Smaller Bars?

[bmartinek]

So its been about a week since owning the HM, and man its a cool fun bike, but I am not make friends on the roads lane spiting with the mile wide bars.

Has anyone tried putting more narrow bars on their HM?

Love the leverage but I would like to lane-split as well without swapping paint.

Thoughts?

Thanks in advance!

[georound]

You may have to take the guards off. There are narrower bars for offroad bikes or you could get a bend that you like and trim it down(hacksaw off an inch or so off each end). The guys that ride in the woods do it often. If you lurk on off road forum, you might find someone that wants to try a different bend and would sell you their's cheap.

[bmartinek]

Thanks for the info, is it a standard size?

I saw these that look sexy but they are just as wide:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/_Moto....c0.m245.l1318

Just curious what s a good resource for the different bend styles?

[nog00der]

Originally Posted by bmartinek

Thanks for the info, is it a standard size?

I saw these that look sexy but they are just as wide:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/_Moto....c0.m245.l1318

Just curious what s a good resource for the different bend styles?

try Pro Taper, or Tag Metals, Renthal...
they are a totally standard dirt bike size at the clamps, which gives you about a gazillion options BEFORE you have to think about cutting.

[PedroHM]

pro taper woods low are narrower and will fit all the stock controls (just!) you won't be able to fit stock handguards tho. MUCH better for splitting traffic and low speed fast turning as your arms don't go as far from lock to lock steering. they do sit a tad higher and a diff angle tho but quite comfy for me.

[bmartinek]

Thanks Pedro,

Definitely looking into it, although I wold like to keep the hand guards too. What size bar was it?

[bmartinek]

Also, how don't the handgaurds fit? Is it the bar diameter, or the angle?

Thanks!

[mountainrider]

Originally Posted by bmartinek

Also, how don't the handgaurds fit? Is it the bar diameter, or the angle?
Thanks!

Ducati has fitted the bars with a notched bushing that mates with tangs on the "guards". They not only make a direct bolt on of these hand guards to other bars impossible, but make them point down if the stock bars have too much sweep for you... as in you bump them forward.

The best bend I've found for me is the YZ bend. It has less sweep/pullback and is lower. All the top players have this bend. It may still need to have it's length shortened for lane splitting.

[BillyD]

Here's the best lane splitting set-up going bar none (get it?).



Cut-down Henry/Reed Protapers
Real Acerbis RallyPro handguards
ACNMW bar clamps (no longer available, but equivalents are)
Stalk mirror (from a KTM 990 SuperDuke)

To determine how much to cut off the bars, mount the right-side controls and slide them in as far as possible, then mark and cut off the end. I used a different master cylinder, but I would expect you could get 1/2" or so with the stock master cylinder.

If you are truly lane splitting, ditch the stock "handguards". At over $300 per side, you will be sorry if you don't. If someone crowds me and I clip their mirror, I win with the Acerbis handguards. You'll have to massage the Acerbis to get a fit, but it can be done.

Besides, the flip out bar-end mirrors make the bike too wide and, if you aren't using your mirrors while lane splitting, you're asking for trouble.

The stalk mirror isn't as pretty as say the CRGs bar-end, but it is infinitely more useful in close quarter trafffic.

Now, excuse me while I go merrily down the lane splitting...life is but a dream.

[bmartinek]

Thanks for even more info, has anyone tried the Pro Taper Woods Lo bars? Seems like they are already about an inch narrower (800mm vs 775mm).

I am sure that the Acerbis gaurds work well but man, they nothing for the appearence of the Hyper. Hmmm maybe I could paint them....