ElectricMotorcycleForum.com
Makes And Models => Zero Motorcycles Forum | 2013+ => Topic started by: evtricity on August 07, 2014, 10:15:50 AM
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Has anyone changed the stock handlebars on the Zeros S or SR?
I'm doing some track days on the SR and looking to lower the bars a little (within the constraints of the tank-like fairing thingy!
It looks like some clip-ons with tall risers (50-70mm or 2-4 inches) would just fit in the gap and be high enough to clear the tank/fairing.
Here's an example http://www.bikermart.co.uk/proddetail.asp?prod=Multiclip (http://www.bikermart.co.uk/proddetail.asp?prod=Multiclip)
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You can take existing bars off spin 180 and install upside down to make lower, think Harlan did same to make zero cafe racer.
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Thanks for the suggestion but the bars have a rough section on the left side end of the bars (under the grip) that when swapped over you can't get the throttle/grip over it.
If I could find a bar with the same shape with smooth ends then that would absolutely work although with tight clearance to the tank/fairing.
Anyone know the brand of handlebars Zero uses for the S/SR or their specs?
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(http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2012/05/hollywood-zero-cafe-racer-628.jpg)
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Nice custom job!
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Nice custom job!
Thanks! We built that one a few years back with a 2010 we had lying around.
Here's a video of my bike with lower handlebars. Just did a 180 on the stock bars like firepower suggested.
https://vimeo.com/77451754 (https://vimeo.com/77451754)
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Here's a video of my bike with lower handlebars. Just did a 180 on the stock bars like firepower suggested.
https://vimeo.com/77451754 (https://vimeo.com/77451754)
Nice clip! El Mirage?
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(http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2012/05/hollywood-zero-cafe-racer-628.jpg)
Can I ask what you did here? I'd like to do something similar, at least with a faux tank. I'd like to put on clip ons, so I need to get rid of the yellow pincers.
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I'm interested in trying out handlebars that let me have different riding positions.
I've already replaced foot brake with and brake so I can put my feet other places.
Anyone know of a simple adapter that would let me run the common 7/8
handlebars, which are available in a lot of styles, instead of the tapered
ones? I'm personally looking for a more lean-back position rather than
a lean-forward.
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Are the handlebars tapered? Or you just referring to that bulge where they're attached to the bracket on the yoke?
I should probably find out sooner rather than later, since tomorrow I was planning on ordering some Woodcraft clip-ons (I assuming the Zero's bars are 7/8" diameter, and, at least where all the goodies are attached, NOT tapered).
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Yes, there's a taper between the center
bulge and the 7/8 portion.
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I'm interested in trying out handlebars that let me have different riding positions.
I've already replaced foot brake with and brake so I can put my feet other places.
Anyone know of a simple adapter that would let me run the common 7/8
handlebars, which are available in a lot of styles, instead of the tapered
ones? I'm personally looking for a more lean-back position rather than
a lean-forward.
I just ordered a clubman-style handlebar. I know that there's a difference between the handlebar diameter and the clamp diameter, but I figure that I can easily get some bendable strips of aluminum and wrap them around the handlebar before clamping. (And yes, I'll be removing the fake tank so that the new handlebar will fit.)
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I'm interested in trying out handlebars that let me have different riding positions.
I've already replaced foot brake with and brake so I can put my feet other places.
Anyone know of a simple adapter that would let me run the common 7/8
handlebars, which are available in a lot of styles, instead of the tapered
ones? I'm personally looking for a more lean-back position rather than
a lean-forward.
I just ordered a clubman-style handlebar. I know that there's a difference between the handlebar diameter and the clamp diameter, but I figure that I can easily get some bendable strips of aluminum and wrap them around the handlebar before clamping. (And yes, I'll be removing the fake tank so that the new handlebar will fit.)
Watching this thread. Would love to see how yours turn out Quixotic. Wondering about the removal of the tank though. Do you plan on putting a narrower faux tank to keep the functionality of the tank pocket?
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Watching this thread. Would love to see how yours turn out Quixotic. Wondering about the removal of the tank though. Do you plan on putting a narrower faux tank to keep the functionality of the tank pocket?
In the short term, I'm just going to cover the frame with some flexible poly tarp (black) and some hefty yellow strapping. That will at least provide some protection for the wiring. (I'll post a photo some time soon, but it'll be more functional than aesthetic).
In the medium-term, I'm thinking of an aircraft-plywood box on top of the battery (still with the poly on top) at just the right height for plunking my oxford tank-bag on top of. And since the Oxford bag has magnetic attachments, I'll have to to attach a few small chunks of steel to the plywood at strategic points. And at some point, I hope to adapt a Vintage Airtech full fairing to the Zero. The Oxford bag already has a plywood frame inside of it, so that I can rest my torso -- and full-face helmet --- on it for highway trips..
So no, the tank pocket and tank will serve no other purpose other than to provide Maaco with the correct color sample to paint the Airtech fairing.
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With the clubman bars putting you down several inches, won't that put the box into your chest?
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With the clubman bars putting you down several inches, won't that put the box into your chest?
I suspect not. I've been doing some rough tests with wooden planks laid across the frame members, and then the tank bag on top of the planks (and with the stock handlebars). There would seem to be enough room when I change to the clubmans, but I'll find out for sure when they arrive from Amazon.
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Thanks for the updates quixotic!
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I like the DS/DSR handlebar, and dislike the S/SR model, so we put it on our SR after cutting each end 15mm (still 30mm wider total). With raisers, nice and perfect position.
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Here's how I got the clubmans on. Admittedly, it's a bit on the grunge side of things, but I tend to like that (you should see my car).
The platform on the frame was made out of two layers of 1/8", 3-ply aircraft plywood glued together and then dried while clamped to the frame. Since the frame has a curve, I arranged it so that 4 of the 6 plies are perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the bike (easier to bend that way). Leather was then attached to the plywood with nylon bolts and a strip of aluminium (a bit of personal nostalgia there, since the leather came off the pants that I bought for my Norton 850 back in the late 70's).
Everything seems to work well. I took it out on the highway yesterday with an Oxford tank bag bungied to the the yellow platform. I felt relatively comfortable for the whole 90 km's, except for a mild discomfort on my throttle hand (I'll have to get one of those clamp thingies that my wrist can rest on, and which emulates a cruise control to a certain extent).
I'm sure someone could do a better job than me with either fibreglas or carbon fibre, and some yellow dyed leather. With a downward lip on the fibreglas, it would also be much more rain-proof. I looked at the Honda CBR1000 fake tank, and although it looks a lot better, I kind of like the flat surface, both for the tank bag, and just because it has proven to be a very stable little shelf to put my helmet on when I'm getting stuff in or out of the givi side bags.
The clubmans are significantly wider than clip-ons would be (even after I chopped 1/5" off each end), but I like the added leverage for avoiding potholes, etc.
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Wow, that's different! I dig it. Do you miss having something to grip your knees to though?
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Wow, that's different! I dig it. Do you miss having something to grip your knees to though?
I'm only 5'6", so I'm pretty sure my knees still hit the frame (I'll have to check the next time i'm on it).
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What plastics are those?
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What plastics are those?
Plastics?
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I looked at the Honda CBR1000 fake tank, and although it looks a lot better, I kind of like the flat surface, both for the tank bag, and just because it has proven to be a very stable little shelf to put my helmet on when I'm getting stuff in or out of the givi side bags.
Having owned that version of the CBR1000, I can tell you its also flat enough on top to hold a helmet, even when riding (Carrying spare helmet)
The CBR600 and a few other sportbikes also use fuel tank covers, so you have more options than just the literbike. some are even two pieces, so you could make storage out of them.
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I just ordered a clubman bar from Lossa Engineering. I'm impressed with the business end of it. They answered a question I had within 1/2 an hour, and they shipped the item within half a day-- on a weekend, no less.
The reason I ordered it is because it is about 2" narrower than the clubman I have on there now. So my arms will be out of the slipstream a little bit more, and I'll more easily be able the park the bike in my crowded garage.
http://www.lossaengineering.com/products/lossa-brand-7-8-1-cafe-bars (http://www.lossaengineering.com/products/lossa-brand-7-8-1-cafe-bars)
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I find the stock bars for the SR too straight out. My wrists don't fit quite naturally. Any suggestions for something that has the handle bars a little more angled towards the rear and perhaps maybe a bit down, but otherwise pretty much identical in terms of overall height? By "down" i mean pointing a bit down instead of to the sides, not being lower overall. Could be a bit narrower as well...
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I find the stock bars for the SR too straight out. My wrists don't fit quite naturally. Any suggestions for something that has the handle bars a little more angled towards the rear and perhaps maybe a bit down, but otherwise pretty much identical in terms of overall height? By "down" i mean pointing a bit down instead of to the sides, not being lower overall. Could be a bit narrower as well...
What about clubman bars flipped upside down, but with the handle elements still extending backwards? Then, for height adjustment, play around with different risers (probably ones without quite so much height).
Z-bars also come to mind, but I don't know how wide they come.
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The shortened (1" on each side) DS handlebar, with 1" risers works really good! The shape is far better (to us), and on top of that you have the zero logo on it...
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I finally switched out the clubman bars. I originally had on a cheap bar from an Amazon vender, which is the one on the lower right in the photo, but now I have a fairly expensive Lossa Engineering bar, which is the bar on the top left of the photo (also shown as the installed bar on the bike photo). The difference is quite pronounced. The Lossa bar is more ergonomically pleasing -- somewhat like the difference between an ergonomic keyboard and a non-ergonomic keyboard. My wrists are now less parallel to the ground, which is ideal. The Lossa bar is also about 2" narrower, so the bike fits in the garage a bit easier, and I'm somewhat more out of the wind when on the highway. And somewhat paradoxically, I now actually have a better view of what's behind me in the mirrors...though that may be at the price of having a bit poorer view of my shoulder check area (I'll have to have a closer look at that the next time I'm stuck in a line of traffic).
But all in all, I'm quite pleased with the Lossa bar, even though it cost 3 or 4 times as much as the Amazon special. When driving, I feel more crouched, and less splayed. It now also takes less imagination to think of myself as being on a 250cc racer on the Isle of Man about 50 years ago. Now all I need is a pudding helmet.