Once you’ve chosen the bars you think you’d like to put on your ride, there’s a few things to consider before you shell out the cash.
Double Check the Look
As we’ve already mentioned a couple of times in this guide, most after-market bars will fit a wide range of motorcycle classes and styles. But just because they’ll fit, it doesn’t mean that they’ll look great. Some bars will just look silly on some bikes.
Double Check Fit and Comfort Factors
Most standard handlebars are either 7/8 or 1-inch in diameter, but oversized bars are also available with larger diameters up to 2 inches.
Although larger diameter bars will usually taper towards the ends to allow for standard grip and control fitment, this isn’t the case with the centre part of the bars at the point where they clamp to the bike.
If you’re leaning towards buying a set of oversized bars, then you need to ensure they will actually fit your machine either with the OEM clamps or with aftermarket ones that you can purchase separately.
Using a tape measure and with the help of a friend, you can also get a sense of how the bars will fit and feel by using a number of additional key measurements:
Overall width: From one end to the other.
Centre width: The straight part of the bars in the middle where the clamps are situated. Measure to the bend on each side.
Pullback length: From top centre of the bars back to the end.
Inside rise: From the base of the centre width to the top of the bar.
End rise: From the base of the bar to the top, measured at the end of the bar.
You must also confirm that at full lock, the bars won’t hit the tank. This is potentially very dangerous, let alone the damage it will do to the appearance of your pride and joy.
Controls
After-market bars come in a great variety of shapes and sizes. Because of this, not all bars have enough room for the control assemblies of some bikes. If your bike has large switch housings and plenty going on as far as handlebar controls are concerned, you’ll need to confirm that they will fit on the new bars.
Cables and Wiring
Width and especially height become big factors to think about with aftermarket bars. Cable and wiring may be too short or too long if you are going for big changes. Unless you are heading back to stock on a used bike, too short is the usual situation.
Wires and cables can be extended or replaced with new ones at the right length. You can also look at running wires inside as opposed to on top of the bars. Cables remember, always stay on the outside of the bars.