a crankcase cover for the right side of the bike I would appreciate it.
Thanks

[007brendan]

Yeah, they're a PITA to get off.  It helps if you can spray some compressed air and wd40 under the grips.

[adidasguy]

Grips are cheap. I vote to put new ones on. It is a pain in the arsery part of your buttocks to get the old ones off.
I just did that with factory clip ons when I replaced one of the bars that was bent. New grips on both sides.
007 has a good suggestion. WD40 and sliding around a really thin, long screwdriver or something to get the oil around and break the hold of the existing stuff that held them on does make them come off. Then clean them good with alcohol to get the oil off before putting them on the other bars. A little spray paint or something similar inside the grip lets them slide on the new bars and will set up pretty quick so they don't slide around or slip off.

[Anaconda]

jdbutler13, i just changed my bent handlebars over the past labor day weekend.  It took me about 2 hours of work to get it done, though realistically it took me about 3 when I read the clymer's repair book as my assistant.  I didn't dare to do it at first as I've never had experience doing anything mechanical and the handlebars as being one of the most critical safety parts of the bike.  With that book, it became pretty self explanatory.  Best of luck switching your handlebars. The funny thing is my body was so used to my bent handlebars that when I was riding with the proper angles, it felt as if the handlebars were bent! HAHAHAHAHAH

[Firewalker]

Same thing with mind anaconda!

[jdbutler13]

Thanks guys
Should I be looking for anything when I'm adjusting the angle of the bars or just comfort...Apart from some quick spins on buddies bikes I've only rode with the stock bars and I'm expecting a big change either way.

[Anaconda]

I adjusted mine towards comfort/whatever the angle was on the stock handlebars as I did not care for making the bike more aggressive.  Do check to see if your cafe handlebars are hollow or has the metal piece inside to hold the bar ends because my bikemaster handlebars did not have have the metal piece to hold the stock bar ends.  I then had to order some aluminum ones that are made for hollow tubes and maybe I might modify it to use back my old bar ends because without them, my hands really gets buzzing after 10 mins.

[O.G. GS500]

Check out my bars i put the vortex ones on took 30 min took top plate off completely and installed clip ons under the plate that holds the forks..I had to pull the forks down to get them out of the upper plate that holds em....the grips just spray wd40 with the lil red hose between grips bar and spray and twist off the grips and thats it

[Firewalker]

You know I still haven't put ends on there and I was going to order some I liked from bike bandit or MSS and it looked like a previous customer was pissed it didn't come with the rubber insert although the pic shows it.  I can't tell they buzz my hands without but my levers look too long when they are not on there. 

BTW I would be tempted next time to not cut the ends off the super bike bars and try them.  I cut off 1 1/8 inches and almost made them too short to get my controls put back on.

Anyone have a link to order some ends that you know fit and have the rubber piece on it?  TIA

[Anaconda]

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=270545801307&ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT I ordered that one, but I'm still waiting for it to arrive. I am sure aluminum is much lighter than the steel ones, but I haven't been able to find steel bar ends with the rubber at the end

[adidasguy]

The factory ones are not that expensive: like $25 a set so $50 total. Price depends on your dealer and some dealers give discounts to Suzuki Owners Club members, have sales, talk 'em down in price, etc. Here are the parts and list price:
http://www.aurora-suzuki.com/fiche_section_detail.asp?section=1044576&category=Motorcycles&make=SUZUKI&year=2009&fveh=28479

OR buy this (or any) used set and then get new rubber bushings & bolts. Spray paint them to look new.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Suzuki-GS500-500-GS500F-BAR-END-WEIGHTS-_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQhashZitem1e5e3240ccQQitemZ130429370572QQptZMotorcyclesQ5fPartsQ5fAccessories