Lower bars for an 82 xj650

I just bought an 82 xj650 that I am going to fix up. One thing I'm not too keen on are the higher cruiser looking bars. Would like something lower, more conventional. But the myriad of bars out there are befuddling. Anybody have a suggestion on size, make, source for some lower but cool bars? Maybe a pic if you have one?

 

Those old buckhorn bars are awful. I like the "Superbike" style bars. http://shop.ebay.com/items/_W0QQ_nkwZsu ... R40QQ_mdoZ

Whatever you get, just make sure you get the 7/8" bars and not 1".

 

I did exactly as you expected. I hate those buckhorn bars so bad, I don't care if the Superbike bars are what I actually want. But for $46, I was willing to gamble. Anything to get those bars off there. Thanks for suggestion!

 

Wow! You don't waste any time, do you? I hope they work out for you.

 

i also have an '82 650 and those bars look BAD!!! Seamastertime, let me know what you do and what it looks like. I'm trying to get a "used" set of moto cross bars to see how they fit. What about the master cylinder? it looks like is set up for those bars, it will flatten out with different bars.....

 

Guys; BikeMaster makes a WHOLE ASSORTMENT of different bend lower bars in 7/8." They offer Clubman, Euro (my choice) Daytona, Superbike, GP Touring, drag bars, etc. A lot of outlets carry the whole line (Bike Bandit, JC Whitney, Competition Cycle.) You don't have to use motocross bars or the like unless you're REAL partial to the bend. Take a look at the head on and tail on comparison shots in my gallery (they were taken as turn signal comparison shots) BOTH of my Secas have the "Euro" bend.

 

I have clubman bars on two bikes, and superbike bars an two others. Both styles are comfortable. However (WARNING) both are low enough to allow the grips to touch the tank.
It's all about taste and choice.

 

I just put a "euro" style on my bike from jc whitney. You will run into issues with master cyclinder and mirrors, since they were set up for the buckhorn style bars. Len helped me with replacing these parts to work with the flatter bars.

 

rit69, do you have any pics, and what master did you use and what mirrors???

 

Hey tman, I'll try and get some updated pics in the next couple days. I am very happy with the looks of the flatter bars. I've got the part numbers at my house for the master cylinder and the bracket for the left mirror. Will get those for you also. Or you can send Len/Charcol a pm and he can help you out. The issue with the mirrors is that the inserts where they screw in are angled to fit with the buckhorn bars. So your mirrors end up drastically angled in. The new master cylinder and left hand perch have 90 degree inserts so your existing mirrors will work with the flatter bars.

 

Sorry, it's Len/Chacal not charcol

 

I have seen a few pics of mirrors on the end of the bars. Has anyone ridden with those? Do they work OK? The factory mirrors are too high, i like the cleaner look???

 

Here are some pics of my new bars on my 650 Maxim for referrence.



Those are with stock mirrors and the stock master cylinder. As long as you keep a good level in the master cylinder it shouldn't be a problem. Also, I can see past my shoulders fine with the mirrors the way they are.

 

AlaskaZZR,
What bars are those? Where did you get them? Did you have to shorten/lengthen the cables or brake lines or where any other mods needed? Thanks.

Wesley

 

I swapped out the stock buckhorns on one of my XJs for Daytona Touring bars. They are a bit of a compromise between drag bars and the stock bars.I found them to be much more comfortable than the stock bars.

 

Tman, I had the mirrors on the end of the handlebars on an 81 CB750F Super sport I had in the late 80's. I had no problem withthem. visibility was great as the were farther out than my shoulders. I have thought of doing this with my Maxim, but I am gonna keep it just the way Dad left it to me.

 

Bar end mirrors are cool but I found they take some getting used to. I tried them for a while on of my SRs; what I found was that the mirrors were far enough out of my field of vision to make it a bit of a distraction to take my eyes OFF the road ahead to check the mirrors. I'm used to having the mirror be right at the edge of my peripheral vision so it doesn't take but a quick glance and anything unexpected that appears from behind will catch my attention. This may be exacerbated by the fact that I'm tall, so my field of vision is father above the bars than for some.

I put longer/wider than stock mirrors on the '83 because with the stock mirrors and low bars I get a real good view of my shoulders. My daughter doesn't have the problem with the same bars and stock mirrors on the other Seca.

Master cylinder angle isn't an issue with the Seca 550s.

 

I'm with Fitz, every point he made I agree.
I have the short stem, rectangular sport mirrors on my 750SECA, all I can see is my arms. The solution is to move the mirrors outward and, or upward for a better angle.
I came up with two ways to do that:
First, prepare a flat piece of aluminum or steel about 4" long, drill a bolt hole at each end, bolt one end in place of the mirror to the grip, bolt the mirror to the other end, this will move the mirror outward. Only problem is I could never find a revers threaded bolt for the right side, (Yamaha :cry: ).
The other way is to cut the mirror stem in half and insert the ends into a 5" steel tube that has an internal diameter just big enough to fit, and glue. This way will work because I found some steel tube that's the right size.

 

I bought a set of Yamaha-pattern EMGO aftermarket mirrors that are the LONG stalk rectangular sport mirrors and they solved the problem.

You can see the difference -- only about 2"-3" but might as well be two feet.
The long mirrors are on the bike on the left. This was a turn signal comparo photo sorry they got cropped a bit...

 

I bought them on ebay for like $25.00. They were labeled as Buell M2 Cyclone 7/8" Drag Bars.

I did not have to adjust my cable length or brake hose lengths. That being said, when I installed them, I took off the tank, and removed the cables from the choke perch, the throttle, and the clutch, and re-routed them so that they had plenty of play.

 

The only real issue I encountered was the clutch cable, there was no way to "tuck" it without it developing a nasty desire to get onto the exhaust pipes so replacement was necessary. Everything else rerouted nicely, I like the new throttle cable routing better than what Yamaha had.

 

I've been trying to figure out a way to see past myself in these mirrors. Will try to hunt down some longer stemed mirrors.

 

Yeah I agree with the new routing being better. I had removed the reflectors up by the head on the frame, and the lugs they were attached to made good tie downs for the new routing.

 

I did some superbike bars off of ebay in 7/8. I instantly liked the bars. I have issues with the clutch cable being too long and possible some throttle cable issues, but those buckhorn bars suck really bad.

Now my problem is mirros. the mirror mount holes curve inward so the stock mirrors on the old buckhorn bars make it where all's you can see is your shoulders. So I'm searching for mirrors...

But the bars rock and I'll find the right mirrors. Don't think bar end mirrors will look good.

 

Seamastertime, What bars did you get? Do you have any pics? I was also worried about the mirrors. The bars alaskazzr has, look awesome, they are 3" high and a 7"pull, and look good with the stock mirrors. I found a few pairs on ebay with the same measurements.

 

I got these bars with the bike and swapped them on right away.
I am 6'2" and they are real comfortable, shorter people say that they have to reach a bit to grab them.

 

I am just wondering what all of you are doing with all of these buckhorns that are being replaced. I would like to try them out on my 550 maxim

 

Is it me or does it look funny when a rider is really reaching forward and low when riding? Kinda like a monkey humpin' a football. To each his own I guess. It just looks so uncomfortable to ride like that.

 

well that is why you have to lower the back end to match the drag bars or you might as well have a crotch rocket

 

I put MX bars on mine, had super Sports on before that. I love the MX bars thoug, posted pics of it in a thread about my bike in XJ mods. I'm sure you can find it if you search for posts I've started. I'm liking my barend mirrors too.

Your new ones look good!