Ok, this will be my first modification to my new bike. I have bought a new set of handlebars, Renthal 789 7/8 Padded Handlebar was my choice. So to be honest I have never swapped out a set of bars and I don't want to break things as I can be a little heavy handed. Is there a little right up that will make it easier???
Cheers all.
Been a while since I did a swap, but from memory there's a hole on the OE handle bars that locates the switch clusters. there's no hole on the Renthals. You can either drill a hole in the appropriate place or remove the little stub that goes in there. The switch gear still clamps up tight enough to stay still.
Nowt much to it really, just start taking things off till you get your OE bar out & reverse to fit the new one. The clamp tops have a right way round to install them, the wee dot on them goes to the front. There's marks on the renthals so you get it centred between the clamps.
Tightening bar clamps leave gap at rear.Removing lh grip, I put a screwdriver in under and spray brake cleaner in gap, can clean refit to new bars.Put a towell over tank or remove it, just in case.
To go one step further on what Col said re the small locating tabs inside the plastic switch blocks - I've always removed them with a Dremel or round file and wound a couple of wraps of electrical tape around the bars in their place. If done neatly it's concealed by the switch blocks themselves.
I did find a reasonable video showing the processs fairly well and actually on a GSX1400 on YouTube. Don't take everything this guy says in his videos as gospel however...
Awesome, thanks for sharing guys.
Also removing the tabs allows you to move the switch blocks to suit, if you alter the position of the bars forward or back. I did this on my first 1400 back in 2002.
I haven't watched the vid, so if this is in there don't give me too much grief. :coffeescreen:
D.D.
Quote from: lurch on Monday, 30 March 2026, 06:28 PMI did find a reasonable video showing the processs fairly well and actually on a GSX1400 on YouTube. Don't take everything this guy says in his videos as gospel however...
Hmm Delboy's garage, not taking him as gospel is an understatement. There's several things mates have 'learned' from his videos that are utterly wrong.
It's quite difficult to get get it very wrong changing the bars though, just remember to hold them or they're likely to swing down as you undo the clamps & hit something.
One other tip when you change the bars (or change the brake or clutch fluid come to that). If you can find one, get one of the toilet pedestal mats (the oblong ones that have a bit cut out to go around the loo) - put that on top of the tank backwards (with the cut-out around the headstock), then if you accidentally let go the bars or they drop back or whatever, they hit the mat, not the tank.
Buy a new one though, or your bike will smell of piss.
Silly question, I have fitted new bars with nil by issues however I can't fit the bar end weights. And no I don't have a welder handy if that's the answer.
Get some different bar ends? most aftermarket ones have an expanding plug thingy that grips inside the bar rather than the OE screw in method. You could with a long bolt, thick washers & bit of rubber pipe make something up if you really wanted to keep the originals though.
As Hooli said, hollow bars need different bar ends. Millions for sale, your choice. I use light alloy ones, never found made any difference to vibration.
Quote from: ajs18s on Wednesday, 15 April 2026, 04:42 PMSilly question, I have fitted new bars with nil by issues however I can't fit the bar end weights. And no I don't have a welder handy if that's the answer.
Are they the Renthal bars you mentioned initially? Not sure if it's the same story for 7/8 bars but I generally use Renthal fatbars. They have quite a thick wall and hence a small inside diameter. I've bought bar ends that didn't fit them more than once. Best to measure with vernier calipers and double check that what you're buying will fit.
My own 1400 has Renthal 847 street ultra low bars and Renthal bar ends for this reason actually.
That's a good point. My barend mirrors don't fit renthals either, they came with too adaptors one too big & one too small. Several layers of insulation tape made the too small ones it perfectly well though.
The bars are Renthal 789 7/8. As I have never replaced bar's in the parst I just never gave a thought about the bar end weights. So I will look for a aftermarket set.
Just look for Renthal bar ends, there's heaps to choose from.
Quote from: ajs18s on Thursday, 16 April 2026, 12:50 PMThe bars are Renthal 789 7/8. As I have never replaced bar's in the parst I just never gave a thought about the bar end weights. So I will look for a aftermarket set.
Oddly enough exactly what I've got waiting to fit on my mate's 14 too.
Quote from: Hooli on Saturday, 04 April 2026, 07:45 AMBuy a new one though, or your bike will smell of piss.
:lol: