Mirrors and grips

[Guest]

Hey all,
I'm looking for suggestions in the mirror and grip department for my 82' GS750E. My left mirror receiving threads are stripped, so I would need to get that tapped to get OEM type mirrors, but I was thinking about bar end mirrors. Thoughts on bar end mirrors? And I'm not sure where to look for grips, or if I need to measure. Thanks!

[posplayr]

Search works best for such rehashed topics.

[kdo58]

http://pages.ebay.com/motors/link/?nav=item.view&id=111386180985&alt=web

grips I just keep buying them from the local bike shops they are cheap. Till I find ones I like.

[hardline_42]

I have Napoleon bar end mirrors on my GS450E. They came that way from the factory on the GS450S model:



For grips, I use ProGrip 714s lockwired to a Bikemaster superbike bar with an R6 throttle. If you go with barend mirrors on stock bars, take a look at the ends first. Some of them are plugged at the ends and might not accept bar end mirrors without drilling. Also, Suzuki sells little rubber plugs to go into the original mirror mounts. They were OE on the GS450S as well.

[mmattockx]

For grips, I use ProGrip 714s

+1 on the ProGrips, they are excellent. I am using 724's on both my 1100E and GSXR1000. Nice and grippy and they kill a bit of the high frequency buzz to the hands. They last, too. I have close to 30,000km on the set on my GSXR and they are just starting to look worn out now.

OP, here are a few to have a look at:

http://www.motorcycle-superstore.ca/1061035/d/pro-grip-motorcycle

Mark

[Anthony]

Hardline, I think my handle bars are not stock, I'm not sure but I know for sure that they are open on the sides. The only thing is that the left side hole is slightly bent from the PO that dropped it. Will this affect the installation of the bar end mirrors? I have wide shoulders so it would probably work best to have bar end mirrors :P And thanks mmattockx, I will definitely get a pair of those 724's. How easy are they to install? My current grips say super bike, but they are torn/really worn.

[hardline_42]

Hardline, I think my handle bars are not stock, I'm not sure but I know for sure that they are open on the sides. The only thing is that the left side hole is slightly bent from the PO that dropped it. Will this affect the installation of the bar end mirrors? I have wide shoulders so it would probably work best to have bar end mirrors :P And thanks mmattockx, I will definitely get a pair of those 724's. How easy are they to install? My current grips say super bike, but they are torn/really worn.

The bar end mirrors fit into the ends and are fastened with an expanding rubber bushing that tightens as you turn a bolt that goes through it. If you can fit the bushing through the end of the bar, you may be ok with what you've got, though the mirror might sit a little wonky on that side.

Honestly though, a set of bars isn't too expensive (~$20) and you can try sportier bends like superbike and Daytona bars that are wider/lower than stock and provide excellent leverage. Especially on the larger bikes.

[Anthony]

I like my current bars a lot, so I think I'll just pound out the bent side to make it better. If it doesn't fit right, I then might upgrade the bar, but I like the angle and bend to the current one. Not sure how I can find the same type though. Here's the album to my bike (ugly Day 1 pics) https://imgur.com/a/kDm6A I did raise the bar (no pun intended) because it was too low and was hitting the gas tank when fully turned, which is why it has a big dent in the gas tank (idiot PO).

[mmattockx]

And thanks mmattockx, I will definitely get a pair of those 724's. How easy are they to install?

For street bike grips all I have ever done is spray a bit of contact cleaner into the grip and slide them onto the bar, then let it dry. For the throttle side it can be tougher getting the grip on but it will go. If a grip wants to turn (usually the left one), then you can safety wire them on as hardline_42 mentions. I have never needed that on a street bike, but always wired the grips on my MX bikes.


Mark

[hardline_42]

I like my current bars a lot, so I think I'll just pound out the bent side to make it better. If it doesn't fit right, I then might upgrade the bar, but I like the angle and bend to the current one. Not sure how I can find the same type though. Here's the album to my bike (ugly Day 1 pics) https://imgur.com/a/kDm6A I did raise the bar (no pun intended) because it was too low and was hitting the gas tank when fully turned, which is why it has a big dent in the gas tank (idiot PO).

Looks like you already have some sporty bars on there. Possibly Daytona, depending on the pullback, which is tough to see from the pic angles. Stick with them if you like the way they feel, or measure them up and try to find a match if you want to replace them with new.

For installing grips, I use clear spray paint. I spray the inside of the grips, slip them on, straighten them out and let them dry overnight. Safety wiring them is not necessary, but my grips have nifty little wire grooves so I went ahead and did it:

(not my pic, but you get the idea)

[Anthony]

Awesome! Thanks for the help on the grips, I'll make sure to do that. And any idea on a brand for two bar end mirrors? They don't have to be fancy, just be secure and have little vibration.

[hardline_42]

Napoleon and CRG are the two styles/brands that perform the best. The Napoleons (pictured and linked in this thread) have a larger viewing area and a more old-school shape. The CRG's are smaller and round but also perform very well:


Neither are particularly inexpensive. There are plenty of copies of either, but most are of poor quality.

[Anthony]

I think I'll go with the cheaper option and just get replacement mirrors for the OEM placement, on top of the bars. Much cheaper, but I'll still have to re-thread the left side.