| Author | Message | ||
     Huntsville |
I need to slightly bend my XB bars, because I get carpal tunnel in my throttle hand on long trips, due to the MX angle of the bars. I have an old R100RT BMW that does the same thing to me with similar bar dimensions, and a swept back and downward style bar on an old '83 Gold wing that never bothers my wrist at all. So I know what the problem is! The bars are aluminum and my limited metallurgy knowledge tells me bending them might be a challenge. Has anyone tried bending them out there or have any ideas? | ||
| Tootal |
If the bars are aluminum they will be tough to bend without kinking or breaking them. The only way would be to heat them in an oven to 500-600 degrees and then quench them in cold water to anneal them. Pack them tight with sand with a small cable running through them. Make any bends in small amounts at a time. Reheat and quench after each bend. Use the cable to help remove the sand when you're finished. It's going to take patience. You might try taking the dimensions off your Gold Wing bars and seeing if somebody in the aftermarket uses the same angles. | ||
| Shoggin |
Although Tootal describes the right way to bend thin tubing correctly, I would think that trying different replacement bars would be much cheaper and easier? There's so many available... I understand what you're saying. I loved the clubmans on my CR but couldn't hardly go a few miles without pain, simply because of the angle. I love Rental RC bend bars on my XB. Yes they are a little lower, but it actually helps. Maybe all you need is a set of risers to take some pressure off? |
