question about handlebars

[shadowmagic]

So I just bought a 97 valkrie with 20000 miles. I've gone through and done a tuneup on everything but still have backfiring issues, which thanks to this board I believe I'm going to fix when the orings get here. Thank you everyone for your help. Love the motorcycle, my problem is not a big deal but I'm a perfectionist. My handlebars are pretty big but I find i want to bend the throttle and brake areas out a little bit. Maybe I have broad shoulders or something but it just seems like it would fit me better if I do that. Any input on if that is a good idea or bad idea? I was basically just going to take a bar and bend them out a little. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

[Bighead]

I would say dont do it. You might compromise the strength of them. If it were me I would fide an aftermarket set that fit the way I wanted.

[Gnarly]

Dad useta tell us: there are only 2 blacksmiths in Hell.
One is there for not charging enough.
The other is there for attempting to bend cold steel.

Dunno much about metallurgy vs torsional strength? but I've always heard bending cold steel is bad juju.
May kink or snap.....or just may snap unexpectedly, the very next time you call on it!

There are several among us who know way more about this stuff, and will likely weigh in on this.

Or send a PM to MarkT of Horseapple Ranch,CO.
Makes really fine exhaust modifications for Valkyries.
He would know.

[Madmike]

Be tough to get the bend to happen where you want it is my guess and likely kink as they ar pretty rigid.  You could look into aftermarket ones and have the money in hand, try and if it don't work just get the new ones.  Your throttle cables etc. are matched to your handle bars and any changes may require new cables as well.

http://www.sideroadcycles.com/ImportedMotorcycles/ImportHandlebars/StockBarsOne.html

Some info at that link.

[Ken aka Oil Burner]

I am getting ready to do the same thing. I don't like how much the grips bend back towards me; puts my wrists at an uncomfortable angle. I picked up a set of used bars from a Shadow Sabre 1100. They have a much more favorable wrist angle (for me, anyways), and they're stock Honda bars, so they have the holes for the pins on the controls. The only issue that will require another mod is that they don't have as much rise as the Valkyrie bars, so longer risers would be required to keep your wrists in the same location. Because I have long arms, I don't find the reach objectionable now; just the angle. Many have used Harley Deuce risers with their stock bars to bring them back; I don't see the need with the stock bars. I will, however, need to put longer risers on for the Shadow bars. Holding them above my stock bars, my rudimentary measurements look like I'll need 6" risers to be in the same area. The Deuce risers claim to be 5 + 3/4", so they may work well with these. I may go for 6 + 1/2" risers for the heck of it, as long as I find some good ones. Not something I want to see catastrophically fail during a ride.

[Chrisj CMA]

Bad idea. Once handlebars get bent (no matter how) they are unsafe and need replacing

[_Sheffjs_]

I have swapped my standard Valk out to Vulcan Drifter 1500 h bars same as Vulcan 1500 (not drifter) but chrome. I wanted black. The h bars are cheap used on eBay and they do not have the pronounced pull back or pull in that the stock bars have.  The difference is extremely subtle but I love them.  

[shadowmagic]

Thank you for all the information. I'm glad I asked. I think I will look for a pair of aftermarket handlebars. So far I'm loving this motorcycle.

[..]

Have you tried loosening them and moving them forwards or backwards???

PROTECT THE TANK. When you undo the last bolt gravity WILL dramatically take effect.

[Jess from VA]

Absolutely no bending handlebars.

But while this does not change the basic curve of the bars (which many find kink their wrists just a bit too much), many of us have gotten a decent improvement by swapping out the OE risers (3 1/8") to taller rise and pullback (4" - 5.5") risers, and then fiddling a bit with the angle of the bars in the riser clamps (up or down).  And this is for both taller and shorter riders (like me).   

[sandy]

Loosen the pinch bolts and roll the bars up to gain reach to the grips.

[h13man]

Just finished changing out to my 2nd. set of bars. 1st. change were to Baron Star Bars which were wider with less pullback but lost a 1" in height which was their downfall. I rode with them 2 seasons. The newest ones https://www.jpcycles.com/product/5000066/j-p-cycles-1-chrome-8-1-2-custom-street-medium-handlebar I've used before on the 1100 Spirit with awesome results thus I gave them a try on the Valk which in turn works just as good on the Valk. Both bikes share the same windshield and riser heigth and low speed handling simularities.

[Gnarly]

.....many of us have gotten a decent improvement by swapping out the OE risers (3 1/8") to taller rise and pullback (4" - 5.5") risers, and then fiddling a bit with the angle of the bars in the riser clamps (up or down).  And this is for both taller and shorter riders (like me).   

Truth!
I recommend Rox Risers. Fits onto your factory risers, majorly adjustable!
4" works for me, and their 'factory seconds' will save ya a few bucks....cannot discern any flaws in the 2 sets I've bought.

[shadowmagic]

Thank you for all the great tips. Yes, I moved them up and forward a little which seems to make that curve at the throttle a little more pronounced. I'm currently working on possibly moving my controls forward. I used to have a harley that I did some mild welding and moved them forward to where they worked perfectly for me. I have a couple of ideas on how to move them forward and down just a hair that should work with the jersey mount I just installed. The brake side however is going to be a little more difficult lol Thanks again everyone for all the great info.

So I had to replace the petcock because it was leaking. I went ahead on sealed the seam with the rivets on the new one with jb weld just because it seems like that would help prevent leaks in the future. Anyone else done something like that?

[Bighead]

So I had to replace the petcock because it was leaking. I went ahead on sealed the seam with the rivets on the new one with jb weld just because it seems like that would help prevent leaks in the future. Anyone else done something like that?

No my 23 year old one still works fine