Okay, so I decided my motorcycle’s handlebars weren’t cutting it anymore. I wanted something with a straighter, more aggressive look. So, I went with straight bars. Here’s how the whole thing went down.
Prepping for the Swap
First things first, I gathered my tools. I’m no mechanic, but I’m pretty handy. I already had:
- A basic socket set
- Some Allen wrenches
- A torque wrench (borrowed from my neighbor, bless him)
- Screwdrivers
- Shop rags (always need those)
And of course, I ordered the new straight bars online. Picked some up that I thought looked pretty cool and had decent reviews. I made sure to check the diameter to match my bike’s setup. No point in getting bars that won’t even fit.
Getting the Old Bars Off
This was probably the trickiest part. I started by carefully removing all the controls – throttle, clutch lever, switches, everything. I took my sweet time. It’s easy to scratch things up, and I really didn’t want to do that. I also loosened and remove the bar ends.
Next, I loosened the bolts holding the old handlebars in place. They were on there pretty tight, so I had to put some muscle into it. Once those were off, the old bars came right off. It has a little bit of resistance.
Putting the New Bars On
This was way easier than taking the old ones off. I just slid the new straight bars into place and tightened the bolts – not all the way, just enough to hold them.
Then, I re-attached all the controls. This took a while, making sure everything was lined up right and working smoothly. Throttle needs to snap back, clutch needs to feel right, all that jazz.
Used the torque wrench to really secure the bolts holding the bars. Didn’t want those suckers coming loose while I’m riding!
The Final Touches
After everything was back together, I checked, and double-checked all the controls. Made sure the throttle was smooth, the clutch was engaging properly, and all the switches were working.
Finally I cleaned everything up. It feels great. It is lower, and the riding position is a bit more aggressive, which is exactly what I was going for. And, honestly, it just looks so much cooler.
