| Author | Message | ||
     Mikej |
1995 S2 handlebar broke. Well, there I was riding home, just finished a stretch of 40-55mph surface street with a few RR track crossings, coming up to a stoplight to get into the queue for the northbound freeway onramp, and the left handlebar started feeling a little soft and funny. Hmmm, that doesn't feel good. So I angle to the right side of the lane and go up the road holding the left grip very gingerly, turn around in someone's driveway, make my way back up the street and under the freeway and turn into a McDonalds parking lot and shut the bike down. Gloves and helmet off, look a little closer at the bar and sure enough it's coming loose at the welds. Make a few calls, get a ride, borrow a trailer, tote the bike home, and by the time we get there the left handlebar is barely still hanging on. This is the standard height S2 bars. The few times I've trailered the bike I strapped to the frame and not to the handlebars. No stoppies nor wheelies on this bike for me. Stock engine, not ridden super hard. Still the handle bar broke. While waiting for a ride I called one local shop and the parts lady checked her system and inventory and said there wasn't a stock S2 handlebar anywhere in the region. So now I'm looking at my options. I'll be calling Buell Customer Service shortly as soon as I can find their number on the site here. I don't know if this is the first standard S2 handlebar failure or not, I know of the S2T handlebar recall. Can anyone direct me to the various handlebar options for an S2? Henrik? BluzM2? Others? After looking at the thin weld on the broken part I'm not too sure I want to use a stock S2 bar again.    The bar portion is still attached to the bike. One of the screws was too snug and rounded the hex pocket so I need to drill the head off the screw before I can get the bar portion off otherwise I'd have had a pic of that too. Also, can anyone confirm from this photo Dyna took if in fact I have/had the standard S2 bars and not the S2T bars? Just verifying my assumptions, thanks.  This could have turned out a whole lot worse than it did if I had decided to head home via Holy Hill or someplace, or if I was merging onto the rushhour freeway traffic. But, stuff happens, life goes on, and so it goes. MikeJ. | ||
| Kevyn |
1st choice is sponsors! 2nd choice is parts wanted/for sale forum, 3rd option ebay? | ||
| Mikej |
At least BCS has decent music on their holding line, of course my ear is going numb in the process. Such is life.... | ||
| Henrik |
Looks like your bars are low enough to be the standard and not the touring bars - but I only know the touring bars. I've been in touch with Alfred at Cycle Cat. They make some really nice bar options, and I *think* that one of them *may* work on an S2. It's kinda back-a55wards though; - I borrowed a set of shop risers/bars from them to test on the S2. What I found was, that the F-style riser will not work. However, the S-style riser mounted in reverse may work. I was trying out one of the lower risers, and the problem I ran into was, that the banjo bolt for the front brake would force the controls into one specific location, wich was not optimal for reach and hand comfort. However, it looked to me like the tallest riser would give enough room that the banjo bolt would clear. You'd also need the longer of their bar options. Of course these are 7/8" bars, so all new controls are in order as well ... not an easy project. I've been gathering some of the newer tuber parts, which ought to work, but there are wiring issues - which always seem like black magic to me. Anyhoo - that's an option - far fetched, but an option. The better and more immediate option would be to contact Al at American Sport Bike for the adjustable S2 bars that I think Westek made. I suspect Westek may have gotten out of the Buell parts business, but worth a try. Let's know what you find out. If your situation is any indication, S2 owners may be more actively looking in the coming years. Henrik | ||
| Mikej |
Okay, off the holding pattern with BCS. Verified that all recalls are recorded as having been completed on my bike. But due to the age of the bike there is nothing they can do to help beyond suggesting I take the bike into a local dealership and get assistance that way. The current part number for the left side handlebar is N0003.8SS (if I wrote it down correctly). American Sport Bike lists some clip-ons for around $300. With final semester tuition due that is currently just out of my immediate budget. Will be stopping in at some alternative brand bike shops tomorrow to see what they have. Otherwise I'll be considering welding up the broken bits and saving up some dollars to send to Al. | ||
| Mikej |
Thanks for the input Henrik, I've printed out the CycleCat page and will look into that option. Plus I've printed out the www.mgcycle.com/bars.html page and the Crossroads page. Ideally I'd like to find or come up with an upper triple tree or clip-on clamp that would accept standard handlebars. That would open up a whole range of possibilities. Pretty sure I don't want to drop down any lower than the standard S2 bar height, and don't really need to rise up much either. To other S2 owners out there - inspect your handlebars carefully. I'll keep you updated on what I find. | ||
| Bluzm2 |
Mike, I have a set of the S2 low bars. I switched them for the T version. If you need the left one, let me know and I'll ship them both in case yours are different. I'd like to keep a set around as a back up or if I change my mind, as such I would like to replace it if possible some time down the road. But, you are more than welcome to it now. We can keep our eyes open for a replacement later. Gotta get that S2 back on the road! Shoot me your address, I'll get it in the mail tomorrow. Brad | ||
| Mikej |
Ping, email on the way, thanks. | ||
| Jerry_haughton |
very cool BluzM2. | ||
| Mikej |
Yep, Brad's a good guy. | ||
| Bluelightning |
Now if I could just scrounge up a free set of clip on's to put on my X-1, I 'd be happy. The stock bars are just too tall to clear my Odyssey Kolors fairing....  | ||
| Road_thing |
Brad, my back cylinder is losing compression--do you have a spare motor you could send me to use while I get mine re-built?  rt | ||
| Bluzm2 |
Sure thing RT, It'll be in the mail tomorrow!!  | ||
| Doughnut |
West Tek Inc. makes bars for the S2. I have contact info. and product info. if you like. Email me. | ||
| Easy_rider |
Hey BluzM/Brad, Sure, you don't know me, but my rear PM is in the shop getting reamed and sleeved. Got a spare wheel I can use until it's repaired? Let's take a short-cut. What *don't* you have? | ||
| Mikej |
Doughnut, I'll be heading down to HalsPA shop on Friday to see what they can do for me. There might be a Woodcraft option available. I did a quick search on West Tek and found their web page, looks a lot like what American Sport Bike is selling. Do they still offer the passenger backrest? I've never see an S2 using one of those. I may have to call them and find out what they still offer. Are you using West Tek bars on your S2? Thanks. | ||
| Bomber |
those MGCycle bars look very interesting (said in my best laugh in voice) . . . .. thanks for the tip, Mike | ||
| Al_lighton |
Mikej, Sounds like your covered by Brad's save the day, but if not, let me know and I'll chase down the west tek bars. I know we don't have any in stock. Tim at West tek has been a little hard to get a hold of recently, but as of the other day, he was back. He's still in the Buell parts biz, but it's hardly his full time gig any more. Al | ||
| Mikej |
Appreciate the response Al. If my handlebar failure is any indication that the standard height bars are failing then S2 business may increase some. Not that many of us out here to justify a large production run or purchase, but enough to keep the channels open in any case. Bomber, Food for thought, eh? | ||
| Bomber |
I'm performing BAD (brain assisted design) as we speak . . . . . if our summer weather is any indication, it will be a very long winter this year | ||
| Rex |
there was thread on this a while back somewhere. showed which bars to buy and which to not, from Buell. check out the thread. be careful on ebay, you may be buying one of the same bars that broke, vrs. the newer model made to not break. REX | ||
| Outrider |
Bomber...This weather is winter in So Cal!!! | ||
| Firemanjim |
Mike,how many miles on those bars?I have over 75,000 on my touring bars with no problems and all of the failures I have seen/heard of were the old style touring bars.I may have bars also,if Brad's don't work out.Of one of the machinists here should be making up some trick set-up for us S-2ers. | ||
| Mikej |
The bike has a bit over 20,000 miles on it, probably around 25,000. Unless the previous owner rode a ton and it's 125,000. Never dropped since I've had it, with just one chunk of truck tire tread thrown at it from an oncomming punk driven car that hit the fairing, so no forced mechanical failure that I can think of to cause it to break. Probably just a freak anamoly, but it is the same construction as the recalled bars as far as I know. I wonder what led to the recall of the touring bars? The BCS lady I spoke with asked about the miles on the bike and it sounded like she was typing data into some program or something, so this failure is now probably recorded in some database. I'll know better tomorrow what all my options are. Once I know what I'm going to do I'll post a list of what I've found for replacement bars. | ||
| Bluzm2 |
Mike, The bars are on the way. Should have them Sat or Mon. Interesting story, This morning on the way to work, I cargo netted the box to the S2 (I figured that was appropriate). Just after I hit the freeway I reached back to find out they were gone!!! CRAP, they fell off!!!! I doubled back and reran my route. I found them on the inside shoulder unharmed except for a bit of scuffing on the box. Cargo net was about 50 yards behind the box on the same shoulder. Man, it's spooky standing on the inside shoulder if a freeway during rush hour. The cars were doing 70-80 at this spot  Yikes! Brad | ||
| Mikej |
Great, they're pre-crashed.  Glad you're safe. I'll let you know when they arrive. Bars with a story to tell. Sort of like bars where stories are told only different. Thanks. | ||
| Doughnut |
Mikej, don't have the bars (yet). Still on the originals. | ||
| Phat_j |
jim, remember me asking about this very thing about 2 months ago??? i have had 2 of the standard bars seperate at the welds.... both happen to be the left bars.... sounds like there is something to this rather than just •••••• luck.... i'm using one that i had rewelded, and i know is alot stronger than the original... | ||
| Mikej |
Yep, the welds look very thin, more like a dainty pretty weld than a solid weld to put it rather bluntly. I got the screw head drilled out and removed the control housing this morning. Looking at the handlebar sitting on my desk right now next to the clamp, very thin weld line. Looks more like a fillet fill brazing than a weld with very little visible penetration. I don't know how recalls are decided on, but I'm thinking the standard bars should have been included in the tall bar recall. If I were to run a stock bar I'd have to have someone proficient with welding run fresh beads on the inside and outside of the handlebar where it connects to the clamp. I'm not a certified welder nor a degree'd engineer so consider this just my amateur opinion. | ||
| Mikej |
Brad, the package was on my doorstep with Saturday's mail delivery, thanks. Went down to Hal's, looked at and talked options, still looking at some options and may hear more today. Walked up to the main store and as I'm standing in line at the parts counter to check on some stuff up walks the PA guy with a set of stock standard height S2 bars in his hands. Turns out one of the folks in the performance shop just happened to have a set of stock bars with him for sale. I got them for a very fair price, hit the atm, paid the man, and headed home to mount them on the bike. Brad's bars were waiting for me when I got home. The welds on Brad's bars and on the "new" bars look better than on the one of mine that broke. I'm still looking in to other options though and as I said I'll post a synopsis when all is said and done. |
