DRZ400 SM - Bent Handle Bar

[krucigen]

Hi all

While riding today I managed to stack my bike on a trail which hes left my right handle bar bent inwards a bit more than I am comfortable with. It looks like it is more than just the bar though as the center post isn't in line with the bike.

I can ride it alright... just wondering what your thoughts are on repair. Buy a new bar? Bend it back?

Thanks!

Adrian

[Joe]

Just get a new bar. You can get some good oversized bars for around $100. Standard renthals are probably cheaper, not sure though.
Unless they are just twisted in the clamps, then you can straighten them pretty easy.

[Twig]

Sound's like you have twisted the forks in the triple clamps. Loosen your triple clamp's and straighten the forks and wheel into the centre with your handlebar's straight. Take it for a slow ride and see if your bars are straight when you are riding straight.Take to the bent bar's with a good rubber mallet and see how you go straightening them. :)

[krucigen]

Thanks Twig! I thought it was something like that. I"ll give a go loosening them and making those adjustments. Not sure how to do that but I'll just start loosening bolts and see what happens.

I'm too cheap to buy a new bar... I actually think the bar is fine and it is just the triple clamp. None the less. Rubber mallet ahoy!

I might actually take a pic and post that a bit later just to make sure...

[Wobbly]

If you've got the standard suzuki bars they're probably bent as they're made out of soft cheese. A set of renthals (even 7/8 bars, not just fat bars) would be a good upgrade, and reasonably cheap :)

[SM93]

bending ur bars will break them and make them less strong possibly causing u damage or failing un expectidly. don;t be so cheap!!!

[Woolf555]

Agreed. Even if you don't want to fork out $90 for a set of 7/8" Renthals a mid range bar would be stronger than a bar thats been "repaired".

[krucigen]

I've got some pics

http://www.overclockers.com.au/pix/index.php?page=image&id=c8pvv

http://www.overclockers.com.au/pix/index.php?page=image&id=j0st8


See how the triple clamp is bent down on the right side only? Still need to adjust the triple clamp only? Am a noob. If there is anyone in Melbourne with a decent tool kit it be sweet if I could tour over for some assistance.

Thanks

[Woolf555]

Loosen off the top bar clamp bolts and you might find it comes back into place. Do you have rubber mounted bar clamps? (Will have a bolt and nut under the top triple clamp with rubber between them). If so try loosening them off as well. Its a bit hard to tell from the photo but the actual triple clamp (which holds the top of the forks) looks fine. If the front end itself is tweaked you could loosen off the top and bottom clamp bolts where they hold the forks, and then give the bike a bit of a bounce to settle the front end back in place. When you tighten them back up don't overtighten them, particularly the bottom clamp, as you can grab the inner fork tube. Just nick them up just past tight.

[Wobbly]

Looks like just the bar clamps are twisted :?:

Just take the bars off and undo the nuts underneath the clamps that hold the mounts securely, straighten them up and do it all up again :)

[krucigen]

Well turns out that it was a really really really wasy fix. Just had to undo the two bolts under the bar clamp, give it a little jiggle and tighten it back up. I have it about 95% of the way there which is pretty darn good! So I learned about adjusting handle bars today. Great!

Thanks for the help guys!

[jamesb_bau]

better bars will make a world of difference...

[devo]

The rubber mounts on the DRZ bars are shite for crashing. Instant twist.

[krucigen]

is there anything I can do regarding buying better rubber mounts?

[Slain]

zeta make a kit to get rid of the rubber and convert them to solid mount

[krucigen]

Found the Zeta kit... any idea of where I can order them from in Australia? I can only find UK links.

[jamesb_bau]

I think you might be able to get them through APA in the states, who is one of our members here..
http://www.advancedperformanceaccessories.com/

I could be interested in a set as well for my DRZ.

Rob

[krucigen]

Oh good news.. I emailed Marty at Yamaha city in Melbourne and he said that he can order them in for a discounted rate. Reg price is about $25 for a set but he can get them around the $17 'ish marker. 4 weeks though as the dealer is out of stock and I'm just waiting on confirmation.

Want me to ask for an extra set? I'd be happy to post them out to you if you pay for shipping and just put some dough in my bank account when I get them.

[Slain]

james if yours is an E model you wont have to worry, my E has solid bar risers as a part of the triple clamp. as far as im aware its only the SM model that has rubber bar riser mounts

[APA]

The stock bar clamp bolt that mounts it to the top triple clamp is small and wimpy and bend easily. Like was said above our bar clamp is much stronger as we use a larger grade 8.8 bolt. This is a heavy item so shipping might run a little more than what the site calculates.

Its been a while since you guys did a group buy........

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v640/lumpy790/APA/site%20photos/bar%20clamp%20axle%20blocks/REDBC300X.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v640/lumpy790/APA/site%20photos/bar%20clamp%20axle%20blocks/Copyofwrxbarclamp.jpg