Straightening handlebars - how?

Well, after my awesome stunting in the field the other day, my handlebars seem to have become bent! I have no idea how.....

So I was thinking of taking off all of the throttle, switchgear and master cylinder and using a big ring spanner to try and leaver it back to near straight. The other idea i had was to shove a steel rod inside the end of the bar and try like that. I'm going to leave them in the risers as i work on them as the bend is right next to the RH riser.

Has anyone got any ideas? I know I will never get them straight, but near straight will do for now, they are quite bent, gave me arm ache on the way home!

[maviczap]

Scaffold pole

But be warned that straightening them could cause them to break without warning, so best buy a new handlebar.

I plan to replace them at some point now.

Are you sure? Its not a cast aluminum pipe or anything, just tubing that has been bent to shape and anonised. I cant see any stress marks in the metal or even the paint. It seems a bit ridiculous they could break without warning. Obviously it will be a bit weaker than before, but I cant see it suddenly going.

Not jumping down your throat, just questioning. I think your scaffold pole is a great idea. I just need to find what to secure the bike with now so I don't just lift it! Ratchet straps maybe. This will be interesting.

[maviczap]

OEM Alloy handlebars are made of cheese, so might bend back ok, but you might get a fracture where they're bent.

Might not happen straight away, but after a period of time

[rictus01]

is it clipon's or a riser conversion ?, I seem to remember the clipon's were located on a bolt/peg under the yoke, might be worth checking that first as it may have sheared off


Cheers Mark.

[yorkie_chris]

Originally Posted by Serdna

I plan to replace them at some point now.

Are you sure? Its not a cast aluminum pipe or anything, just tubing that has been bent to shape and anonised. I cant see any stress marks in the metal or even the paint. It seems a bit ridiculous they could break without warning. Obviously it will be a bit weaker than before, but I cant see it suddenly going.

Not jumping down your throat, just questioning. I think your scaffold pole is a great idea. I just need to find what to secure the bike with now so I don't just lift it! Ratchet straps maybe. This will be interesting.

Even extruded ally tubing still work hardens and snaps if bent but yeah it is less brittle than cast.

If they are clipons then yea they are just a casting that then has a couple of machining ops done. They will not straighten but they can twist around the fork.

Sorry guys it is a riser set up with what looks like Renthal flat bars or equivalent. I don't know what the bar is made from but i would imagine steel? Its anonised so its hard to say.

[jambo]

From memory it's a set of anodised bars with risers over a GSXR K2 750 front end.

Perhaps.

I'd go with the advice above, get a pole that will fit over the outside of the bar and strip off all the switchgear, levers and such so you can see what you're working with. Ideally the closest fit you can get to minimise the stress at the point you're trying to bend back.

Fingers crossed

Jambo

Edit: Beaten to it by the OP, must learn to type without being distracted

[yorkie_chris]

Originally Posted by Serdna

Sorry guys it is a riser set up with what looks like Renthal flat bars or equivalent. I don't know what the bar is made from but i would imagine steel? Its anonised so its hard to say.

You can't anodise steel.

Post a pic?

[Sid Squid]

If yours has Renthal bars then they're aluminium.

Renthal say you must not try to straighten their handlebars, and of course I would never suggest that you should ignore their undoubtedly excellent and knowledgeable advice.

But I am perhaps aware of some that might have been tweaked a teeny bit.

Maybe.