[SCRBen]

Ooofff - it’s quiet on here lads! Are you all out enjoying your bikes in glorious, summer weather, I wonder......I sure hope so.

Here’s one for you all. In the spirit of American Idol, America’s Got Talent, and, my personal favourite, Dancing with the Stars (are you seeing what I’m doing here?!), you’ve got a choice to make (see below pictures).......

On my newly-installed Renthal bars, do I go with the ‘Faster Sons’ pad I had on originally, or the new ‘Renthal’ pad that came with the bars?! Decisions, decisions....... I’m partial to the FS one, personally, but the Renthal one is better-finished, is also a better fit, and the red matches the tank perfectly....... what’s that? You don’t care.....?! Charming.....:laugh:

As for the bars themselves, I went for the ‘Enduro High’ style. They’ve actually turned out to be very similar to the OEM bars, which is what I was after. I make them to be about 10mm wider than stock, so not really an issue, although the Halcyon bar end mirrors I’ve fitted obviously add a little width too. I’m not overly bothered though - this is a pleasure bike; I’m not going to be doing much filtering. And I think they look the nuts......

Vibration I think has gone down some. The mirrors are pretty heavy, which probably help, and obviously they have the separate brace (would this be more effective than the stock one, that’s actually part of the bar....??)

I met up with an old guy I know at Squires last night (on an absolutely gorgeous 1970 Bonneville, I might add......wasn’t jealous at all). He’s a bit of an engineer-type, and when I said I thought the vibes had reduced, he looked at me gone-out and said “of course they have - Renthals are alloy, so don’t resonate like the steel ones would”! And, I think he has a point (I had read this on their website earlier, just forgot)!! :grin2: So.....all-in-all, pleased so far.

Thanks again to @Schu for the torque settings! Tell me though Schu - does the manual say anything about clamping the bolts down in a certain order? It’s a bit of a fiddle to get the clamp-halves tightened down and evenly spaced.....

Laters all,
Ben

 

[SCRBen]

Right way up!! Bloody iPhones......
Ben

 

[Schu]

Here’s one for you all. In the spirit of American Idol, America’s Got Talent, and, my personal favourite, Dancing with the Stars. On my newly-installed Renthal bars, do I go with the ‘Faster Sons’ pad I had on originally, or the new ‘Renthal’ pad that came with the bars?

Thanks again to @Schu for the torque settings! Tell me though Schu - does the manual say anything about clamping the bolts down in a certain order?

Ben

Well keeping in the spirit of my favorite TV show, Shark Tank...I don't like either one. So for that reason, I'm out.

I like the crossbar pad that came on my DT250. It has a plain black vinyl cover that snaps around the pad with 5 chrome snaps. The ends were cut on a taper. (See attached) if only we knew someone who was good with leather and could make you a replacement black leather cover with 5 chrome snaps. Hmmm.

I will have another look in my manual tomorrow regarding the bar clamp sequencing.

 

[Krixtoph]

Ooofff - it’s quiet on here lads! Are you all out enjoying your bikes in glorious, summer weather, I wonder......I sure hope so.

Here’s one for you all. In the spirit of American Idol, America’s Got Talent, and, my personal favourite, Dancing with the Stars (are you seeing what I’m doing here?!), you’ve got a choice to make (see below pictures).......

I've been quiet because of work (both day and night jobs) being crazy busy which isn't necessarily a bad thing. Anyway, if I HAD to choose, I would go with the Faster Sons cover. The other one draws more attention away from the rest of the motorcycle. I'm not personally a fan of these covers because I feel like these pads belong on a BMX stunt bicycle and not a motorcycle. I don't personally see the functional purpose of them but that's just me. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

if only we knew someone who was good with leather and could make you a replacement black leather cover with 5 chrome snaps. Hmmm.

You summoned me, good sir?

 

[Schu]

I feel like these pads belong on a BMX stunt bicycle and not a motorcycle. I don't personally see the functional purpose of them but that's just me. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

You summoned me, good sir?

Maybe Ben rides like the guy in this photo. Let's not forget what he did to that poor little red car.

No summons. Just saw an opportunity. I can't use a crossbar pad because that space is reserved for my pending Crossbar Gadget Bag.

 

[SCRBen]

Maybe Ben rides like the guy in this photo. Let's not forget what he did to that poor little red car.

That’s me, baby!! (like the pic by the way - not seen that one before).
Ben

 

[Schu]

Tell me though Schu - does the manual say anything about clamping the bolts down in a certain order? It’s a bit of a fiddle to get the clamp-halves tightened down and evenly spaced.....

Ben

Ok. So I checked the service manual and would never have guessed this to be the proper method of clamping the bars down. It reads as follows in bold print.

NOTICE:
First, tighten the bolts on the front side of the handlebar holder, and then on the rear side.
TIP:
Align the punch mark on the upper handlebar holder with the right side upper surface of the lower handlebar holder.

So what I get out of this procedure is that you will have no gap on the forward side of your bar clamps and all the gap ends up on the operators side of the bar clamps. I have always strived for equal gaps when clamping handlebars. And they evidently are machine matched pairs, so you don't want to mix them up. I learned something new today.

Schu

 

[flatrack]

It's like the c-clamps used to hold the front axle on some UJMs....tight on the front and torqued on opposite side...

 

[flatrack]

On my newly-installed Renthal bars, do I go with the ‘Faster Sons’ pad I had on originally, or the new ‘Renthal’ pad that came with the bars?! Decisions, decisions....... I’m partial to the FS one, personally, but the Renthal one is better-finished, is also a better fit, and the red matches the tank perfectly....... what’s that? You don’t care.....?! Charming.....:laugh:

I don't get it..why do you want advertising on your bike? Big bold letters emblazoned across the front of your motorcycle...seems counterintuitive..

 

[bmw111]

I vote "Faster Sons." The "Renthal" text is just too large and obnoxious.

 

[SCRBen]

Ok. So I checked the service manual and would never have guessed this to be the proper method of clamping the bars down. It reads as follows in bold print.

NOTICE:
First, tighten the bolts on the front side of the handlebar holder, and then on the rear side.
TIP:
Align the punch mark on the upper handlebar holder with the right side upper surface of the lower handlebar holder.

So what I get out of this procedure is that you will have no gap on the forward side of your bar clamps and all the gap ends up on the operators side of the bar clamps. I have always strived for equal gaps when clamping handlebars. And they evidently are machine matched pairs, so you don't want to mix them up. I learned something new today.

Schu

I knew it!! I could tell by the way that they were sitting that something wasn’t right. Thanks very much for checking - I’ll adjust them tonight.

So tighten the side nearest the clock first?

I’m struggling a bit with the ‘tip’ though......I think there is only one of the upper clamps that has a definite punch mark, from what I remember. So, that’s wants to go on the RH side, and be nearest you when you’re sat on the bike??? If so, I’ve got it all shades of wrong at present!!!

I have to admit, my old Suzuki Bandit had a similar requirement, so it’s not something that’s entirely new to me.
Thanks again tho.
Ben

 

[SCRBen]

I don't get it..why do you want advertising on your bike? Big bold letters emblazoned across the front of your motorcycle...seems counterintuitive..

It’s not really about advertising, but I want some sort of pad on the crossbar. If I had a plain black one, I’d probably go with that one, but who’s indulgent enough to have 3 handlebar pads to interchange at
will .....?! Now, wheres’ @Krixtoph ‘s number........?? :grin2:

I vote "Faster Sons." The "Renthal" text is just too large and obnoxious.

Having said the above, I like the Faster Sons one too, as it means something to our bike, being the Yamaha stable the SCR came from and all....... I have had one person ask if it was a gift from my parents’ though!! :smile2:
Ben

 

[Schu]

So tighten the side nearest the clock first?

I’m struggling a bit with the ‘tip’ though......I think there is only one of the upper clamps that has a definite punch mark, from what I remember. So, that’s wants to go on the RH side, and be nearest you when you’re sat on the bike?

Yes. Tighten the forward leading bolt first.

I agree the TIP is confusing. They say punch mark to the right side on the trailing end, but then they show a photo of it being on the left, trailing end. So I went and looked at my bar clamps and there is no punch mark on either bar clamp. So that one remains a mystery.

Schu

 

[eddie]

In the absence of a punch mark on the clamp halves to indicate which end goes to the front, have a look and see that the bottoms of them are machined differently.
Take one off and place it upright on a flat surface.
Notice the bottom of one part is cut 90 degrees to the bolt hole on that end and the other is cut at a slight angle off from 90 degrees.
The perpendicular end is the "front" and the end bolted on and snugged up first.
The remaining end is to the rider and snugged up last.
Note: The second bolt should NOT tighten down until the upper clamp half touches the lower part of the handlebar clamp affixed to the triple tree.
If one attempted get it that tight on a steel bar, it would likely break the clamp. An aluminum bar might be damaged first. Neither a happy result.
Here's an overly simplified drawing to help. =)

 

[SCRBen]

Yes. Tighten the forward leading bolt first.

I agree the TIP is confusing. They say punch mark to the right side on the trailing end, but then they show a photo of it being on the left, trailing end. So I went and looked at my bar clamps and there is no punch mark on either bar clamp. So that one remains a mystery.
Schu

From what I remember, the punch mark is hidden under the flange of the bolts, so you won’t see them unless you take the bolts out.

In the absence of a punch mark on the clamp halves to indicate which end goes to the front, have a look and see that the bottoms of them are machined differently.
Take one off and place it upright on a flat surface.
Notice the bottom of one part is cut 90 degrees to the bolt hole on that end and the other is cut at a slight angle off from 90 degrees.
The perpendicular end is the "front" and the end bolted on and snugged up first.
The remaining end is to the rider and snugged up last.
Note: The second bolt should NOT tighten down until the upper clamp half touches the lower part of the handlebar clamp affixed to the triple tree.
If one attempted get it that tight on a steel bar, it would likely break the clamp. An aluminum bar might be damaged first. Neither a happy result.
Here's an overly simplified drawing to help. =)

Thanks for the tips @eddie - much appreciated. I’ll take a look this weekend.
Ben

 

[flatrack]

Great thread, guess I will "reinstall" my aftermarket bars...thanks all!

 

[Schu]

In the absence of a punch mark on the clamp halves to indicate which end goes to the front, have a look and see that the bottoms of them are machined differently.
Take one off and place it upright on a flat surface.
Notice the bottom of one part is cut 90 degrees to the bolt hole on that end and the other is cut at a slight angle off from 90 degrees.
The perpendicular end is the "front" and the end bolted on and snugged up first.
The remaining end is to the rider and snugged up last.
Note: The second bolt should NOT tighten down until the upper clamp half touches the lower part of the handlebar clamp affixed to the triple tree.
If one attempted get it that tight on a steel bar, it would likely break the clamp. An aluminum bar might be damaged first. Neither a happy result.
Here's an overly simplified drawing to help. =)

All Hail to King Edward for providing final clarification.

Now I have a whole bunch of bar clamps to investigate, which will give me an opportunity to set them all in a similar position as opposed to their current randomness.

 

[eddie]

All Hail to King Edward for providing final clarification. Now I have a whole bunch of bar clamps to investigate, which will give me an opportunity to set them all in a similar position as opposed to their current randomness.

:laugh:
I may get clamps halves right most of the time, but you didn't ask me how many times I went for a ride after adjusting bars on a bike and discovered I had them too far left or right in the clamps. LOL
-eddie

 

[Krixtoph]

It’s not really about advertising, but I want some sort of pad on the crossbar. If I had a plain black one, I’d probably go with that one, but who’s indulgent enough to have 3 handlebar pads to interchange at
will .....?! Now, wheres’ @Krixtoph ‘s number........??

I can make something like this happen. Just need some dimensions to work with :grin2:

 

[SCRBen]

I can make something like this happen. Just need some dimensions to work with :grin2:

Heh heh - I was only joking, but thanks anyway.
Ben