US handlebars

Lorenzo · Oct 14, 2011

dear all,
I just realised that unfortunately my handlebars aren't straight as they should be, and then I will have to change them..
They are the US handlebars mounted on the Roadster 750 Year 1970-71 (like those mounted on the picture)
I am wondering if anyone may give me a suggestion on where to find the handlebars which are closest to the original.. Norton Andover?
Thank you for helping!

Torontonian · Oct 14, 2011

Lorenzo I have a set of original U.S. bars and they are very very wide. Replacements are narrower ,yet sold as U.S. bars. This is stretching my memory but all good.

Lorenzo · Oct 14, 2011

Torontonian said:
Lorenzo I have a set of original U.S. bars and they are very very wide. Replacements are narrower ,yet sold as U.S. bars. This is stretching my memory but all good.

thank you Torontonian.. where do you think I may get the originals?
.. may I ask you also to let me see a picture of your handlebars?
Thank you!

Torontonian · Oct 14, 2011

Yes, give me time,I am technologically challenged and need Frazer to come over to help photo then post. Mostly post. USB a term for alien invasion.

GRM 450 · Oct 15, 2011

Lorenzo, I have a set of US bars that came with a mk3 they are 830mm end to end. Graeme

GRM 450 · Oct 15, 2011

They are 2.5mm thick and heavy. I don't know if they are original or reproductions but they are better made than the UK bars I replaced them with. graeme

DogT · Oct 15, 2011

I got new bars from Walridge, they were close to the originals, but smaller rise, but not much.

Dave
69S

Lorenzo · Oct 15, 2011

DogT said:
I got new bars from Walridge, they were close to the originals, but smaller rise, but not much.

Dave
69S

thank you DogT and thank you to All for kindly replying!

from the pic of DogT and from some of your posts, I am realizing that some of the reproductions are not the same as the original handlebars..

in particular I can see the bend is quite different: the original seems more 'straight', while the reproduction I see in the photo seems more 'curved'..

.. I am wondering: anyone who could find a reproduction which is shaped more close to the old original? perhaps the one from Norton Andover?
any photo would be much apreciated!

rvich · Oct 15, 2011

Do you want original bars badly enough to have them rechromed? I am guess there are lots of rusty ones sitting about. Rechroming is not cheap, but they would be original bars.

Russ

Lorenzo · Oct 15, 2011

rvich said:
Do you want original bars badly enough to have them rechromed? I am guess there are lots of rusty ones sitting about. Rechroming is not cheap, but they would be original bars.

Russ

I agree: if I could find straight handlebars, even to re-chrome, I would go for them.. but perhaps it could be difficult to be sure they are straight before purchaising.. ?!

DogT · Oct 15, 2011

Mine are only bent a little bit, no dings or folds, just need a bit of straightening if you want them. I think the right side is bent back a bit.

Dave
69S

Lorenzo · Oct 15, 2011

DogT said:
Mine are only bent a little bit, no dings or folds, just need a bit of straightening if you want them. I think the right side is bent back a bit.

Dave
69S

Thank you Dave! it seems unfortunately they are quite like mine.. if they were straight, I would take them!

.. I am wondering if anyone found a replica very similar to the originals.. :?:

DogT · Oct 15, 2011

If you're willing to spend the $ for chroming, I bet you could straighten yours out. It's not magic. The right side on mine appear to be bent up at the inside bend (near the mounting clips) so the rise doesn't match angles by about 1/4". I'll put some heat on mine or just try to bend them if I can find something that will hold them and see if I can get them straight. As I remember, I hit something on the right handlebar and it did that, rode it like that for years, you can hardly see it, but the chrome is pretty beat up and worn, that's why I got new ones, but yes, they do look different. I noticed it right away.

I can probably find a place on the JD2020 front end loader that will give me the brace I need and use a big 4' long 1 1/2" pipe I have to straighten them. I'll let you know if I get them straight.

You might try Fair Spares in San Jose, or Rabers in SF I think. I think the Walridge ones are Emgo, not sure, they were $40, shipping was $20.

Dave
69S

Lorenzo · Oct 15, 2011

DogT said:
If you're willing to spend the $ for chroming, I bet you could straighten yours out. It's not magic. The right side on mine appear to be bent up at the inside bend (near the mounting clips) so the rise doesn't match angles by about 1/4". I'll put some heat on mine or just try to bend them if I can find something that will hold them and see if I can get them straight. As I remember, I hit something on the right handlebar and it did that, rode it like that for years, you can hardly see it, but the chrome is pretty beat up and worn, that's why I got new ones, but yes, they do look different. I noticed it right away.

I can probably find a place on the JD2020 front end loader that will give me the brace I need and use a big 4' long 1 1/2" pipe I have to straighten them. I'll let you know if I get them straight.

You might try Fair Spares in San Jose, or Rabers in SF I think. I think the Walridge ones are Emgo, not sure, they were $40, shipping was $20.

Dave
69S

thank you Dave: you're very kind and helpful.. :wink:
I would not have any doubt in rechroming original handlebars if I could find them straight.. Lemme know!

it is good to know that the new ones you mounted are EMGOS: then I may exclude them as they are slightly different from originals..

US handlebars

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