Bandit Alley
MODEL SPECIFIC => BIG BANDIT BANTER => Topic started by: PaulVS on May 30, 2006, 11:24:53 AM
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For those of you who wonder why your hands & wrists hurt when riding the bandit... I submit that the pull-back bend of the stock handlebars is too extreme... causing you to bend your wrists and put too much pressure on the outer part of your palms.
I just replaced mine with Bikemaster drag bars ($16 shipped from Ridenow.com) and the ergonomics are way better.
(http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y156/PaulVS/dragbars.jpg)
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are they 7/8inch bars?
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are they 7/8inch bars?
yup.
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How tall are you, PaulVS?
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Did you raise the bars when you put them on? Di you need new brakelines or cables?
My wrists are killing me, so I have to try something.
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I'm 6'2" with long arms (37 long shirt sleeves)
I didn't use risers, and that is kind of a trade off. I didn't need new lines at all.
I don't know if I like this much a forward-lean as these bars give... but the angle of the pull-back is DEFINITELY much better. (Gen-Mar risers would probably make it perfect, but I don't like the looks of risers.)
Just for giggles I ordered different set of Bikemaster "Superbike" handlebars that are $20 shipped from Ridenow.com to try out since it's only about a 1/2 hour job to swap them out.
If I like the Superbike bars better I'll sell these drag bars for shipping cost + $5.00 to anyone who is interested.
I also have a set of brand new Bikemaster "GP Touring Bars" that I'm selling... I ordered them and then found out they are almost identical in dimension to the stock bars. I never even mounted them on the bike. (They want a 20% re-stocking fee for me to send them back so I'm selling them cheap.)
You can see all 3 here: http://store.azmusa.com/knclubhanbla.html
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Dude, where's my handlebars?!?
Interesting post as I'm thinking of doing something. I too am tall and long of arm. Just happened by my suzi dealer and sat on a strom and thought those exact handlebars might be enough of a rise to sit me up a bit straighter. Some of those on that site you showed might do the trick, I dunno.
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If you get V-Strom type bars you will need to replace all the lines. (Throttle, brake, clutch, etc.)
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When did we start taking mod advice from Brough?
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I too have wanted to try the drag bars. If you find your done with them I'd be interested.
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When did we start taking mod advice from Brough?
Since I watched the 1970's mod sqaud! I'm a styling dude! People from all over come to see what colour helmet I'm wearing! I start trends here in my little burb in the country!
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So these bars have much less "sweep", so they are nearly straight, and it feels good? I will be buying new bars as soon as I can find some good ones for a good price, the 1G 1200 has even more rise than the 2g, so I feel like I am way up in the breeze!
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I've had Two bandits and I run the same as i used on RD Yamahas years ago. They are copies of CB400 Honda bars i believe. Flatter and less pull back than stock. I'm 6' with long arms (but don't touch the ground !) Gaz.
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I personally don't have any issues with my 2G 1200. I am 6'1" and I rode about 2800 miles over the course of 1 1/2 weeks. My only two issues was that my butt was getting sore and I wish I had a throttle lock.
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chupacabra: I too have wanted to try the drag bars. If you find your done with them I'd be interested.
Why? Is $16 too rich for you to buy your own? :stickpoke:
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I have a feeling that I'll try them and find out there not for me! :motorsmile:
And also $16 is what it takes to fill the tank down here, save some money for both him and I. :monkeymoon:
But I would like to try them just for kicks.
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How hard is the install of new bars?? Is drilling required for mounting of the clutch /brake reservoir etc.?
Im interested in some new bars and might have to check these out. Do you think there's plenty of clearance for a 1G bandit 1200S.
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It is all very simple. No drilling is required as it all stays put with clamps.
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You do need to drill 2 holes in the handlebars where the controls mount on each side. they have pegs on them that go in the opening to hold them in place.
I marked the peg location by putting some magic marker on the peg itself than positioning it where I wanted them on the handlebar. The ink left a small mark on the handlebar.
Then I used a nail punch to start the hole (so the drill wouldn't slip off and scratch the chrome) and then drilled the holes in the bars.
One thing to know... you should drill a hole a lot smaller than the one that is on the stock handlebars.
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Drilling is news to me. I swapped my stock bars for a set of Renthals and there was no drilling involved.
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If you don't want to drill, you can break the little nubbins off the controls, then you can position them wherever you want.
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Did you cut the mounting pegs off of the switch gear and master cylinder mounts or did you drill the handlebars? I wanted to go with drag bars on my '97 1200.
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I drilled the holes... because removing the nubs would allow the controls to rotate too easily on the bars.
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:stickpoke:
I did break one of the plastic screw on one of the plastic housing of the controls.
I never replaced it.
Once in awhile the whole throttle handle rotate too much when I gun it hard. But that's like once in a blue moon. So I never really bothered to take the whole thing apart and redrill the screw piece off.
Why did suzuki used a plastic screw anyway? Is it because some people don't wanna drill a hole on a new handle bar?
I do have a 98 s bandit. U guys were saying the clearance might not be enough? Do I need to get risers in order to get drag bars? I do feel my wrist hurt when I go for a long ride along with my butt on my newly reapholstered seat a bought from ebay. Man how do I get to get foam to soften up? It's still stiff. Hehe
Anyways, back to the drag bars. How did u get the white plastic throttle handle to stay in place? Do u have to glue it? I've never replaced a bar before.
Ok,ok, I know this thing is getting long and boring. But at 9$ plus shipping is really tempting. I wanna change my bar.
(",)
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I drilled the holes... because removing the nubs would allow the controls to rotate too easily on the bars.
Can I practise on your head first?
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I drilled the holes... because removing the nubs would allow the controls to rotate too easily on the bars.
Can I practise on your head first?
Kinda explains why there isn't any famous canadian stand-up comedians, don't it? :wink:
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well jim carey is canadian and started as a stand up comic.
but mr. jbrough7 would really be a bad comic. :duh:
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Okay boys & girls... I have finally achieved handlebar perfection...
(http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y156/PaulVS/sb-bars.jpg)
Bikemaster "Superbike" bars from Ridenow.com ($20 shipped)
Not too much pullback... just the right amount of rise. I'm one happy camper.
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I wonder if those will hit the fairings on my 1G 1200S.
If not I need to try them out.
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I wonder if those will hit the fairings on my 1G 1200S.
If not I need to try them out.
Ive got a set in the mail.. I'll post up if they fit the 1G's ok...
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thanks so much, looking forward to finding out.
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i don't like it.
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thanks so much, looking forward to finding out.
They work great on the first gens too..
A big thumbs up on the Bikemaster Superbike bars.. a 100 times better than the stock ones. Really gets your wrists out of the un-natural position with the lesser pullback than the stockers.
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I put a set of renthal bars on my one. Took em off and gave em away they where so cat. I find the stock bars grand.
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Well you sold me. :thanks: My Superbike bars are in the mail. Hopefully I will get them before i do a 250 mile ride on Wednesday. :banana: :banana: This will be my first "long" ride on the bandit. I have done a couple 120 mile rides, but this will be my record breaker.
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Well, they did not show up in time for my ride, but the ride was fun anyway. Have any of you cut down the BikeMaster Superbike bars or did you leave them the factory length. They look like Texas Longhorns. Need to save space for GPS mount(yet to be purchased), so I have not cut mine down yet.
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So the GP Touring Bars are mentioned as being idential to the stock ones.
The numbers I have indicate the following
Superbike 29.2 " width, 3.04" rise, 3" pullback and 4" centre
The G.P. are 28"width, 4.2" RIse, 4.2" pullback and 4.8" centre
It would sound to me like the GP would give the extra 1" rise that I am looking for. Does this make sense?
If anyone tried the GP version, can you tell me what the result was?
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You are 100% correct. The GP Touring bars are nearly identical to stock but wider. I bought both the GP Touring Bars and the Superbike bars. Decided to keep the Superbike bars on the Bandit because they are easier on the wrists (at least for me - 6'7'' tall with long arms). But if you like the stock bend and just want a wider bar you would probably like the GP Touring bar.
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So the GP Touring Bars are mentioned as being idential to the stock ones.
The numbers I have indicate the following
Superbike 29.2 " width, 3.04" rise, 3" pullback and 4" centre
The G.P. are 28"width, 4.2" RIse, 4.2" pullback and 4.8" centre
It would sound to me like the GP would give the extra 1" rise that I am looking for. Does this make sense?
If anyone tried the GP version, can you tell me what the result was?
I have new-in-the-box GP touring bars if you want to try them for $5 + actual shipping.