I know everyone here loves pictures. So I thought I'd finally contribute some of me switching out the handlebars on my '98 GS500E for some '89 clip-ons.
Here are some of the parts I picked up from a guy parting out his '89. I still have the instrument cluster and the top part of the triple-tree clamp, and both of the control clusters if anyone wants them, just pay for shipping.
(http://lh6.ggpht.com/_0Z0uVtnoOo8/S_Cd6V2wk9I/AAAAAAAAAM0/Pw4_L893XyA/s912/DSC_0078.JPG)
After a little bit of cleaning. You can see that the bars have seen better days.
(http://lh5.ggpht.com/_0Z0uVtnoOo8/S_Cd7BM0zKI/AAAAAAAAAM8/B57OAFGbNMg/s912/DSC_0084.JPG)
My bike with the old handlebars.
(http://lh3.ggpht.com/_0Z0uVtnoOo8/S_Cd77-TFOI/AAAAAAAAANE/lP7CsP6vco0/s912/DSC_0093.JPG)
I always knew those motherf%$kers were bent!! It's hard to really tell unless you take them off.
(http://lh4.ggpht.com/_0Z0uVtnoOo8/S_CegaVCZdI/AAAAAAAAANQ/A2eZsckL9gY/s912/DSC_0095.JPG)
I picked up a set of woodcraft clip-on bar replacements for $30. I forgot to take a picture of it, but it took me about 2 minutes with a file to cut the grooves for the bolts that hold the bars in place.
(http://lh5.ggpht.com/_0Z0uVtnoOo8/S_CeggMe8KI/AAAAAAAAANU/qrc49_TkIR4/s912/DSC_0101.JPG)
(http://lh3.ggpht.com/_0Z0uVtnoOo8/S_Ceg0TH7GI/AAAAAAAAANY/06g3Rn8TkfA/s912/DSC_0099.JPG)
Based off of how many times I fiddled with the placement of the clutch lever and front brake lever when I was putting them on, there was no way I was going to try and drill a hole in the bars for the nubs on the button clusters.
With a little bit of elbow grease and a file... now you see them...
(http://lh3.ggpht.com/_0Z0uVtnoOo8/S_CehW-lCsI/AAAAAAAAANc/mavWbdqjSbg/s912/DSC_0104.JPG)
Now you don't...
(http://lh3.ggpht.com/_0Z0uVtnoOo8/S_CehgfIt4I/AAAAAAAAANg/rFjOTAoLfIc/s912/DSC_0105.JPG)
They don't move around at all once they're tightened.
Almost done...
(http://lh3.ggpht.com/_0Z0uVtnoOo8/S_CfLXf5zjI/AAAAAAAAANs/Q7p1AftjMyY/s912/DSC_0107.JPG)
(http://lh6.ggpht.com/_0Z0uVtnoOo8/S_CfL9fCAVI/AAAAAAAAANw/nKXZHCS-7Xw/s912/DSC_0112.JPG)
(http://lh4.ggpht.com/_0Z0uVtnoOo8/S_CfMWu-WmI/AAAAAAAAAN0/LXqAfnP1elc/s912/DSC_0113.JPG)
Just needs a set of bar end mirrors.
(http://lh3.ggpht.com/_0Z0uVtnoOo8/S_CfMnNoVlI/AAAAAAAAAN4/xvNIocnAb1g/s912/DSC_0114.JPG)
I'm pretty happy with it. My left grip is pretty loose though. I used the ones off the '89 because they were pro-grip gel superbike grips and mine were just stock. Any ideas on what I can do about it? They're only like $9 new, so maybe I'll just pick up a new one that isn't stretched out.
Looks great, people will definitely appreciate the picture walk through.
As far as the left grip.... I'd just put a little bit of rubber cement in there. Just don't try anything too permanent or it'll be a hassle to get them off someday. My left grip slides a little too, but they need replaced anyway, so I'm just waiting until I get a new pair to deal with it.
i spy a wrx.....good write up!
Quote from: smaeda on May 16, 2010, 09:14:35 PM
i spy a wrx.....good write up!
Wow, good eyes! It's my neighbor's.
my method of choice for installing grips is spray paint. spray the inside of the grip, put it on, and it'll be good and solid pretty soon.