Topic: new drag bars came in

[marvsho17]

Now how do I install them??   My ridenow 10 buck dragbars came in yesterday and no they are not drilled for the wiring.  But I have access to a drill press to take care of that.  I need to now where to disconnect the wires to remove the stockers.  Or any tips?  Thanks.

[n9viw]

Pretty rare to find drilled drags- drilled bars can be pricey, too.
All the connections for your bars are up in the headlight housing. Take the headlight bulb out (three screws around the perimeter of the housing), and by tugging on the wires coming from the center of the stock bar, you can find out which wires go where. Disconnect them, then take a swatch of masking tape and tape a tag on to the wire left in the housing with a note writ on it as to what it goes to- left bar control, right bar control, etc..
When you drill holes in the new bar, be sure to round the outside AND inside edges with a hone or something to keep the hole from chafing and cutting thru the insulation of the wires you pass thru it. When I threaded wires into a new set of bars, I'd plug the bar ends, then feed a bit of string into the bar center hole and suck on the bar end hole. I'd suck the string right into my mouth (yuk!), then tie it on to the wire I wanted to feed thru, and pull em on thru with the string. Easier than trying to push the wires thru!

[marvsho17]

Good info, thanks.  I'll attempt this tomorrow.

[cbjunkie]

somebody recommended using olive oil or something to help them along... you may think about doing them in a bundle as i can't see that string method working (although it sounds like fun) after you get a couple of wires through... i think the post using the olive oil (or better) as lube suggested the budle method and then using a piece of flexible wire instead of string.

you can twist the wire around the bundle and then wrap it good in some elec. tape to make it smooth...

please post some pix when you do this - i just bought some drag bars myself and would like to see how it turns out - i wasn't planning on running the wire internal, but the idea is appealling...

over and out,
junkie...

[ProTeal55]

1. Tape all the wires togther with Electrical tape, nice and smooth.
2.Then, tape the bundle of wires to the end of a long piece of wire,
   such as bailing wire, etc..Something that is thin, and flexable.
3.Pull !

Lube with crisco cooking spray if needed....

[theunrulychef]

Also, before you go to the trouble of drilling them out, I would make sure they fit right on the bike.  I purchased drag bars for my 750F & didn't use them because the grips came too close to the sides of my tank.  That's why you see some of those old cafe bikes with dents in the front of the tanks - to make room for their hands when turning. 

Another tip on the drilling - since you're drilling into a round bar, make sure you use a punch to mark your holes first.  It'll help save the bars from getting scratched up when the drill bit starts to "wander".

I've got a set of clubmans on there now that I like alot.  I'll drill them out & put the wires inside like you're doing, but I should probably finish my tank & seat first. 

[cbjunkie]

yup. what he said. in fact, fit the master cyl, throttle perch and slide - check particularly to see the banjo will clear the clocks

[marvsho17]

They do look kinda short.  Heres the specs on my bars--
D. Drag Bar Chrome27-1/2" Width 0" Rise 3-3/4" Pullback

[Objectionableone]

A combo of WD-40 amd Armor All heped me get my wires out. 

[Gordon]

They do look kinda short.  Heres the specs on my bars--
D. Drag Bar Chrome27-1/2" Width 0" Rise 3-3/4" Pullback

The only bikes I've ever been able to use the 28" drag bars on are the 350 and 400F, because the controls and master cylinder are smaller, so there's just enough room to fit everything.  The problem I've had with the 750 and 550 is that the brake line connection on the MC hits the side of the tach before the throttle grip is all the way on the bar. 

Somebody on this board was able to successfully fit them on his 550, but I can't remember who, and I don't know how he did it. 

[cb750chop]

Can blow a lead string thru with an air gun

[marvsho17]

Yup, without some modifications that I'm not willing to do right now these bars will not work.  There will be some clearance issues with the tank.  I did get more work done on the tail of the bike though.   I plan on running a single seat.