Finally, a reason not to have tassles on my handlebars

[pago cruiser]

I was worried.  Can't be taken seriously by the HD guys at my local watering hole if I don't have tassles...   


 

[Jess from VA]

Never been a fan of tassels on bikes.  (or fringe or conchos)

The gals that can get them spinning in opposite directions are interesting.

[pago cruiser]

+2
 

[Xtracho]

Never been a fan of tassels on bikes.  (or fringe or conchos)

The gals that can get them spinning in opposite directions are interesting.

Me either, but I do like the conchos on my Ultimate seat and Talisman Tank Bib.

[Woton]

Jess' comment notwithstanding we USED to have them on our bikes.  They were excellent quality.  It was a visibility thing and not just a styling choice, because you COULD see these things blowing in the wind as we would approach.



One of mine blew off somewhere on our cross country ride last Summer.  Actually first noticed it when I was taking the photo that made the 2015 VRCC Calendar cover in the salt flats of Texas.  I could not have tied that leather string any tighter around the knob of the brake and clutch levers, and how one ever came off I'll never know.  Never replaced it, and just removed the other.

Biker Girl had blue ones to match her Stratoliner.  Sharp, but the wind resistance was such that the one on the brake side actually caused her brake light to blink on/off at highway speeds!   Went to Stratoliner forums, the local Honda shop, etc looking for info on a stronger spring for the lever.  In the end we decided smooth brake function was preferable to the tassels.

[Jess from VA]

My reason for not liking them is not just the horsey looks.  However improbable, the idea it could affect my brake light, or hit me in the eye, or tie up or grab onto to something at at speed or around a gas pump never seemed safe.  Same thing as letting a dangling shoelace tie up your foot to a brake or shift lever or peg.  A good sailor never drags his lines overboard.

Actually a silver concho can be a nice accent piece; or buckle.  If I tore the cheapo honda plate off the back of an interstate passenger backrest, a concho would cover the tear nicely.  I have just never been into the make-my-bike-look-like-a-saddle-horse look (along with full blown pirate suits). 

[BF]

I have tassels on mine.  

They're old, weathered and pretty ugly now...and they were on the bike when I bought it.  They were long.  I hated them.  

On the ride home after I bought it, they would wrap themselves around my arm virtually tying my arm to the bike.  That was kinda scary....go to move my arm and find that I'm wrapped up to the bike.  

I didn't know if I was going to like them or not, so I cut them way shorter than they started out being and left them on the bike.  

Didn't really like that either, but left them on the bike.  

Took them off....found out I didn't like the naked feel of the brake and clutch levers....put them back on....been on there ever since.  I like the extra grip they provide.  

Thought about looking for something else that would cover the levers without any fringe on them, but never got around to it.  

Anybody know of anything like that?

[Xtracho]

i love them when them sissys put them on there hardleys so when i pass them they fly forward now thats funny right there ..

Bwahahaha! Funny!

[Jess from VA]

There are a number of outfits that sell braided levers (or smooth leather covers) with no fringe hanging.  But they appear to want to sell you new levers with the braid in place ($), or you send yours in for treatment.

Search braided levers for motorcycles.

I had Kury adjustable levers on both bikes, but managed to snap one off each bike backing out of my shed (they break like china dishes).  My bikes now sport non-matching combinations of Kury adjustable, Kury non-adjustable wide chrome, and OE skinny aluminum.  I quit giving a crap (except I really don't like the skinny OEs).  Winter gloves makes this pretty unnoticeable, but skinny summer gloves may see me buying some new ones.  I'm about out of spares.

You probably have your original skinny aluminum ones (which are stronger than the Kury aftermarkets).  Why not lock them in a vice and try braiding up your own?  The only hard part will be making a nice finished end without an exposed knot (so you tuck the last few wraps inside).  A skinny neoprene rubber tube stretched over and cut to length would be ideal, but I have no idea where that could be found.  

[Misfit]

Never liked them myself. I leave tassels and fringe for the ladies. As far as making you more visible I don't buy that. I have never noticed a bike because of tassels. One of the other posters said he lost one of his and didn't notice it until the bike was stopped and posed for a picture. If the pilot doesn't notice the thing how could other traffic.   

[Big Al of Tennessee]

OK Tassels,,,,,,why?

Never seen a need or want in my case.

Each his own, but damn.

If you need something on your handle bars, How,s about a git back whip?

Harley Crowd, not me, love this thing, a get back whip.

With 45 caliber ends on it. + skulls

[Willow]

Anything that moves on a motorcycle tends to make it more visible to cagers.

I have about 180,000 miles on my Standard, about 70,000 on mt Interstates, most of them with fringe (tassels?) hanging off the bars.  It's been a long time since someone believably referred to me as a sissy.  Y'all let me know what you think when you catch up.    

[cookiedough]

On those bull whips,  drove alongside once with a HD guy on his decked out bike, never knew what that was all about just whipping into the wind, sort of scared me because was mere inches from hitting the ground while traveling thinking this cannot be safe.  When we stopped, I asked him what and why have that string flapping in the wind.  He said has had to use it once taking it off and defending himself, whipping the guy pretty hard. 

I told him if I had to use it where I drive,  I'd move first. 

I have my tassles that came with my I/S built onto the leather hand grips all one piece vs. the brake levers dangling down.  Been thinking of doing the brake levers as well but guessing might get tangled up together and that would not be good - anybody ever done both levers and handgrip ends with tassles or would that be dangerous and/or overkill??

It does make my all black I/S look more like a HD though and at times, they are annoying in stronger winds blowing just in the right direction hitting my forearms at hwy. speeds in the summer if just wearing a t-shirt.  Sort of distracting and whipped just right, does sting a bit. 

[Bighead]

I have tassels on mine.  

They're old, weathered and pretty ugly now...and they were on the bike when I bought it.  They were long.  I hated them.  

On the ride home after I bought it, they would wrap themselves around my arm virtually tying my arm to the bike.  That was kinda scary....go to move my arm and find that I'm wrapped up to the bike.  

I didn't know if I was going to like them or not, so I cut them way shorter than they started out being and left them on the bike.  

Didn't really like that either, but left them on the bike.  

Took them off....found out I didn't like the naked feel of the brake and clutch levers....put them back on....been on there ever since.  I like the extra grip they provide.  

Thought about looking for something else that would cover the levers without any fringe on them, but never got around to it.  

Anybody know of anything like that?

Bruce we have a local leather shop that sells leather brake/clutch lever covers without fringe or tassels. I had a set on my VTX and liked them. Kinda wish I still had that bike.

[Highbinder]

I have 3 Valks, 2 of them have fringe or tassels whatever you guys want to call them....I like them, use them to tie back the levers when I need to and always have a piece of string around if I need to tie something on...I rode horses all my life and fringe was a way of life when spending time up in the mountains.....for me anything that moves on a bike will draw some attention sometime with someone, I even tie some on the luggage rack when taking long trips, when I don't have leather a bandana will do...you guys can do what you like and I'll do what I like, but don't criticize me for it....nobody has called me a sissy lately either not since my dear old daddy died....not even guys as big as Eric..

[eric in md]

I have 3 Valks, 2 of them have fringe or tassels whatever you guys want to call them....I like them, use them to tie back the levers when I need to and always have a piece of string around if I need to tie something on...I rode horses all my life and fringe was a way of life when spending time up in the mountains.....for me anything that moves on a bike will draw some attention sometime with someone, I even tie some on the luggage rack when taking long trips, when I don't have leather a bandana will do...you guys can do what you like and I'll do what I like, but don't criticize me for it....nobody has called me a sissy lately either not since my dear old daddy died....not even guys as big as Eric..

you guys are cool in my book just my figure of speech. Vrcc as a whole is my family each and everyone one you you. mean it never mint no harm with anybody . ride safe boys see hope to see ya in the wind, sorry just the kid in me

[Rams]

Interesting discussion.    I will say that I don't think Willow is a sissy but, I don't know him all that well.        I'm sticking with it's your bike, you dress it how you want it.    I'm not a fan of tassels but, that's me.   My bike reflects my attitude.   Pretty sure there are those who would have dressed my Valkyrie differently, who cares.

But, I do think Misfit has a point.   Tassels do look good on the ladies.   In reference to movement drawing my attention, it works on the ladies, can't say that about bikes. 

Never liked them myself. I leave tassels and fringe for the ladies. As far as making you more visible I don't buy that. I have never noticed a bike because of tassels. One of the other posters said he lost one of his and didn't notice it until the bike was stopped and posed for a picture. If the pilot doesn't notice the thing how could other traffic.   

[Gryphon]

I've had tassels on all of my bikes since the late '70's.  I like them, if you don't, don't put them on yours.  As for the Baker Air Wing issue, my current Valk is the first one that has had them.  I've had no issues over the last year or so.  I think it is probably a CYA memo and should be regarded as such.

[cookiedough]

Has anyone had the tassles dangling from both the clutch/brake levers and the ends of the handlebar leather grips like mine has?  Any issues with them getting tangled together do you think??   

[ricoman]

Never been a fan of tassels on bikes.  (or fringe or conchos)

The gals that can get them spinning in opposite directions are interesting.

and that is certainly why tassels were invented in the first place!