| Author | Message | ||
     Elff |
Yesterday I removed my Stock Buell Triple Tree and installed my helibar one. It's 30 degree in PA right now, and I am jonesing to go riding so I had to settle for working on the Buell. I hooked the Ipod up to my speakers, got a cup of Joe and went to work. Taking my sweet time and a couple of breaks I was done in no time flat. I believe actual work time was only 1hr. The directions were very good with only a couple of minor things. One call for 5/16 allen head needed a 1/4 and Buell's dont have Gas tank covers but aside from that, these were possibly the best directions I've ever read for anything mechanical. Being short, it was a little tough wiggling the old ones off, but for someone taller, that wont be an issue at all. Because I couldnt install and not test, I has to take it for a quick spin. The riding position is really nice and I have to say, the new clip on position provided more direct feedback to countersteer. 15 mins was enough for me so I headed back in to the heated garage and called it a day. I CAN'T WAIT for it to warm up. | ||
| Phantom5oh |
Pictures??? | ||
| Elff |
it went too quick that I didnt bother to take any. Sorry | ||
| Moondust |
Are these Helibars for an xb9sx or 12 ? I dont see em on the Heli website - only for firebolts ? your profile shows a city cross ? | ||
| Ghalsey |
Last time I checked they still only made Heli's for Firebolts. That still the case? (Message edited by ghalsey on February 12, 2007) | ||
| Aldaytona |
 | ||
| Elff |
I havent updated the pic yet. That was my old bike. may she rest in peace. You only looked at the pic. If you read the details of my profile, you will see the following If you look through the text of my profile tho, you will see the following Bike Model (Ex - M2, XB12Rr, S1W, P3): XB12R Model Year (Please enter full 4-digit year): 2006 Color: Black/Amber | ||
| Kootenay |
I put on a Helibars riser soon after getting my Firebolt. Like Elff, I'm short, and the Helibars puts the clip-ons in a much more comfortable position for those of us with short arms. I now find my 'Bolt more comfortable than most "sport-touring" specific bikes I've tried. The Helibars unit itself is well-made (a friend who's very familiar with CNC work was quite impressed). The only special tool I had to get was the "security" Torx bit to remove the ignition pod. One comment, though--when I bought the bike, I mentioned that I was planning to put on a Helibars riser, and the dealer had no idea what I was talking about (I guess because it's not chrome, nor is it in the H-D accessories book). I've since gone by to show them what it is... (Message edited by Kootenay on February 12, 2007) | ||
| Elff |
Yes I went home and took a pic of the finished Product  | ||
| Phantom5oh |
Looks good! | ||
| Bake |
I don't get it, are they higher than the stock setup? | ||
| Gentleman_jon |
Looks excellent. What is the difference in bar position? Where is this item on the Heli or other site? Well done. | ||
| Metalstorm |
My memory is crappy right now but it's something like 1.5" back & 1" up from stock position. It's a little bit that makes a big difference. | ||
| Sleez |
try here; http://www.helibars.com/proddetail.php?prod=HC0301 1" up, 1-1/2" back. | ||
| Elff |
Yes 1" up 1.5" back It makes a huge difference | ||
| Tiburondriver47 |
Nice. That is my next mod. One question tho. Did you get them from helibar or the one from American sport bike? | ||
| Elff |
I got it from Daves at Appleton HD. It is a helibar. Is Al's a Helibar or his own? | ||
| Tiburondriver47 |
Good question. I guess i'll have to call them and find out. They look exactly the same. I've been wanting to do this since last year so your post helped me make up my mind. | ||
| Damnut |
I'll be doing this mod in a few weeks. I bought the Helibar over a month ago but haven't had the time to install it. I'll be taking pictures and putting it in the KV section or here if people want. | ||
| Bertman |
Al's is also a Helibar. It was one of the first and best investments I did to my bike. It sure gets rid of the "crick" in the neck. | ||
| Tx05xb12s |
If you're replacing the top triple tree, they'd install on an S wouldn't they? The ride position description sounds like 1/2 way between stock S and the Crossroads. These look much better than the Crossroads, and I love that you can get to the preload adjusters with these. | ||
| Al_lighton |
If I owned a Firebolt, it would absolutely without a doubt have a Helibar top triple clamp. It's the one we sell, and it's a great mod for anyone other than the most dedicated track day enthusiast. I'd bet it would be the first mod I'd do. If you get one, don't forget to pick up a security torx wrench. The ignition lock is retained by bolts that won't come off with a standard torx driver. They won't install on the S model, at least not without some serious mods. The ignition switch is handled completely differently on the two models, and the S casting is in the way of most of it. If you want that similar riding position with an S, you need to go with the A.S.B. pseudo clip-ons (formerly Crossroads, we bought the crossroads Buell product line). Al (Message edited by al_lighton on February 13, 2007) | ||
| Molly_hatchet |
wonderful ...something else i need...i gotta stop readin this stuff. | ||
| Damnut |
The ignition lock is retained by bolts that won't come off with a standard torx driver. No but there is enough of the screw showing that you can grip the edge of it with a pair of vise-grips to loosen and remove it. | ||
| Elff |
here is a question out of Curiousity and lack of race track experience Due to the helibar putting the clips ons more in line with the fork tubes Wouldnt that aid race track performance? | ||
| Glitch |
Elff, what are you going to do with your stock parts you took off? | ||
| Elff |
All I have is the stock triple tree and 3 allen bolts Everything else was re-used. | ||
| Gowindward |
Hang on to your parts. The triple clamp is a great tool for hold the fork tubes during fork service work.  | ||
| Nuerburgringer |
<Due to the helibar putting the clips ons more in line with the fork tubes Wouldnt that aid race track performance?> Absolutely. Sportrider Magazine did an article on an XB12R project bike last year, and discovered that the HeliBar helped solve some of the Firebolt's steering ills, by reducing the strange leverage effect that was caused by having the 'bars so far forward. It was because of their report that I installed the HeliBar on my own Firebolt. When I get home, I'll dig up that magazine, and give you the month/issue to look for. (Message edited by Nuerburgringer on February 13, 2007) | ||
| Elff |
I have that Sportrider I was just wondering if Al had some other insight. Do Racers go even more agressive with a different option? | ||
| Johntman |
I was also curious as to if anyone with this mod would want to part with their old top triple tree? | ||
| Al_lighton |
Nah, no other insight. The stock bars pull you forward, get you down out of the wind a bit more, increase your front weight bias. These are good track things. But I've always thought the steering on an XB-R felt a little strange, kinda like there is both translation and rotation in the bar movements. The Heli helps with that. It feels funny to me, but many don't even notice it. Al | ||
| Damnut |
I was also curious as to if anyone with this mod would want to part with their old top triple tree? Send me a PM. Mine is black though. I offered it to a local fellow BadWebber first but if he doesn't need mine I can hook you up. | ||
| Kootenay |
I was also curious as to if anyone with this mod would want to part with their old top triple tree? Johntman, if Damnut's is gone, send me a pm. Mine's silver, and was used for maybe 200 miles. | ||
| Glitch |
Well I'd like a stock triple from an R. PM me please, if you've got one to get rid of. I'm not worried about the color, as long as it's in good shape. Thanks! | ||
| Damnut |
Hey Glitch.... If my local homey LOL doesn't want it and Johntman doesn't want it either, I'll bring it with me to MB4. | ||
| Glitch |
 I hope they don't want it! | ||
| Elff |
I do want to hold onto mine. Sorry |
