Drag bars

Has anyone installed these handlebars? Drag bars I'm really starting to not like the angle that the stock bars put my wrists at and these look a lot more comfortable. If anyone has used these, do you know if I would have to change cables or would the stock ones be able to reach?

 

I don't see any problems with your stock cables working. If anything, you'd probably need slightly shorter cables, but I think you'll be fine with those.

I still have the stock length cables on mine with the Seca bars. Really need to swap over to Seca cables though, they are bound up just a bit.

 

The master cylinder mount on the maxims is at an angle so the master cylinder will be level when mounted to the downward sloping bar. If you use a flatter bar the master cylinder will be tipped nose down, raising the hole that drains from the resevoir into the master cylinder up (perhaps higher than the low point of the resevoir). Also, the tip will make it difficult to fill and the level indicator inaccurate.

To be safe, you should replace with a master cylinder made for the flatter bar.

 

Any suggestions on what master cylinder would work for a flatter bar?

 

Well, a Seca master would work, but the Seca 650's and 750's are dual discs, so it would make a single disc feel a bit touchy I'd say. I think the Seca 550's would work, maybe we could get a Seca 550 member to get a pic of his master??

 

Don't have a pic but yes, the seca 550 master is perfect for drag bars with single disc's. And if you were closer you could have my old one as I converted my 550 to dual discs.

Most XS standard master cylinders will work as well.

I put drag bars on my XS1100 and the only real problem is the brake hose being too long, Be careful not to twist or kink it. Better still get a seca hose with the MC.

My Drag bars are straight with no pullback and take some getting used to. I would think twice about them if you plan on lots of highway riding as the wrists get a bit tired in that position. If It's just commuting and w/end rides then they are great.IMO

 

I think the ones he has in mind would be much easier on the wrists with the risers build into them though. I hate the curved back handle bars, I always want my bars to be fairly straight, not curved back so that my elbows have to be tucked in.

 

Yeah, I'm thinking that these bars would be a lot more comfortable than the stock bars. Besides that, they would give me more room to get my fat stomach on the bike when it's on the sidestand (sorry, can't seem to figure out the dang center stand)

 

Not sure on where you think you will get more room to get the bike on the sidestand. drag bars bring you much more forward into the crotch rocket position so comfort is somewhat compromised for the older gents.

If a fat gut is a problem then you may find it hard pressed on the tank with drags on. WIth my bars,(Built with three inch risers) it brings may body forward by three inches over the stock seca stlye bars.

Can be harder on the shoulders and back depending on fitness level.

Essentially, most drag bars you can buy have around a two to four inch pullback which is similar to a lot of dirtbike bars. If you are unsure on whether you will like drag bars then head down you local wreckers yard and pick up an old set of dirt bike bars for cheap and fit them to your bike for a couple of days. If you like the position then go the drag bars otherwise go back to original.

I like my Drag bars but the position and change in handling characteristics took about two weeks before I was feeling comfortable again.

 

Not wanting to get more room to get the bike on the sidestand, wanting more room to get on the bike when it's on the sidestand. With the way the stock bars are angled, they kind of get in the way of me getting on the bike. Kinda hard to explain.

I really wish I had access to a set of these bars without having to actually buy them and put them on my bike. They look cool and a lot more comfortable, but you never know until you get them on.

 

Nah, I understand now beardking. Never owned a Maxim but rode a few and must say the bar angle was not for me.


And yes, do your best to borrow a set before buying some.

If you have access to some 7/8 tube and a welder you could knock up a mock version for stationary trials to check for comfort. If not then you may have to bite the bullet.

 

HG, did you check out the link? The bars he's talking about have two risers built into them, kinda like what a lot of Harley guys run, except instead of bolting onto the top tree, it still clamps on like the stock bars. So yes, they're drag bars, but they're gonna put your hands in close to the same position as the stock bars, except facing straight forward rather than curved inwards.

 

Here ya go. :wink:

 

I changed to a lower bar on my '82 Maxim. MUCH more comfortable,and looks awesome too! I purchased a new master cylinder from mikesxs.com,and it was only about $70. You will probably want to change the clutch perch also,otherwise,the end of the clutch lever will point up,and the mirror will tip toward the center of the bike. I was pretty thorough when I swapped the bars. All in all,I replaced the bars,clutch perch,master cylinder,shorter clutch and throttle cables(ordered ones for an '82 Seca xj 650r),and had a stainless brakeline custom made to the correct length. Also ditched the cheesy plastic triple clamp cover in favor of a chrome handlebar clamp from, you guessed it,mikesxs.com. And just aheads-up,try to find a clutch perch from a 550 Maxim,as the adjuster boss on the xs 650 and xj 650r perches are too short to allow proper clutch cable adjustment. Best of luck, Dan.

 

Danno, any chance you might have links or part numbers to the items you replaced? The master cylinder from Mikes XS I know about, but the clutch perch, throttle cables, and brake lines I don't know so much about. I am glad to hear that the chrome handlebar clamp works on the XJ. Any pics of it all installed?

 

Hey, Beardking. I'll send pictures when I figure out how...this computer stuff is all new to me! As for the clutch perch,and throttle/clutch cables,go to your local Yamaha dealer (if you have one),and order the throttle/clutch cables for an '82 xj650r Seca. Order the clutch perch for an'82 xj 550 Maxim. Don't ask how I know...I bought a lot of parts that I thought would work and didn't. Good old trial-n -error method...very expensive! If you can't buy the parts locally,you can either buy the cables from denniskirk.com,or motogrid.com. The clutch perch is something I found on flea-bay pretty cheap. I'm sure motogrid sells the perch also,and the price isn't too bad, but you'll have to bend over for the shipping! If you want, e-mail me at danno61@localnet.com,and I'd be happy to help you further if I can. Regards, Dan.

 

Old thread, but I wanted to see if anyone had any differing input before I make a purchase. I've got an '81 XJ650 Maxim, just switched to Daytona bars, and I'm looking for cables and lever assemblies that will fit better.

About to order some cables from Denniskirk.com - 82 XJ650r SECA throttle and clutch cables...

Thanks for any info.

 

Let me know how it goes.. I hate my throttle cable with my daytona bars