6th Gen Heli Bar Install - See It Before You Try It!

I also installed my Helibars this weekend on my '07 RWB. I used the EXACT same steps used above, and it wasn't too tough at all. Just make sure you take your time and don't forget anything!

I couldn't believe the difference just a few fractions of inch can make! I'm 6'4" and they made a night and day difference in my comfort, especially on longer slab-rides.

Certainly money well-spent.

 

Nice write up, Keith. I agree that the bars are great. How do you like the sport touring screen? For me at 5'9", the bars and screen are a great combination.

 

Thanks for the comments!

As for the ZG sport touring w/s and heli bar combo, I think they work great together. I put the w/s on first - and it was a big improvment for me and my riding style. I'm 6'0", and just couldn't get out of the airstream unless I was laying on the tank.

The Heli bars were a major improvment as well, and would highly recommend them! Rode the VFR to work and back today - 'love it more and more....especially now, with these easy mods done!

Keith

 

Hey ottrod... awesome job and thanks for the how to with the quality pics. Just curious, does the right grip need to come off? Will it not come off with the throttle sleeve as one piece?

 

You know, you have a good point.

Since I had never had one apart before, I just started with the grip - but I think, now that you mention it, if you just remove the damper weight, you could eliminate messing with the right grip.

Thanks for the tip!

 

Great write up Ottrod. I put the heli bars on today with your write up, took about two and half hours. One question, did you mount your bar against the tree or did you leave a small gap?
Thanks

 

Nice DIY!!! lots of pics and detailed instructions. Thanks.

 

Ottrod, just curious: Why did you take the grip off the throttle tube on the right side? I put my Helibars on my new (to me) '02 last night, and the whole throttle assembly comes off in one piece without having to take the grip off. Gotta take it off the left side, though.

Good tip on locating the bar position, I'll have to go back and check mine tomorrow.

 

Thanks for the comments!

.....and after 1000 miles - 'still liking the Helibars!

Keith

 

I didn't realize how it all came apart until after I "had it apart". In hind sight, it sure wasn't necessary!

Keith

 

Thanks for the thread Ottrod, it was very useful for me this past weekend. :cheersaf:

And lucky me, I got to learn how to bleed my clutch line too (thanks to a lapse in attention while adjusting the left side).

 

Glad the thread helped - sometimes it helps to see a bit of what you are getting into. I am sure you will like the change!

Keith

 

Outstanding...................Great pictures. I will do this mod when I turn 40......hehehe
Thanks for sharing

 

Did you get a good idea of what the dampers actually were? Are they just metal bars on rubber isolation mounts?

I've been kicking around going the LSL superbike route on my '86 (no helibars), but unsure of how to deal with vibration in the handles. The stock clipons are bad enough, but I don't know how much mass they have in them (looks like maybe solid cast aluminum and not hollow at all?).

 

awesome post ottrod!!!! step by step kudos to ottrod you should get a free calender or jacket for that post just my noob openyawn. thanks for the time and effort greak bike you have there also...

 

loose fit

Put Heli bars on and the OD on the new bars is just a little off. The switch gear and the clutch controls are not quite tight. I can jiggle the switch gear and cluth controls can be turned. I noticed it when I check the brake line bolt and the assembly turned. Took it back apart and thats when I noticed how loose it all was. Just me?

 

Great post i like the info you gave, it should help people who are scared to do things on their own. That being said my heli bar swap took 2Hrs, did you really take 3Hrs worth of pics? Or wer you just being cautious?

 

I'm not totally clear on your issue, but I live up the hill from you in Placerville if you want to look at my set-up if that helps you at all.

 

After installing the bars I went back over all the bolts and when I check the clutch line bolt the master cylinder spun on the bar. The clamp is designed to have the gap on the bottom , that is why the arrow is on the front of the clamp. After it spun I noticed that the clamp had bottomed out when torqued and had not gripped the bar. Left OD(outside diameter) was .030 smaller than the right bar . All was fine on the right bar, .012 gap at brake master and switch gear was not loose. After contacting Heli and sending measurements they sent me a new set (showed up about an hour ago), and I will give this another shot.

 

Photographic Courage

Ottrod, thanks for the awesome Installation Guide. Bought a pair of these for Mama's 07 for Christmas, and after reading the short, text-only install guide Heli provides, I went searching for some instructions I have a chance of succeeding with. Now I have the courage to give this a shot. I expect I'll be a hero at home again. Unfort on my 1st oil change on the bike I didn't find a similar manual with photos until after I did the first change (5 hours) ! You rock like a Viffer, dude, thanks again!