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#1:  Replacing the crappy handlebars on the Virago Author: jonnythan Post Posted: Wed Jul 18, 2007 3:17 pm

I'm sure I'm not the only one who has gotten wrist cramps from the bizarre angle of the stock Virago handlebars.

So, I replaced mine with some bars from eBay that have a 5" rise and 5.25" pullback. They're 31.5" wide overall:
Auction

They have a much more natural angle. My wrists aren't bent inward anymore.

The problem is that the clutch lever/left mirror mount and the master cylinder/right mirror mount are angled such that a handlebar without so much pullback causes the mirror stems to point inwards.

As a solution, I ended up buying an aftermarket master cylinder whose mirror mount is orthogonal to the handlebars:
New master cylinder

Two interesting things about this MC:

1) It's much, much more sensitive than my stock MC. It takes much less force to brake.
2) The mirror mount is "regular" threaded instead of backwards "Yamaha" threaded, so I bought new mirrors.

As for the clutch side, I bought the clutch mount (and lever and associated bolts) for a V-Star from RideNow.com. It wasn't til they came in that I realized the V-Star had a 1" handlebar instead of 7/8". I was able to wrap some rubber between the clamp and the bar to get it mounted. I'm still searching for a more permanent solution - if anyone has any ideas, please let me know about them.


Anyway, the bars fit very well. I had to reroute the throttle cable down the handlebar instead of through the cable keeper on the forks, cut the old switches off and wire them directly to the switches built into the new lever mounts, but other than that everything is peachy keen.

I'm working on some pictures and will be putting them up shortly if I can get the site to work.

You can see one here:

#2:   Author: jonnythan Post Posted: Wed Jul 18, 2007 3:53 pm

More pics at Photobucket

#3:   Author: Resonance Post Posted: Fri Jul 20, 2007 12:10 am

Do you have the link to the ebay auction? Those are exactly what Im looking for. Look good!

#4:   Author: jonnythan Post Posted: Tue Jul 24, 2007 10:51 am

The links to the items are included in the post!

#5:   Author: jonnythan Post Posted: Tue Jul 24, 2007 11:15 am

Here is a link to the mirrors:

Mirrors on eBay

#6:   Author: Jeff535Cal Post Posted: Thu Nov 15, 2007 5:53 pm

Nice set up. I had a few questions.

Did you relocate your rear turn signals to fit the saddle bags?

Where do you fill your gas? The tank has no opening :)
--------------------
I'm looking to change my handle bars too, I guess ebay is the best place to look?

~Jeff

#7:   Author: jonnythan Post Posted: Thu Nov 15, 2007 7:51 pm

Yes, I relocated the turn signals. I moved them back to the license plate.

The gas tank is under the seat, just like yours. I don't have the sub fuel tank in the "normal" fuel tank position like yours.

The 1987 and 1988 XV535s only have the under-seat fuel tank.

#8:  Re: Replacing the crappy handlebars on the Virago Author: jeroldhueston Post Posted: Thu Nov 15, 2007 8:39 pm

i took hd handle bars and customsed the top of the forks so it would fit the bolts
they look great as soon as i get this bike build ill show everone what i have been working on

#9:   Author: usmc_dad_0341 Post Posted: Fri Nov 16, 2007 12:04 pm

Johnathan,
I am using 1" HD buckhorn bars on mine. I got a set of risers from a friend's 2005 Yamaha Royal Star (take-offs). I had to drill out the bushings on my bike. Lots of time and carefully done so that I did not overheat the rubber isolators.

Chief

#10:  Re: Replacing the crappy handlebars on the Virago Author: dodgecrazy Post Posted: Fri Apr 04, 2008 5:50 pm

Jonnythan,
Can you tell me what style your bars are, what the center width is? I know you got them from e-bay last year but can you tell me the maker and part number. I am looking for those bars with the specs you have listed but am having a hard time.

Thanks,
Tim

#11:   Author: jonnythan Post Posted: Fri Apr 04, 2008 8:35 pm

Here are the ones I got:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/HANDLEBAR-handlebars-kawasaki-honda-suzuki-yamaha-bar_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQcategoryZ35587QQihZ023QQitemZ360040061959QQrdZ1QQsspagenameZWDVW

Seller is speedmotoco. Title for this auction is "HANDLEBAR handlebars kawasaki honda suzuki yamaha bar"

Stats:

7/8ths
Rise 5"
Width 31.5
Pullback 5.25"

#12:  Re: Replacing the crappy handlebars on the Virago Author: dodgecrazy Post Posted: Fri Apr 04, 2008 11:21 pm

Just bought them. Thanks for the link. Are you still satisfied with them?

Thanks,
Tim

#13:   Author: jonnythan Post Posted: Fri Apr 04, 2008 11:30 pm

Yes, I'm very happy with them. The wrist position and height feels very natural to me.

I'm 5'9.

#14:  Re: Replacing the crappy handlebars on the Virago Author: BlackPearl Post Posted: Sun Apr 06, 2008 1:01 pm

Hey there Johnny,
As I recall I've looked at the same master cylinder on ebay. They're relatively cheap if I recall correctly. I was really apprehensive about purchasing one due to fear of a low quality item. So... I purchased an original from Yamaha.
Tell me your experience with this item? It appears you've had it for roughly a year now.

Dutch

#15:  Re: Replacing the crappy handlebars on the Virago Author: Gunn4r Post Posted: Tue Apr 22, 2008 2:34 pm

I'm looking for a 7/8" clutch lever mount, anyone know where I can find one? Seems like everything is 1".

#16:   Author: jonnythan Post Posted: Tue Apr 22, 2008 2:38 pm

You figure it out, you let me know ;)

#17:  Re: Replacing the crappy handlebars on the Virago Author: scagin Post Posted: Tue Apr 22, 2008 3:10 pm

I found a used lever and mount HERE

#18:   Author: jonnythan Post Posted: Tue Apr 22, 2008 3:13 pm

The Virago lever mounts are unusable for straighter bars. They point the mirror stem inwards, making mirrors useless.

#19:  Re: Replacing the crappy handlebars on the Virago Author: Gunn4r Post Posted: Tue Apr 22, 2008 9:18 pm

Right about the mirrors. We need to find a 7/8ths aftermarket clutch lever assembly.

I'll keep my eyes peeled.

#20:  Re: Replacing the crappy handlebars on the Virago Author: mark_H Post Posted: Tue Apr 22, 2008 11:06 pm

How about 46076 from here?
http://tinyurl.com/5f6ylw

It's for a Kawasaki Eliminator 125, which I was just riding in my MSF class. It seems like a 7/8 bar. The M/C might not work, it's a single disk front brake.

I'm trying to figure this out myself right now.

Mark
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