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[BigPoppa]

I think I’ve got a serious case of “new bike-itis”. I’ve ridden my new electric more over the past couple of days than I ride my ICE bike in a week. Here are a few pics of my new commuter:

[Richard230]

Looks nice, BigPoppa.   

[NetPro]

That is a nice looking machine!
I like it as much as my 2020 SR/F.
In fact, I considered buying this model before I decided on the Zero but the lack of dealership in my city made me go for the Zero.
I take care on my bikes very well and is unlikely I would need dealer service (especially with an electric) but you really never know and having to trailer it out of town can be a drag.

Anyways, enjoy your bike BigPoppa! I am sure having a blast with mine.

[BigPoppa]

Thanks guys. @NetPro...I definitely hesitated switching from the SR/F to the EsseEsse9. I felt the better range and lower routine maintenance were hard to pass up but ultimately it came down to my old back and how much better the EsseEsse9 riding position was for me.

I'm looking forward to riding with other electric owners in my area and I'm sure many of them will be on the SR/F. A great bike and if I could have two electrics the SR/F would definitely be one of them.

[NetPro]

Thanks guys. @NetPro...I definitely hesitated switching from the SR/F to the EsseEsse9. I felt the better range and lower routine maintenance were hard to pass up but ultimately it came down to my old back and how much better the EsseEsse9 riding position was for me.

I'm looking forward to riding with other electric owners in my area and I'm sure many of them will be on the SR/F. A great bike and if I could have two electrics the SR/F would definitely be one of them.

I hear you on the sitting position on the SR/F.
I too have a bad back and the leaning forward quickly took its toll: I decided to replace the handlebar with a higher one.

The first attempt, a ProTaper with about 4 in. rise helped but wasn't high enough.
So, right now I am installing one with 9 in. rise and it feels perfect as far as the sitting position but now I am trying to modify the bar by bending the ends downwards (just a little) to get a more comfortable hand position, where the wrists are in a more natural position.

Having trouble finding a machine shop that can bend the bars properly so I have been delayed a bit and this afternoon will be trying a wooden jig I designed last night that will allow me a controlled bend of equal amounts on both ends.
The brake line had to be 5 in. longer and I am not sure yet if I will have to extend the cables to reach the new location but I have all the parts and tools in case I do.

I think after this mod, the bike will be to my total liking.
Not sure about the foot pegs yet, but that should be an easier mod since there is no extending wires for that one. I don't feel uncomfortable with the current feet position so I will see how it feels after the new bar is installed.

[Doug S]

NetPro, you are a brave soul taking on a custom mod process that extensive on a pristine new halo bike that you intend as a daily driver.

I hope you've documented what you've done, and will continue to do so, and write it up thoroughly when you're done. I suspect many people will be interested in at least portions of what you're doing. Even just a list of what you had to change would be useful. I'm assuming you had to replace pretty much all the wiring and hydraulics on the handlebar to get a 9" rise?

How does the bike look with that much of a rise? I realize you're not done yet but what do the visuals look like?

Good luck with bending the wrist angles! If it's a mild steel bar it shouldn't give you too much grief. Steel is very forgiving unless it's hardened.

[NetPro]

NetPro, you are a brave soul taking on a custom mod process that extensive on a pristine new halo bike that you intend as a daily driver.

I hope you've documented what you've done, and will continue to do so, and write it up thoroughly when you're done. I suspect many people will be interested in at least portions of what you're doing. Even just a list of what you had to change would be useful. I'm assuming you had to replace pretty much all the wiring and hydraulics on the handlebar to get a 9" rise?

How does the bike look with that much of a rise? I realize you're not done yet but what do the visuals look like?

Good luck with bending the wrist angles! If it's a mild steel bar it shouldn't give you too much grief. Steel is very forgiving unless it's hardened.

Yes, Doug, I will prepare a nice summary with pictures and everything I had to replace.
I m not done because the bar bending has kicked my you know what. First I was trying to get a shop to do it but had no luck finding one. then the wooden jig I designed would have worked perfectly except that wood is too soft and steel won.
I'll call more shops tomorrow.
It looks like the existing wires will reach even the 9 in. bar (not a 100% sure yet) but the brake line had to be replaced with one 5 in. longer.
The kicker was getting the banjo for the line that goes on the ABS controller side: it is a 90 degree side sweep -3AN male and those are hard to find.

I like getting involved in these kind of projects. You should see the high-power spot welders I have built to weld nickel tabs on lithium cells, including the welder's head.
Got to put that collection of tools in the shop to good use, at lest once in a while.

I will have everything finished this weekend and will post pics then. (At the risk of being ridiculed for installing this handlebar on a brand new Zero) 

[BigPoppa]

No ridicule for making the bike fit you instead of the other way around. If your mods mean more time spent riding then it’s all good!

[NetPro]

No ridicule for making the bike fit you instead of the other way around. If your mods mean more time spent riding then it’s all good!

[Doug S]

+1 As someone else said so well, anything that gets you more saddle time is well worth it.

[DonTom]

I think I’ve got a serious case of “new bike-itis”. I’ve ridden my new electric more over the past couple of days than I ride my ICE bike in a week.

I ride my two electric bikes more than my other seven bikes combined. I have a bad case of electric-bike-itis. Or perhaps EV-itis. I will not buy a gas anything for the rest of my life.

OTOH, what I have now in ICE should last the rest of my life and then some.

-Don-  Reno, NV