| Fitting your motorcycle with a new handlebar can | | | | case with T-Bars. But lets face it nothing says cool |
| eliminate that pain in your neck, back or wrist and is | | | | quite like those large 1 1/4" fat 18" Apehangers. |
| very easy, providing you check a few things first and | | | | Changing to a different handlebar is pretty |
| consider a few things along the way. When you | | | | straightforward. First, take some measurements to |
| adjust your bars so the controls are right at your | | | | see what kind of bar will actually fit on your bike. The |
| fingers, you'll have a motorcycle that is easier to | | | | normal measurements are width, height and pullback. |
| control and more fun to ride. And much safer. You | | | | Width and height are obvious, though some bar |
| can get an idea of what you want to adjust by | | | | makers measure height from centerline to centerline, |
| simply considering how the bike feels and fits next | | | | while others depict the total height from the bottom |
| time you are riding down the highway. | | | | of the center section to the top of the outer |
| If it's the dead of winter, you can accomplish much | | | | section. The pullback is simply how far back the bar |
| the same thing by simply sitting on the bike in your | | | | ends are relative to the center section. |
| garage and visualizing how the bike should be. You | | | | Start the actual swap by removing the old handlebar. |
| might try closing your eyes and reaching out to | | | | Remove the grips and mirrors completely -- |
| where you'd like the grips to be. Place your hands at | | | | remember that mirrors can be amazingly unwieldy |
| the optimum angle and position, then open your eyes | | | | when the levers are off the bar. The clutch side grip |
| and see where they are relative to the existing grips. | | | | may be held on with glue or silicone an require extra |
| This will tell you where the bar should be for you and | | | | force to remove. The throttle side is held in place by |
| how a replacement handlebar should be shaped to | | | | the kill switch housing. Remove the screws from the |
| work for you. Maybe you need Ape-hangers, or for | | | | housing and open the halves. Make sure you note the |
| your riding style you prefer T-Bars. If you are going | | | | proper location for each throttle cable (if there are |
| to change the bar, remember that unless you have a | | | | two) so that you will put each one into the proper |
| windshield, a higher, wider bar will increase the | | | | slots when replacing the grip. Remove the levers and |
| surface you present to the relative wind and the | | | | hand controls one at a time and place them atop |
| resulting pressure. | | | | shop towels. Loosen the bar mounts and fit the new |
| Most riders are more comfortable if they can lean on | | | | bar and hand-tighten the clamp. Sit on the bike and |
| the handlebar slightly at high speeds to counter the | | | | get a feel for the angle, width and pullback. Satisfied? |
| wind pressure. Increasing width also increases your | | | | Loosely install the switch clusters at the correct |
| leverage and eases steering, but the outside grip | | | | distance from the ends to accommodate the grips, |
| may require a long reach in a full-lock turn, as is the | | | | and check for tank clearance at full lock. |