Hey guys,
I bought my GS about a month ago and it is my first bike(1993 GS500E Red).  I want to change the handlebars to give it a more agressive stance(someday I'm gonna get a CBR).  Should I go with handlebars or clip-ons?  Where should I get them?  Any links of exactly what would be best would be greatly appreciated.  Thanks!
-Mike

I just sat today on a Yamaha R6 and a Honda CBR600RR, they both are really uncomfortable, so if the GS is your 1st bike I'd keep the bar the way it is for a while.

Do a search, there are tons of threads about this.
Basicly, for clip-ons you have to buy an 89's triple and its clip-ons. You can also buy clip-ons that clamp to the 37mm forks. problem is you have the headlight bracket in the way. If your racing it does not matter but for street you will have to mod new brackets.
Handlebar swap is way easier and cheaper. Arizona Motorspotrs sells drag bars for $12, which is what I use. Srinath, sells some simalar to S&M bars but at less than half the cost.

If you wanna stick with bars but get the feel of clip-ons, you could try Clubman handlebars by Bikemaster, with 1 inch bar risers.  That's what I've got  and I love it.

John L.

I have clip-ons mounted under the triple tree.  In my opinion handling is vastly improved, although John is right when he says that it requires headlight removal.  I bought an Aprilia front fairing and plan to install it when I figure out how to mount it the way I want.  I also picked up some auxilary lights (for cars) and plan to mount them under the fairing in order to achieve the track bike with lights look (although that's essentially what it is at this point).


I'll post pics of the completed project when I get it done.


Adam

the closest to clip ons you'll get without the fuss above is to buy the Suburban Machinery bars I (and several others here) have. www.suburban-machinery.com and use the sv650 bars. They're pricy but well worht it in my opinion. These differ from the drag bars in the position it puts your wrist. Drag bars have you turn your hand inward while the s-m bars leave your wrists in a more natural condition. It vastly improves steering response.

Srinath, a member here,  is selling home-made s-m bar replicas for significantly less. worth a look.

If you're new to riding leave the bike well enough alone for a bit to get used to the stock condition. Then upgrade the fork springs (see my site for a super easy method). Really all you NEED to do to the bike initially. Then learn and practice...

Check my site for lots of useful info if you decide you *must* mod your bike (I feel your pain).

WELCOME!

Dude, is that bike in your living room?! Sure solves that whole "winterizing" problem if you don't have a garage.  Bet your significant other really loves the idea as well.  

I have an original 1989 GS and I just left it alone. When I had a '93 as well I tried flat drag bars and drop bars and I found that the drag bars are far more comfortable. Is this your first bike ever or? Let me know if you ever need parts, I have a parts bike as well. I'm GS obsessed....

Yeah, it's my first bike baby, I live in Chandler and Tucson AZ.  Home and school.  I'm in the Phoenix Sportbike Club.  I'm gonna start doing rides with them fairily soon and that's all I'm gonna do over the summer when I'm not working(is ride).  I'd definitely be interested in parts that would make my bike cooler if they're cost effective.  In two years tops I am going to get a CBR600, CBR954, or a GSX-R 750.  That's a ways off so, in the meantime, I want to put a little money into my knew baby to make her more sexy than she alread is.  Let me know what you've got.

adam must really like his bike when he keeps it close to his couch :mrgreen:

Quote from: GRUadam must really like his bike when he keeps it close to his couch :mrgreen:

And what a couch it is.

If only you knew what I've done on that couch.  

Actually, that couch is outside in our little  patio area, which luckily for me is covered.

That is a man who has his priorities right. Couch goes outside and the bike stays inside. It must be good to be single

Quote from: mp_3eb_tool... I live in Chandler and Tucson AZ....

God's holy trousers man, I sure hope you are getting frequent flier miles for that commute.  

"God's holy trousers man, I sure hope you are getting frequent flier miles for that commute. "
:lol: If that was my commute, I'd really be failing school  :mrgreen:

I just got the suburban-machinery sv650 bar for Christmas from my wife.  It was a quick and easy install, and is worth every penny.  The finish on the bar and the welds are top notch.  The riding position is vastly better, and I feel a more direct link to the front wheel.  The SM bar, and my new Woodcraft rearsets have taken the already good riding position of the GS to a new level of comfort and control.

There is no substitute for the SM bars IMO.

I like those SM bars. Which one's do we need though, Type 2 or Type 1. Thinking about getting a pair.

Both will fit (granted, rather finically) on the GS. Difference being that the Type 1 bars will sit roughly one inch lower than the Type 2's (for a $20 higher price tag of course).