Has anyone upgraded their bars to the Flanders Grande Beach bar. There is a picture of a 1500 Drifter on Flanders website with them. (Don't know if it's a member). I was curious about the cable length. All indicators point to +2" over stock and it looked like the Drifter on the Flanders site re-used stock controls. Any help would be appreciated. Also, any specs on the rear brake line length would be helpful. I'm looking to replace all my stock cables and lines.
Thanks,
Check out this section of the mods/tips area of the website... most of your answers will be in one of the articles.
http://www.vulcandrifterriders.com/reviewpost/showcat.php?cat=69 (http://www.vulcandrifterriders.com/reviewpost/showcat.php?cat=69) (moved)
I found that link totally confusing and it told me nothing about needing longer cable's going from stock bars to wide beachbar's.
If you look in the LINKS, you will find the stock lengths of the cables/hoses, the oem bar measurements and the measurements for various types of bars. From that you can determine the sizes.
Several riders have made the change indicating the stock controls/hoses can be used, but you have to route through the triple tree. That is a tight fit. If you no longer have the stock risers installed, you will have to change out the hoses.
The best way is to be sure is to get your bars, do a mock up and run a string as you would route each hose, then measure the string and compare to the stock hoses.
The link is changed: http://www.vulcandrifterriders.com/forum/index.php?action=links;cat=31 (http://www.vulcandrifterriders.com/forum/index.php?action=links;cat=31) - oem bar measurements and hose lengths.
Flanders handlebars at: http://www.sideroadcycles.com/ImportedMotorcycles/ImportHandlebars/ImportHandlebarsOne.html (http://www.sideroadcycles.com/ImportedMotorcycles/ImportHandlebars/ImportHandlebarsOne.html)
I just installed the Flanders Grande Beach bars on my '02 1500 last Spring. Love them! I had to extend my throttle cables about 3 inches, the clutch hose about 4 inches and the front brake hose about 2 inches. I ran the lines a little long and in their original configuration. Didn't want to take the chance of binding and having to buy new hoses or cables. I did what Chief said to do. I put the bars on and ran rope to get lengths then added about an inch to each. I was surprised to find different lengths, I just thought they would all be equal increases. I left the string on so I could follow the original track of the cables and hoses. I went with all stainless cables and hoses. I also ran all the electrical inside the handlebars. I had to add about 8 inches on all electrical wires. Was a little scary drilling 4 holes in my new handlebars for the electrical. I soldered all the electrical extensions and tested them before the final installation. For me the handlebars have been the best mod done so far. Took all the strain and pain out of my shoulders, my arms are down and comfortable. I am tall (6'3") and have monkey arms so I have no problems reaching the bars. The biggest issue was finding a way to get my original left grip cap re-fastened to the handlebar. The plastic cap was screwed onto the left handlebar by a threaded bar welded into the end of the original handlebar at the factory. A little yankee ingenuity took care that. I'm ridin' this afternoon so I will take some pics and post tomorrow. Won't be home 'til late tonight otherwise I'd post 'em today for ya.
I put on wider bars many years ago. Can't remember exactly which ones or how wide but it seems to me they were 3 inches wider than stock which I think is 36" which would make the replacement bars 39". In addition, I put on ISOgrips when I put the new bars on and they don't fit all the way on to the bars (while leaving enough space for the lever clamps), effectively making the bars even wider. I didn't change anything or re-route anything on the left hand side (except maybe a little juggling of the wires to the right hand switch cluster - but didn't take anything apart). On the right hand side, the only think I had to do was pull the brake house out of it's 'loom' on the left and fork and move it over a little bit to the right and 'tie' it on to the fork (or something) using the original rubber grommet from the loom and a tie wrap. I think I probably had to move the wires out of the wire 'keepers' on the top tipple tree plate. I purchased a slightly longer braided steel front brake hose so that it will fit back in it's native loom but I've never bothered to put it on.
I've had a plan for a number of years to replace the right side switch cluster with one from a Mean Streak. The advantage of the Meanstreak cluster is that the throttle cables come out of the top of the cluster (rather than the bottom) which would allow the bars to tank clearance to be lowered about 1 1/2 inches over stock. A related advantage is that chrome plated switch cluster replacement shells (as opposed to the cheap covers) for the Meanstreak are (were ?) commonly available for a reasonable price. I've never got around to doing this, in spite of having most of the parts for at least 10 years, because I've never figured out exactly what length of replacement throttle cables to use with the Meanstreak cluster. I been waiting to have the original cables off for some reason to make the measurement but I've never had a reason to have the cables off (replacing the throttle cables on a couple of other bikes that I have is one of the most horrific tasks that I've ever had to do so it's scared me from doing it on a Vulcan if I don't have too ::)).
Some time last year I had to do a 256 mile run in the rain along a motorway that is normally rated at 70mph, there was a traffic jam for about 10 miles with some of the three lane taaffic was at a standstill. In Britain lane splitting or filtering is legal and I travelled between the lanes of traffic at varying speeds..I found that my stock 36" bars were knocking the edges of some of the car mirrors as I passed..
I don't think I could ride with 39" bars.
John.
I have the same issue here in so cal lane splitting is one of the bigger reasons to purchase a bike. Sit in traffic prison for 3 hours going NO WHERE or ride free those are your two options but my stock bars have greeted a few car owners with a need for new side mirrors, wider bars are not an option. I almost miss my ape hangers bc they were higher than the mirrors on most cars
Hididly ho, neighbor!