Bandit Alley

MODEL SPECIFIC => SUZUKI BANDIT 650 and 1250 - WATER COOLED TECHNICAL => Topic started by: Ray Mooney on July 23, 2008, 03:52:56 PM

Title: Tusk bar risers
Post by: Ray Mooney on July 23, 2008, 03:52:56 PM
Any reason these wouldn't work on a Bandit 1250? They're $20! http://www.rockymountainatv.com/productDetail.do?navType=type&webTypeId=70&navTitle=Control&webCatId=12&prodFamilyId=12976 (http://www.rockymountainatv.com/productDetail.do?navType=type&webTypeId=70&navTitle=Control&webCatId=12&prodFamilyId=12976)
Title: Re: Tusk bar risers
Post by: Red01 on July 23, 2008, 09:30:57 PM
As long as your front brake hose is long enough. 

If not, it's a perfect excuse to install steel braided lines which improve feel and last longer than the OEM hoses.
Title: Re: Tusk bar risers
Post by: Ray Mooney on July 24, 2008, 06:48:33 PM
I got an email back from Rocky Mountain ATV. They say these won't fit street bikes. Not sure why, but I'll take their word for it.
Title: Re: Tusk bar risers
Post by: Katamaniac on July 30, 2008, 03:42:26 PM
I don't know why those wouldn't work for street bikes. The only issue would be the distance between the bolt holes and you could elongate them to fit if need be. I tell you what, I'll order a set and let everyone know how they work. I am planning on putting bar risers on anyway.
Title: Re: Tusk bar risers
Post by: dhcolesj on July 30, 2008, 10:57:31 PM
The other problem may be strength ratings, either the bolts, or the risers or both may be less than approved for street use.  Even if they are "strong" enough the company may be trying to remove some litigation possibilities if you know what I mean.
Title: Re: Tusk bar risers
Post by: Katamaniac on July 31, 2008, 11:25:00 AM
I ordered the bar risers yeserday. They are on back order and will ship 8/22. I did some looking on the net and found lots of risers for 7/8" bars for less than $100
Title: Re: Tusk bar risers
Post by: Katamaniac on August 05, 2008, 08:31:14 PM
OK, my Tusk bar risers came in today and it happened to be my day off, so I got right down to putting them on the Bandit. I added a few pictures to the post.
Here is a shot of what comes with the bar risers. You get one set of risers that fill the cradle, where the bars went, two different sets of shims and one set of handlebar cradles and three sets of Stainless Steel hex bolts. You have to use the caps that are original to the bike.

(http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y253/Katamaniac/P1010109.jpg?t=1217977644)

I use a scraper that is sharpened on the grinder to remove the hex head covers. Make sure you put an old towel or something else on the tank to keep it from getting scratched.

(http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y253/Katamaniac/P1010108.jpg?t=1217977703)

Remove the handlebars and set them up on the front of the triple tree.

(http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y253/Katamaniac/P1010110.jpg?t=1217977767)

Insert the risers and the desired amount of shims.Reinstall the handlebars. As you can see, I had no problems with brake line lengths, it does help that I have the bike lowered, which brings the brake calipers closer to the handlebars anyway.  I used all but the smallest set of shims and I came up with a rise of 1 ¼”. If I added the last shim, the rise would have been just over 1 ½”. Now I have to wait until the other half gets home, so I Can go out and test them out.

(http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y253/Katamaniac/P1010112.jpg?t=1217977850)

The only issue that I have with the new bar risers, are that they are slightly smaller in girth that the original handlebar cradle and cap are. I pulled on the bars as hard as I could and there was no evidence of play or weakness. with the exception of the rubber mounts on the triple trees. The hex is also slightly larger than the originals, so the chrome caps will just fall out.
Title: Re: Tusk bar risers
Post by: Ray Mooney on August 05, 2008, 11:01:43 PM
Yeah, I can see that there's less mass to the risers than the original cradle and cap. How does it look in person? Is it particularly noticeable?

So now I'm wondering why those folks told me they wouldn't work for street bikes. There is the question of tensile strength, but wouldn't off-road applications be just as stressful as street applications, and maybe even tougher considering triple jumps and the like. Maybe it is a liability issue.

 :thanks:  Thanks for taking one for the team and let us know how they work out. I may be next in line. 

Ray
Title: Re: Tusk bar risers
Post by: CWO4GUNNER on August 06, 2008, 12:38:17 AM
I can not see why there would be a strength difference with the pounding dirt bikes take and even though they are not exactly excellent looking they certainly look no worse then some of the over priced import hardware sold by some popular Bandit vendors. I think the only concerns might be the ridiculously low price which makes them an extremely great find and value. Very well done, you have certainly struck a blow for street bike consumers on that one. I hope this doesn't sound condescending but I'm proud of you..Bravo Zulu!
Title: Re: Tusk bar risers
Post by: Katamaniac on August 06, 2008, 09:16:27 AM
You definatley do notice the differance in girth of the risers, but it's not unatractive or anything. I am not woried about the strength of the risiers since they are under compressional stresses anyway. I forgot to mention, the holes in the riisers are a slightly oblonged to compensate for various dimensions in bolt seperation.

I rode it to work today and I did not notice any change in vibration or performance. The comfort is better with the bars a little closer to the ride.

I am pretty happy with these risers, especialy considering the price.
Title: Re: Tusk bar risers
Post by: Ray Mooney on August 06, 2008, 01:27:24 PM
Excellent. Thanks for the report. I'm ordering a set.
Title: Re: Tusk bar risers
Post by: dhcolesj on August 06, 2008, 11:56:53 PM
Yep, I think the issue is they don't want people putting them on the street where the liability goes way up.  If those things break off while you're riding in dirt, your chances are good.  If those things break off while your doing 80 MPH, your chances are very bad.  On dirt, you break a leg, on the street you could die.  BIG difference there.  That's how they avoid the high price tag that could come from possible lawsuits. 

The other problem is that they could be thinking "stunters" who put their forks, breaks and bars under tremendous stress, and these things create another potential weakness.  I would imagine, however, that for normal riding with a little curve carving, you would not put any more stress on them than the average dirt bike rider would.  Gotta learn to ignore this thread . . . its another something to spend money on (even if it really isn't that much).
Title: Re: Tusk bar risers
Post by: CWO4GUNNER on August 07, 2008, 03:08:03 AM
So then why are the one's made for the street outsourced for manufacturing to the lowest bidder in Tianjin China where those companies are exempt from liability and therefore the vendors that sell them here are also.

Yep, I think the issue is they don't want people putting them on the street where the liability goes way up.  If those things break off while you're riding in dirt, your chances are good.  If those things break off while your doing 80 MPH, your chances are very bad.  On dirt, you break a leg, on the street you could die.  BIG difference there.  That's how they avoid the high price tag that could come from possible lawsuits. 
Title: Re: Tusk bar risers
Post by: Geoffwhite18 on August 07, 2008, 01:39:49 PM
because china sucks. We'll end up at war with them before too long. I think I'm going to try these things out!
Title: Re: Tusk bar risers
Post by: dhcolesj on August 07, 2008, 03:04:03 PM
CWO4GUNNER, you answered your own question:

"where those companies are exempt from liability"

That's why. :banghead: :rant2:  The buggers don't want liability so they farm it out to a place where they are exempt. 
Title: Re: Tusk bar risers
Post by: CWO4GUNNER on August 07, 2008, 05:03:20 PM
Well with the exception of Genmar that machined here at their plant, most of them are outsourced. Anyway its a good buy, I wonder if they will stack on top of Genmar raisers LOL. That would mean new lines but a true upright position LOL.
Title: Re: Tusk bar risers
Post by: gunzip on August 10, 2008, 11:44:58 AM
 Being in manufacturing myself I can assure you that outsourcing does not exempt you from liability . Any product we use in our equipment MUST have a liability trail that leads away from us , this even includes raw material like steel .  In fact ;For our crane tube sections we can only source from usa or canada as we have run into forged specs even from european korean and japanese
origins
Title: Re: Tusk bar risers
Post by: CWO4GUNNER on August 10, 2008, 01:02:53 PM
Well critical test and calibrated items for industry are one thing, but I know most of the imported item for consumers have been coming under the radar from china and I don't have to give any examples of them or who gets stuck with it, the consumer. Anyway the point is tusk has had a good reputation whether there items are out sourced or not I believe these risers are valued priced because they were targeted at the off road consumer.
Title: Re: Tusk bar risers
Post by: Ray Mooney on August 10, 2008, 09:45:40 PM
Just got them installed. Not exactly OEM-looking, but they do the job. Used all but the smallest shim as full rise had the cables on the right side impacting the windscreen at full left lock. Still, much more upright position and less strain on my wrists. I like 'em, and you can't beat the price.
Title: Re: Tusk bar risers
Post by: Geoffwhite18 on August 11, 2008, 03:25:33 AM
You didn't have to replace any of the cables?
Title: Re: Tusk bar risers
Post by: Ray Mooney on August 11, 2008, 10:40:48 AM
No. There's no slack left in the cables, but it works.
Title: Re: Tusk bar risers
Post by: Geoffwhite18 on August 20, 2008, 04:56:48 PM
WARNING!!! These will not work on a 2G B6. In fact no risers of any kind will work on a 2G B6 because there is absolutely no slack at all whatsoever in the brake line going from the master cylinder to the distribution block down on the forks. So now that I have a set of risers, I'm looking for a longer brake line! LOL!!!
Title: Re: Tusk bar risers
Post by: andrewsw on August 20, 2008, 05:04:29 PM
time to get those braided steel brake lines you've always wanted, err... Needed, yeah, that's it!!  :trustme:

w00t! :thumb:
Title: Re: Tusk bar risers
Post by: Geoffwhite18 on September 04, 2008, 03:02:26 AM
Well got mine on. I'm still waiting on the braided stainless brake line that I'm having custom made for 40.00, and I will have to powdercoat the risers to match my trippletree, but it's all good. It sure moves the riding position around. They don't look too bad.
(http://w3.bikepics.com/pics/2008/09/04/bikepics-1406487-full.jpg)
Title: Re: Tusk bar risers
Post by: CWO4GUNNER on September 05, 2008, 05:17:30 PM
I wouldn't powder coat them, I think they look techno fine. Sure beats the looks of some of the other strait raisers I have seen at 4 times the price.
Title: Re: Tusk bar risers
Post by: rcdd on October 02, 2008, 04:12:47 PM
I think they look good.....and yeah, alot better than some of em I've seen......

Oh and BTW, they also make the same kinda clamp if you want to install some fat (1 1/8") moto bars......

http://www.rockymountainatv.com/productDetail.do?navType=type&navTitle=Control&webTypeId=241&webCatId=12&prodFamilyId=3154