Installing Converti Bars on my PS1000 - Ducati.ms

kingcapt · Mar 25th, 2006, 11:21 pm

Hey y'all,
I thought you may want to know I have officially taken on the role of Ducati Sport Classic/Paul Smart Converti-Bar Guinea Pig.

I ordered and received the full system from them yesterday. I have always been told that these folks are first rate both in product design, build quality, and customer service. The Converti-Bar experience is everything so far I have heard and read. If they work as well as they appear they will, these guys make a product and run a company the way you would expect, but rarely experience in life. Everything from the customer servcie to the timely delivery and quality of instructions and packaging is very well thought out.

I should have them on the bike by Monday night after work. I expect the position of the grips will be moved back somewhere around 1 1/2" to 2" closer to the rider (they are multi adjustable though) and I'll likely raise them about 1" higher than the clip-ons when they're slid up to the base of the top tree.

I'll keep everyone tuned...-Capt

ricky · Mar 26th, 2006, 10:14 am

Don't forget to take PICTURES!!!!!!!

kingcapt · Mar 26th, 2006, 4:23 pm

You bet I will. They are very clean and "finished" looking. I think they will blend in real well and add to the high-quality appearance. -Capt.

dale6262 · Mar 28th, 2006, 7:20 pm

kingcapt,

I did a search for converti-bars and came up with zero. Where did you buy them?

kingcapt · Mar 29th, 2006, 2:57 pm

Hi Dale,
Use the universal kit for 50mm legs. If you go this route, go ahead a get thier bar-ends at the same time. The stock bar-ends are just black plastic/urethane(?) caps. You'll need a set of real bar-ends. And they're cheap...$9.95 for a set when you order the whole kit. Top quality stuff, much less in price than using ST3's or others. Lots of fitment options as they're adjustable...kinda like a Rubik's Cube... -Capt

smrcka · Apr 13th, 2006, 10:13 am

http://www.convertibars.com/HowItWorks.cfm

wa6usa · Apr 15th, 2006, 7:47 pm

Great to see some of the same guys from the Yahoo sportclassic group. I PM'd you about the Convertibar install, but this is as good as you can get, lots of people who want to know. How did it go? Any room on the PS1000 for the high angle convertibars? Any troubles with fairing clearance? Did everything fit? Inquiring minds and bikes want to know.
It's interesting to read the convertibars home page, 4 different cycle mags that featured articles about these convertibars! Must be a common problem with us aging baby boomers---- Huh me?
Thanks Capt,
Tom Muller
PS1000LE and a old 77 Darmah Bevel Drive

Oilhed · Apr 15th, 2006, 7:57 pm

My dealer told me the raised clip-ons from the ST3 fit the Sport. Don't know about the PS.

kingcapt · Apr 16th, 2006, 10:11 am

Hi guys (Tom specifically),
The Converti-bars are a very nice package. On the PS (which is my model) there are some clearance issues, but I don't believe it will ultimately present much of a problem. Here's why: (and this was a primary force in me selecting the Converti option) because they are designed to rotate multi-directional, you can adjust the clip-ons back toward the rider. As you rotate the grips back, the clearance issues become less (if at all) a problem as the vertical clearance rises substantially.
Now that said, you will need to do 2 things.

#1 adjust the fork-stops to reduce the turning radius. It's not that bad, and you can leave enough "sweep" for turning in fairly tight areas. For me, having a very short turning radius is not necessary so I don't mind some reduction. -But, it needs to be considered, if you going to change you clip-ons, at all. (I have reduced my stops (moving them out) about 5/32" (aprx.)

#2 You will need longer throttle cables. This is due to the fact that as you rotate the clip-ons back, the radius the cable has to travel around the tube increase making for a tight fit, which is not acceptable.
I am in the process of installing a set of Ducati cables for another model I believe will be compatible, after careful evaluation, measuring, etc. Unfortunately, (and this is why I have not yet updated everyone) I am taracking them from Italy. They should have been here in the last several days, but haven't shown up yet. I expect that I will know more on Monday the 16th, Wednesday at the latest. As an alternative, Terry Cable will lengthen your OEM cables for about $35/per and does this in about 2 weeks.

The converti-bars do work very well, and offer a great deal of adjustment. My goal though has not been height as much as reducing the reach (thereby elevating the rider's body in the process). The ST3 risers are like $450 USD and are not adjustable (to my understanding) and that's just too much. I understand Ducati HAS DEVELOPED and is selling risers with 40mm increase for the Sport for about $100. This sounds good too, though not a custom fit like Converti's product. Hope this all helps! Also hope to have pix and final feedback/adjustments to all soon!!!!-Capt

wa6usa · Apr 16th, 2006, 1:19 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by kingcapt

Hi guys (Tom specifically),

#1 adjust the fork-stops to reduce the turning radius. (I have reduced my stops (moving them out) about 5/32" (aprx.)

#2 You will need longer throttle cables. As an alternative, Terry Cable will lengthen your OEM cables for about $35/per and does this in about 2 weeks.

My goal though has not been height as much as reducing the reach (thereby elevating the rider's body in the process). Capt

Great info Capt.! The turning radius is absolutely a non-issue for me, I noticed at slow speeds my Smart tends to be very difficult to handle normally. It wants speed, below 5 MPH I have to keep my boots down and ready to steady the balance, conversely the faster I go 90+MPH it rides on rails.
Regarding the cable length, I'm sure the whole thing is electronic, no mechanical connections to the handlebars that I can find, so the trick will be to drag out the soldering iron, and some shrink tubing, and extend the length.
I'm (and others) are really interested in how it all works out for the conversion. I can't tell you how many hours I've spent staring at my stock clipons trying to imagine how much room I'll have with the convertibars for hydraulic lines, electronic cables and clearance issues. If the imported cable assembly you are expecting works out, It will be a major coup for us who don't want to take a chance making the standard wiring harness a lot uglier with a badly soldered connections, and the probable intermittent connections that result from a poor job. It's an interesting predicament that's unique to the Paul Smart, everyone else can modify without worrying about the fairing.
I hope to work through this one myself, in the next week my bike goes to Pro Italia for the 600 mile service, it will be interesting to have an expert with lots of experience to field some of these questions.
Thanks for coming through with the invaluable info Capt.
Best to all, and Happy Easter,
Tom Muller