Bridgestone Motorcycle Parts Discussion Board

Bridgestone Tech Talk => 175 & 200 Talk => Topic started by: mnmrider on May 16, 2017, 06:58:48 PM

Title: BS HS 175 handlebar
Post by: mnmrider on May 16, 2017, 06:58:48 PM

While assessing the damage on the HS that I'm restoring (Bike got in an accident and the 2 front shocks are bent), I also noticed a slight bent in the handlebar.  :-[ Now I'm wondering if I should hunt for a new original one or to get a clubman for it. I would like some advice and ideas, how does a clubman feel and look on a 175? Anyone with pictures or some experience with that kind of a set up maybe?
Marc

Title: Re: BS HS 175 handlebar
Post by: srpackrat49 on May 16, 2017, 10:05:52 PM

Well Hell NO >:(   and in my day we would just put the  tubs in the press and make them straight... 8)  dirt bikeing days....  but then ive been rideing for over 50 years..... and i have a 350 GTO the i ride the piss out off ::)

Title: Re: BS HS 175 handlebar
Post by: skiri251 on May 17, 2017, 10:53:49 AM

Yeah, I am not so into concourse restoration so I mounted clubman bar on my 200RS.
It is a short/flat one and doesn't strain my joints. I am 5'7" tall. I have rearsets also and probably that helps.
HS has high mufflers so the look will be different. However I mounted the same clubman bar on my CL125A (high muffler) and that looked okay to me too.

For those purists, I initially rebuilt it close to stock (okay, the tank has a dent so it was not re-chromed but painted close to later 200) then cafe'ed it.
I can go back to stock anytime. No frame cutting or anything like that.





 

Title: Re: BS HS 175 handlebar
Post by: mnmrider on May 17, 2017, 11:51:25 AM

Thanks for your opinions, I usually like to keep bikes as much as possible in stock position but the handlebar for the HS is quite high. I will try to bend the bar back in original position as srpackrat would do but the crossbar makes that somehow awkward, the bend seems to be just next to where it attaches to the triple tree. The nice pictures of skirt 251 give me a good idea how nice clubman would look.

Title: Re: BS HS 175 handlebar
Post by: hardy on May 17, 2017, 05:22:05 PM

If bending it fails and you wish to keep the stock bars, Richard has them in stock.

Alternatively, you could try a set of motorcross bars that are lower but give the same appearance.

Title: Re: BS HS 175 handlebar
Post by: BRT-GTR on May 18, 2017, 06:57:08 AM

              I have straightened GTR bars with some success by leaving them in the triple tree and using a 3ft length of scaffold pole to try and reverse the direction and force that bent them in the first place. May need a second person to steady the bike, ideally a big bloke.   ;)

 On the other hand you could put some Ace bars on it and go for the Skiri251 cafe racer look !!  Great pictures and what a backdrop. I can easily imagine riding along that coast road  8)
                                 Brian.

Title: Re: BS HS 175 handlebar
Post by: mnmrider on May 18, 2017, 07:33:49 PM

Thanks, I"ll make an attempt to undo the asymmetry in the handlebar, if it fails I will consider or a new one or check out a mild clubman. Appreciate your response.
 :)