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Main Area => General GS500 Discussion => Topic started by: DrtRydr23 on September 26, 2007, 03:14:22 PM

Title: My GS with clubman bars (pics)
Post by: DrtRydr23 on September 26, 2007, 03:14:22 PM
I finally took some pics of my bike with clubman bars installed on 1 inch risers.  I'm actually considering switching out to superbike bars and may have the clubmans and risers for sale soon.  Anyway, check it out.  Sorry if they're huge, I'm not much for the re-sizing.

From the back:
(http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff262/drtrydr23/100_0348.jpg)

From the side (a lil blurry):
(http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff262/drtrydr23/100_0356.jpg)

From above:
(http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff262/drtrydr23/100_0349.jpg)

View of mounts:
(http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff262/drtrydr23/100_0350.jpg)

Relaxed riding position:
(http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff262/drtrydr23/100_0353.jpg)

Aggressive riding position:
(http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff262/drtrydr23/100_0357.jpg)

I've also got pics of the handlebar tank clearance on both sides if anyone is interested.


Title: Re: My GS with clubman bars (pics)
Post by: mrflagstaff on September 26, 2007, 03:30:58 PM
hey, looks very good, i like the bar end mirrors, nice "suzuki" what happened there?
Title: Re: My GS with clubman bars (pics)
Post by: DrtRydr23 on September 26, 2007, 03:37:08 PM
Quote from: mrflagstaff on September 26, 2007, 03:30:58 PM
hey, looks very good, i like the bar end mirrors, nice "suzuki" what happened there?

Thanks.  Not sure about the "SUZUKI" on the tank.  I think it was kind of like that when I bought it.  I'm guessing some gas spillage combined with a lot of time in the sun.  The tank has some discoloration from gas being spilled on it, and a dent from being dropped against a fence post by my dad.  I'm probably going to repaint the whole thing matte black over the winter.
Title: Re: My GS with clubman bars (pics)
Post by: mrflagstaff on September 26, 2007, 03:45:58 PM
overall looks pretty sweet, it almost looks like the suzuki someone used a white-out brush to paint it on
Title: Re: My GS with clubman bars (pics)
Post by: bubba zanetti on September 26, 2007, 03:51:54 PM
Looks good mate  :thumb:

Like the mirrors as well.
Title: Re: My GS with clubman bars (pics)
Post by: GSRider on September 26, 2007, 03:56:27 PM
Nice, what brand of bars are those?

I had a set of those that were similar when I first started switching out bars.
I got rid of them because under aggressive riding, I noticed that the bars would flex, and then eventually bend from the strain on such a long piece of steel.

I landed up trying a bunch of different styles, before ending up with the current bars from Tommaselli. They are completely adjustable.

Read more here: http://cgi.stanford.edu/~sanjayd/gs500/Upgrades/Handlebars
Title: Re: My GS with clubman bars (pics)
Post by: DrtRydr23 on September 26, 2007, 04:08:12 PM
Quote from: GSRider on September 26, 2007, 03:56:27 PM
Nice, what brand of bars are those?

I had a set of those that were similar when I first started switching out bars.
I got rid of them because under aggressive riding, I noticed that the bars would flex, and then eventually bend from the strain on such a long piece of steel.

I landed up trying a bunch of different styles, before ending up with the current bars from Tommaselli. They are completely adjustable.

Read more here: http://cgi.stanford.edu/~sanjayd/gs500/Upgrades/Handlebars

They are bikemaster's I think.  I bought them from a local shop a couple of years ago, and I'm pretty sure they were bikemaster brand.  I haven't had any problems with vibration or flexing at all.  They feel pretty stable to me, though I don't do track days or anything so my riding style doesn't get too aggressive.  I've seen the Tommaselli's on the wiki, they're pretty sweet.

Quoteoverall looks pretty sweet, it almost looks like the suzuki someone used a white-out brush to paint it on

It does kinda look like that from the pic.  In real life you can see that it is the original decal/whatever that is wearing off.  Once I repaint, there will be no lettering on her at all.
Title: Re: My GS with clubman bars (pics)
Post by: bombadillo on September 26, 2007, 08:31:16 PM
corbin seat???
Title: Re: My GS with clubman bars (pics)
Post by: DrtRydr23 on September 26, 2007, 08:55:18 PM
Quote from: bombadillo on September 26, 2007, 08:31:16 PM
corbin seat???

Negative.  It's a Saddleman replacement seat cover for the stock GS seat.  My seat was pretty torn up so I bought this cover from Dennis Kirk for about $60.  It looks really good, but is a little slick.  E-stops have me sliding forward in the saddle a bit, however it is good for hanging off as I can move around more easily.  Here's the link:

http://www.denniskirk.com/jsp/product_catalog/Product.jsp?skuId=454649&store=Main&catId=408&productId=p451729&leafCatId=40802&mmyId=3932#altImages (http://www.denniskirk.com/jsp/product_catalog/Product.jsp?skuId=454649&store=Main&catId=408&productId=p451729&leafCatId=40802&mmyId=3932#altImages)

The pic on the site is not the cover for the GS obviously, however the part # is correct for the GS.
Title: Re: My GS with clubman bars (pics)
Post by: coll0412 on September 26, 2007, 09:03:02 PM
Whats up with the risers & Clubman bars, seems like its slightly counter intuitive
Title: Re: My GS with clubman bars (pics)
Post by: DrtRydr23 on September 26, 2007, 09:24:47 PM
Quote from: coll0412 on September 26, 2007, 09:03:02 PM
Whats up with the risers & Clubman bars, seems like its slightly counter intuitive

They don't fit without the risers.  The radius at the center section is too shallow and the bars will hit the top fork plate without the risers.  They actually will fit, but would be resting on the top plate near the guage mounts which would make the grip ends of the bars be way too far forward and pointing about 70 degrees down from horizontal.  I actually tried to mount them that way, but the riding position would have been ridiculous.  It is much more manageable, and comfortable, with the risers.
Title: Re: My GS with clubman bars (pics)
Post by: RobTheTyrant on September 27, 2007, 06:37:28 AM
I just got my clubmans last night... finally.  It's going to take some creative installation but I'll get them on there!  :thumb:
Title: Re: My GS with clubman bars (pics)
Post by: heatherg11 on September 27, 2007, 07:03:26 AM
I had to cut mine and have about a 1 1/2 inch piece welded into the middle so they would fit.  But other than that they work great.
Title: Re: My GS with clubman bars (pics)
Post by: 2thExcavator on September 27, 2007, 07:31:51 AM
Thanks for posting this...  I was seriously consdering getting some of these for my project bike.  I have drag bars for it now but I wanted a different look.  Just don't think they fit well on the GS from these pics.  My options now are superbike bars or possibly some dirtbike bars. 

Really like the bar end mirrors.  Very nice
Title: Re: My GS with clubman bars (pics)
Post by: bombadillo on October 04, 2007, 10:07:24 PM
I've got superbike bars brand new if you want them, pm me.
Title: Re: My GS with clubman bars (pics)
Post by: ohgood on October 05, 2007, 03:05:27 AM
Who made your mirrors, and do you like them ?

Nice ride flat black on charcoal will look awesome ! :)
Title: Re: My GS with clubman bars (pics)
Post by: elric8467 on October 05, 2007, 06:10:04 AM
I have a set of clubmans waiting for me a the shop as we speak. I've been riding around with the stock bars upside down and backwards. Not as bad as you might think. I thought the clubman would be a little more agggressive than stock, can anyone confirm. I agree with coll0412 though no risers. The clubmans are supposed to be low and angled I think? I understood that there were intended to make your riding position a little more aggressive and transfer more weight over the front end to help make cornering a little easier/sharper. I plan to cut the clubmans downs so there not quite so long though. Just an inch or two off each end.
Title: Re: My GS with clubman bars (pics)
Post by: DrtRydr23 on October 05, 2007, 06:58:26 AM
Quote from: elric8467 on October 05, 2007, 06:10:04 AM
I have a set of clubmans waiting for me a the shop as we speak. I've been riding around with the stock bars upside down and backwards. Not as bad as you might think. I thought the clubman would be a little more agggressive than stock, can anyone confirm. I agree with coll0412 though no risers. The clubmans are supposed to be low and angled I think? I understood that there were intended to make your riding position a little more aggressive and transfer more weight over the front end to help make cornering a little easier/sharper. I plan to cut the clubmans downs so there not quite so long though. Just an inch or two off each end.

The clubmans are definitely more aggressive than stock bars mounted right-side up.  I'm not sure about upside down though as I've never seen them mounted that way.  If I had to guess, I'd say the clubmans mounted with the risers are not too much different than stock bars upside down.  As far as the risers are concerned, see my post earlier.  Even with risers your hands are still below the top of the trees.  I was trying to replicate clip-ons with them.  The position is still very sporty and the bars are angled in a way that looks and feels more like clip-ons IMO.  If you don't like the risers that's cool, but if you put the clubmans on without them, you'll probably see what I was talking about in my earlier post.  Good luck to you though.

Also, my bars are 28 inches wide, which is only 1/2" wider than stock.  I'd be weary of cutting too much of the ends.  Two inches off both ends is a lot of material when it's all said and done.  Make sure you have enough clearance between the top plate of the triples and the front brake fluid reservior before cutting off too much.
Title: Re: My GS with clubman bars (pics)
Post by: DrtRydr23 on October 05, 2007, 07:17:54 AM
Quote from: ohgood on October 05, 2007, 03:05:27 AM
Who made your mirrors, and do you like them ?

Nice ride flat black on charcoal will look awesome ! :)

I'm not real sure who made the mirrors.  I'd guess EMGO or Napoleon.  I bought them from a local shop and can't really remember.  They work well.  You can see behind you well, but they do vibrate some at speed.  They also tend to come loose a little bit and have to be retightened.