| Author | Message | ||
     Dcmortalcoil |
What handlebars are available for XB9S? The stock fits me OK, but I can't adjust the mirrors to see behind me. I've tried all sorts of mirrors - they all stink as they are not adjustable enough - and the vibration on the stock is unbearable, especially on the right side (don't know what it only affects the right side). I've also tried the bar end mirrors. But the Napoleon bar end mirrors, which I like the best, interfere with the clutch & brake levers because they extend beyond the ends of the handlebar. If I move the levers toward each other so that the levers are flush with bar end, they are at the curved zones of the bar, increasing the reach too greatly. I also like leaning a bit forward, but not as much as the R version. I tried rotating the handlebar too with no avail. I also notice that the handlebar interferes with the front fork preload adjuster - difficult to adjust without loosening and rotating the handlebar away from it. Also, the positioning tab in the signal controller makes it impossible to adjust the turn signal position to my taste. Could I just break the tab and rotate the controller to the position that I like? I would like a vertically positioned toggle for the turn signals so that I can toggle like the hi/low beam switch. Any ideas or suggestion? Thanks. | ||
| Bigdaddy |
Dcmortalcoil, There's an excellent write up on this site, I'm leaving and can't find it right now, that will set you free using the Napoleons. I would credit the original author but I can't find it -- I used his instructions to do my M2 and I love 'em. Greg | ||
| Glitch |
I've got Third Eye Barend mirrors. You can get them from a bicycle shop, or do a Google search for them, they're pretty cheap. I love 'em. I've also got the black European bars from Bike Master.click The pics are not with the European bars but with the Flanders Super Bike Bars. I just liked the black better, and they are a little bit lower. I also noticed that with the lower bars vibration almost went away.     | ||
| Skully |
Glitch! So which bars do you like better and why? Do you have any reduction in lock to lock travel? I've been looking for a more forward/lower handlebar set up and I don't really want to pay $250 for the Crossroads. Thanks, Keith | ||
| Stot |
Hey Glitch, That is a photoshop lens flare innit??  Makes it look cool tho! Cya Stot | ||
| Glitch |
Skully: I like the European bars best. They are lower, and 2" longer, so for me they help when you're in and out of tight turns, transitions are easier for me. If I turn all the way to lock it stops just as it hits the air box, but that hasn't been a problem for me, not as restrictive as one might think. I wouldn't have even tried them if they hadn't been so inexpensive. I was looking at the Crossroads also, but the price is holding me back as well, besides, I'm happy with the way these are working. Stot: Photoshop is our friend... PS: I'll take some picks of the new bars real soon and post them here. edited by glitch on November 20, 2003 | ||
| Dcmortalcoil |
I just ordered Flanders A25-Clubman W-Style Bar: Height 5", Pullback 4", Center 7.5", Width 31.75" The stock is 4" height, 6 1/2" pullback, 5" center, and 28" width. Although it's one inch higher, the pullback is 2 1/2" less to put me in a slightly more forward position. Hope this works for me.  | ||
| Skully |
Glitch, Can you send me or post a picture of the bike with the European bars? Any problems with clutch or throttle cable routing? Thanks, Keith | ||
| Dblhaulxb9s |
To everyone on this thread. I absolutely love my Crossroads bars. They are a little spendy but the upgrade in performance and look is worth it to me. They are wider and lower and more forward. All adding up to incredible handling. My 2 Cents | ||
| Glitch |
Skully: Sure, no prob. If I can catch up with one of our photographers, I'll post some pics real soon, if not I'll have to wait until I get home. I had no issues at all with the installation. Used the same cables, being an inch wider on either end canceled out them being lower, so the routing stayed the same. | ||
| Glitch |
Morgan: I may still go that route, just not now. Could you post some pics looking down at the speedo, and from the side? | ||
| Dblhaulxb9s |
Glitch and anyone else who cares, here are the pics.   | ||
| Glitch |
Thanks Morgan! Those look really forward. Have you had the chance to compare them to the "R"? If so, are they as forward? They don't look as low as the "R". As you can tell I ran completely out of time yesterday. I'll get pics today. | ||
| Buelluk |
DBL Those bars look great, I would assume they make high speed running a lot more comfortable than the standard bar. Where can they be obtained from. | ||
| Blazinbueller13 |
I believe that they are from Crossroads performance. I myself have been think about switching the handlebars too, but think that it will make the bike too much like all the other sportbikes out there. I kinda like the way the bars are now, more of a dirtbike feel! | ||
| Blazinbueller13 |
Her ya go: www.crossroadsperformance.com | ||
| Dblhaulxb9s |
Glitch, I have compared them to the R bars (spent about 2 hrs on an R once) and they are not quite as far forward or as low. I like them a lot more than the R bars way more intuitive feel. Buelluk, They do make high speed running better. I am about 5'10" and before when I would lay over the bike my elbows would touch my knees, now they don't and I like it a lot more. Also as far as control, I hadn't scraped a peg until I picked up those bars. I don't know if it was the bars for sure but everything else was about equal (new tires, but they are more of a touring tire than my last ones). Blazinbueller13, I don't think they make the bike feel really that much more sport bike/jap bike like. I actually (and my good friend) think it makes the bike look and feel more like an old cafe racer than a new sport bike. I also really like the more aggressive stance. Still comfortable, but meaner. Hope that helps. Oh, the are about $250 US and are really easy to install. Took me about 45 minutes including cutting off the old grip (hardest part). Also, you don't have to re-route anything. Biggest tip is to drop the forks in the triple tree to make putting the plate on easier. I found that out part way through because I didn't get the instructions with them. They were the first pair sold so they didn't have the instructions yet. One last thing. The folks at Crossroads are great and very help full. Later, Morgan | ||
| Blazinbueller13 |
Dblhaulxb9s, After you dropped the forks, did you raise them back to their normal position or leave them dropped? Also is there still enough room to get a wrench or socket in there to make the suspension adjustment when the handlebars are on, if need be? They really look good and have been thinking about changing to them. I was afraid they would be to low for me, but from your posting, it sounds like just what I am looking for! Thanx guys for all of your input on this subject! | ||
| Dblhaulxb9s |
Blazin, I did put the forks back to their original position, but that isn't hard to mess with. As for the suspension. I don't think there is any way to mess with the preload after you put the bars on, but that shouldn't be an issue unless you gain or lose a bunch of weight. As for damping, no problem. | ||
| Dcmortalcoil |
I did put the forks back to their original position, but that isn't hard to mess with. As for the suspension. I don't think there is any way to mess with the preload after you put the bars on, but that shouldn't be an issue unless you gain or lose a bunch of weight. As for damping, no problem. I'm wondering how much clearance for the preload exists underneath the holes (damping adjustment). That is, is there sufficient clearance underneath to allow for preload adjustment to 7 lines (at its highest height setting). | ||
| Dblhaulxb9s |
Dc, There is plenty of clearance, the holes are big enough for the Preload "bars" to slide through, just not enough room to fit a wrench down on top to adjust them again. Hope that explains it. They are top quality. Morgan |
