OK, so I have a quiestion. I ordered a set of handle bar end mirrors for my GS. They came in the other day and I had my wife go out and try to put them in to see how they looked. Since I am up here in Mo. for school I am unable to do this myself. Here is the problem. There appears to be a plug in the bars end. It is not the bar end wieght. Those have already been removed. I am using the original bars. Due these come out?? Do I need to drill them out?? I am at a loss without really being able to see them in person but any help would be much appreciated.
I think you do have to drill them out. But I own an "F" so wait for more of the "E" guys to come on.
Mary
It would help if we knew what mirrors you bought.
Older bikes have a hardened steel nut welded into the bar ends. actually, lots of other bikes do, too. The bar ends screw into that so they are on solid.
It is cheaper to make bars without that (no welding at the factory) and use an expansion rubber bushing to hold the bar ends in place. Newer GS's are this way. After market bars are also this way.
If you want to remove it (which I did once because a screw broke in it) you have to remove the grips. The with a grinder, like a dremel, you grind out the spots where the welding was done. This is done from the outside. You will see what appears to be a dimple in the bar. That's where the welds were made. Grind down into those and the nut will fall out. I doubt you could drill it out - you'd be drilling through a square nut and the welding. Probably would go crooked and ruin the inside of the bar.
I've heard of people banging them out with a hammer and chisel.
I think if you're going to do all that work, why not just buy another bar(s)?
If they're the factory clip-ons, easier to reverse the bar.
If there is a steel plug in the end of the bars, they make bar-ends that clamp onto the ends. With them, all you need to do is slide your controls up 3/8".
When I installed my mirrors the plug was plastic, I just used a screw driver and knocked it just a bit further into the handle. Just lightly tap on it and it will move. I moved it just enough to fit the mirrors on.
I have an '01 E.
With mine, I drilled out the center a little and shaved down the rubber bushings a little to make it work.
I seem to remember this long metal insert with rubber bushings on it. I had to put a bolt in it, grab it with vice grips, and yank it out. I did buy aftermarket clipons at one point though, so I can't remember which bars they were from.
You could always pull off the expansion plug on the bar end mirrors and just run a normal bolt through to attach it straight to the threads inside of the bar.
Remember the welded in bolt does not go all the way through. (That's how I broke a bolt in one - tried to tighten it too much - and found out they don't go all the way through.) So you may need a shorter bolt or use a screw cutter to shorten yours.