Swapping HeliBars back to stock units...

Good Morning Fellow Mad Dog Warriors of the white lines,

I'm about to ditch the Heli Bars that came on my pre-owned 2001 VFR. It looks like a straight forward swap, but my experiences with wrenchin' on bikes tells me nuttin' is ever as easy as it seems. Hopefully this job is.

Any tips or glitches, heads up for me? I have a compressor for blowing off the grips. but I may just replace them anyway. It's the controls and switches that concern me.

Before anyone mentions it, I'll be ordering a shop maunual very soon. Just haven't decided to go with Honda or Haynes,ect.

BTW...Mellow, if ya catch this post, I spent a good while going over the mods you've done on your bike. I DIG!!! Your one sick dude.:wink:

Done any thing wacky to your Valk?

Thanks in advance,
brutus

 

The only pain is the throttle cables have been routed to the rear of the right fork, they need to go back to the front of the fork. One way is to remove the triple clamp, another is to take apart the throttle assembly - just pay attention to how it goes back together - this can result in lots of profanity.

 

Yes chesthing, I see what you refer to. That should fun and games!!! I do have another Q though. How does one remove the wieghts inside the bars? I'll need to do that and reinstall them in the stock bars.

Thanks for the help,
brutus

 

Dont forget your bar ends........ I believe on that year you have the type that has the internal pieces that go up into the clip-on. These will involve lots of profanity.

 

I'm close to the profanity Tori, but not just yet.

What do you suggest as a removal procedure for those internal pieces. Right now I'm stumped...

Thanks,
brutus

 

My Helibars came with a bar end weight remover. It's basically a 2" sleeve that's the same circum. of the bar - you take a bolt and large washer and pass it through the sleeve into the weight and crank it out with a socket.

 

Thanks chesthing...I was thinking the same thing. Looked around in my tools for something similar to use, but no beans. I may just go ahead and order the parts for the stock bars and avoid the clown voices in my head having a convention. I bloody know they're capable of destroying the peace and calm I usually reside in... (NOT!!!)

Making a trip to the dealer anyway, so I'll update later.

I'm really diggin' this site BTW.

brutus

 

You could probrably make the tool out of some PVC or conduit. Just measure your bar diameter and do a little shopping at ACE.

Brillilant idea, thanks for posting that tool tip Chesthing

 

Honda manual

I have both the Honda manual and "others". The Honda manual is the only one worth having.

 

Well...here's the skinny so far:

I called HelBars and talked to some tech dude. Whilst I gazed at my situation on the bars, we came to the conclusion that I apparently have some "older" version of the Heli's that come with the inside weights permanently attached...as in spot welded. ( I'm not sure about that, however there are no holes on the ends of these like the two small holes I see on the ends of the stockers. Instead there are two dimples. Hmmmmmmmmmm?) He also had no idea whatsoever of the tool that chesthing mentioned. So, I've ordered the stock wieghts, cuz the one in the Heli's are STAYING PUT.

Should I decide to remove the top triple clamp to route the throttle cables correctly, can someone give me the torque values for the center nut and the pinch bolts?

Now I just need the patience to wait till tommorrow, or go ahead and put everything on minus the weights...

The help from all is most welcome,

brutus

 

Put it all on minus the weights.

 

Would it be easier to pull the front wheel, loosen the right pinch bolts, drop the fork, route the cable in front, and return the fork and wheel?

Did that make sense?

Wish I had a picture of what you're up against. I may be making an assinine suggestion.

 

Vlad,

That's not an entirely wacky suggestion, but may be more labor intensive the the top clamp removal. It's just the trottle cables that need to repositioned, so I'm not sure either...

But...any idea is welcome. Thanks

 

Thanks Mellow,

My Valk still gets the the bizzare stares, and follow-up questions that seem to come from alien beings, used to nuttin' but V twins and such. I think the sheer size of the beast leads to that sort of thing.

BTW...ordered a Honda manual today as well.

As far as my swap goes on the Viffer and the bars, what say ye about the simplest way re-route the throttle cables?

 

Got 'er done!

Wasn't too bad, I took the throttle assembly apart to re-route the cables to the front of the fork. Middle school level profanity at some points, but all is well now. Won't have the inside weights till tomorrow, but I can still ride.

The Heli's are listed in the classifieds for those who are interested.

Thanks for the help and encouragement from everyone.

brutus

 

That was indeed worth a try, I see we do think alike. But in case anybody else goes that route...it didn't quite fit through that way. I ended up loosening the adjuster nuts and getting as much slack as I could. Then I released the both cable ends, twisted the "pull" cable housing out, and slid it and the return cables and housings under the top tree. Reassembly after that went smooth.

I find the stock bars a major improvement in ergos for me and my long arms. Found out that whoever put the Heli's on, did not cut the tabs for the banjos on the brake and clutch masters. The brake lines were a hair away from the forks, so the levers wouldn't adjust down far enough to be comfy for me that way. Both levers were up too far, putting an uncomfortable bend in my wrists. I still needed to get down further anyway, so all is groovy.

I again thank everyone for the help offered, and hope to return the deed whenever I can. I put lots of miles on bikes, at the rate of 20-25K per year. Teaching is a great gig in June, July and August. But I ride pretty much year round anyway. Gerbings!!! Every day is July!!!:biggrin:

So as I wear out tires and learn more about this most righteous VFR, I hope to hang here, get good ideas and tips, and share the same.

Looking forward to your next mod write-ups as well.

BTW: The Valk growled at me as walked past her for the VFR, so I gave in and took the SportBarge out tonite instead. Felt like the twilight zone after nearly a week on the Viffer...but still one of my all time favorites. I'll work on the knee draggin'........:wink:

brutus