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Article on how to measure for a new handlebar from JP Cycle Tech Talk
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2005 Tuesday, January 11 Dear
VTwin Mama, Dear
thumperjb, However, if your "new" position also requires an "in" or "out" component (meaning you want your hands spread out less or more), then new handlebars are called for. An excellent guide and article on how to measure can be found at the aftermarket house J&P Cycle . . . the link is on my Working on the Bike: Hand/Foot Control page. Now, J&P is more a Harley aftermarket house (although they do offer some metric solutions), but many aftermarket companies can be found on my Aftermarket page. Hop onto these sites and take a look. Alternatively, with the new measurements in hand, you can engage in a constructive conversation with the parts department at your local dealer. Mama Tuesday, February 1 Dear
VTwin Mama, Dear
C, Dear
VTwin Mama, Dear
Jeanne, Friday, February 18 For Jeanne who is trying to relocate her footboards: I have a Heritage with footboards too. Footboards rule. I wonder if you were able to get a lower profile seat if that might get you a little closer. I changed out my stock seat for an inexpensive La Pera low profile seat (I'm 5'5") and I can rest my feet and even kick out my heels at the end of the boards (like my version of forward pegs...lol) when I'm cruising. I don't know if this will help or not... Also, was the bike previously owned? I wonder if they made some changes and you need to get it back to the stock location? Aloha, Renee (note from Mama: you've brought up some interesting points . . . thanks! ) Wednesday, February 23 Dear
VTwin Mama, Dear
Biker Mama, Saturday, April 16 Dear
VTwin Mama, Dear
Cyclynnut, Wednesday, April 20 For Rick whose shifter seems to be stuck too far down and is causing downshifting problems: I also have an 1100 Virago (1998) and I had the same downshifting problem today. The gear shifter would stick down at times and then I would not be able shift down (although shifting up was not a problem at all). I am not sure if this is going to be an ongoing problem as I've had my bike for over a year now and had no problems last season at all, but it seemed like it was gummed up, so we lubed the front connection, (where the gear shifter is attached and pivots right in front of the footpeg, not the linkage itself). I am going to check with my local dealer to see if there is anything inside there that may need to be replaced or taken apart and cleaned up. Good luck with yours. Tks (note from Mama: hmmmm . . . road dirt does tend to creep into parts and could accumulate enough to cause a problem. Thanks for acknowledging a similar situation and how you are starting to correct it.) Saturday, April 23 For DeDe who is looking for a pullback riser that is more "back" than "up" for her VStar 1100 Hi. I'm a guy who stumbled into this site and since I'm short (but very sexy LOL) I wanted to read about experiences with lowering bikes. Congratulations on the site. About this question, I own a Honda 750 Shadow Spirit and it has risers that may help pull back further than they rise. I recently fell over and bent one slightly out of shape. I purchased the replacement at Bikebandit.com and if I remember correctly it cost about $80 (that's for one). Good luck and I'll keep popping in to read about shorter rider problems and solutions. I'm from Venezuela by the way. Juan (note from Mama: thanks for sharing a source that is useful for parts! I believe your my first input from Venezuela . . .how cool . . . welcome!) Sunday, April 24 More for DeDe who is looking for a pullback riser that is more "back" than "up" for her VStar 1100 I just purchased phatrisers for my v-star that has 2" rise and 3" pullback and nothing had to be done to the cables. Purchased them from Scootworks and that did the trick. Cyclynnut (note from Mama: this is good info as often times cables have to be switched for the new configuration.) Dear
VTwin Mama, Dear
Karin, Friday, April 29 For Karin who needs pullback risers for her 750 Spirit: Karin I had a 750 Honda Shadow Spirit (my first bike) and just loved it! I had to put risers on to get the bars back more; I purchased them here: http://www.chenzohs.com/. They were excellent and easy to install. Also as an FYI, there is a Delphi forum for 750 Spirits that you might want to check out! I got lots of great information and help there! Good luck. Glenda, a Kansas Rider (note from Mama: yahoo, a solution!) Monday, May 2 Dear
VTwin Mama, Dear
Eric, Also, I'm thinking that if your wife is still resting her feet on pegs, floorboards might be more comfortable all around. There are passenger floorboards that allow for adjustability fore and aft, as well as height and angle. Again, I saw them for other make/models, but with this knowledge, you may want to visit your local dealer's parts department and have them open up the OEM and aftermarket catalogs and explore. Make sure to bring along a drawing of the current configuration with clearance measurements to the pipe so you're not spinning your wheels! Mama Monday, May 2 Dear
VTwin Mama, Dear
Linda, Tuesday, May 3 Dear
VTwin Mama, Dear
Tina, Dear
VTwin Mama, Dear
Jacob, Tuesday, May 31 Dear
VTwin Mama, Dear
Bill, Now, if your bride-to-be is also having trouble with how much effort it takes to pull in the clutch lever (some Harley model's are very stiff to operate, and can make a small hand tired very quickly with all the work), that's a different solution. Search for the "Easy Boy Lite Clutch." Check it out and see if these two suggestions don't solve the problem. By the by, while you're on their site, get their FREE catalog . . . it's fun to shop! Mama Friday, June 3 From Jacob who hurt his right wrist and was seeking solutions for the throttle control: Thanks for the info regarding the modification for the throttle control to customize like an ATV. I've decided to go to physical therapy and repair my wrist. I also bought Kuryakyn grips with palm throttle control. It really helps. Jacob (note from Mama: good to hear that you've found a solution and also will be working on the wrist itself . . . .sounds like you've decided to take the necessary steps so that you can keep riding! This is all good!) Tuesday, June 7 Dear
VTwin Mama, Dear
RPC, Thursday, June 9 Dear
VTwin Mama, Dear
Looking, Unfortunately, aftermarket parts companies concentrate their efforts on the bigger cruising/touring bikes, but I would take a look at my Aftermarket page for links to a number of useful sites that may have the accessories you are looking for. My only other suggestion is to search for a discussion forum specific to your make/model bike and "talk" with people who have the same bike as you . . . you may find your answers that way! Mama Tuesday, June 14 Dear
VTwin Mama, I would like to respond to all of those short gals out there looking to bring their handlebars closer to them. I too, recently went through this, as I am only 5' 1". I have a beautiful '04 royal purple Yamaha V-Star 1100. Started out at 48 years old last summer on a Honda Rebel - a great bike to learn on for the vertically challenged! Then I moved up to the Yamaha in January. I went to the Corbin seat factory in Hollister, California and had a custom seat made to bring me closer to the handlebars and lower to the ground. I spent about $600 for the seat, but soooo worth it. Next, the handlebar dilemma. I bought pullback risers that brought the handlebars back quite a bit, but found that the center of gravity for turning was off and made turning made more difficult. So, I started looking into handlebars. I found the perfect bars on the Flanders Company website. I bought the 1" bars, part number 650-08763 (Road Glide Style) with metric knurls. They have a 6" rise, 16" of pullback and 31.5" wide. They have many other options too. I had to only pay $129.95 for the bars. Love2Ride Dear
Love2Ride, Tuesday, July 12 Dear
VTwin Mama, Dear
JP, CHROME HEEL-TOE SHIFT LEVER FOR DYNA MODELS This chrome-plated
stock shifter from the FXDP vehicle offers
quick and easy shifting with custom looks. I found this on the Guernsey HD site. Mama Wednesday, July 13 Dear
VTwin Mama, Dear
Corey, Dear
VTwin Mama, Dear
Andrew, Monday, August 8 For Andrew who bent a footpeg on an oopsie and is trying to fix it: Because I too have dropped my VS1400 and bent the footpeg: Andrew you shouldn't need to replace the whole footpeg because it's bent. Look under the peg itself, you should see two phillip head screws that hold the outer case and rubber of the peg on. Undo those and pull off the outter case and rubber. Under that you'll see the metal stay which is the part that's bent. I use the box end of a wrench, slide it over the stay and bend it back down where it belongs. Re-attach the rubber and outer case and you're good to go. HammerLady (note from Mama: first hand knowledge helps!) Dear
VTwin Mama, Dear
Linda, Tuesday, August 9 For Linda whose footpeg rubber is loosing its grip: I have an easy fix with the non-grippy Kuryakyns. I should think that scuffing that rubber grip surface either with some rough cleaning pads (like Scotch-brite green) or some fine sandpaper would expose more grippy (non sun-weathered) surface. One caution though: watch those shiny parts! Marina (note from Mama: scuffy it up!) Just a thought: since I am a gardener also, you can buy a product in the paint department of your local do-it-yourself home store that you dip tools in for a good rubberized grip. You can dip it as many times to get the thickness you want. Works great and, considering, I REALLY beat my tools up, it should work on pegs. It's located in the paint department and is not a spray. There are a few different brands but just ask your salesperson there and they should help . . . comes in all different colors too! Kathy H. (note from Mama: interesting!) Wednesday, August 10 Dear
VTwin Mama, Dear
Sandy, Still, I opened up a couple of aftermarket catalogs to take a closer look at forward controls. I could see that not all controls are built the same! In some pictures you can see that the actual brake pedal is much closer to the foot peg portion, there are controls which don't have such a long bolt-on portion, and there are even controls made with adjustable positioning. I'd double check to see if your current set-up is adjustable (just in case!) My next suggestion is to get the free aftermarket catalogs and do some shopping! J&P Cycles and Dennis Kirk are just two that I can think of right off the bat. Armed with this knowledge, you could take a closer look at the exact configuration of your current controls and make some comparisons. Yup, it would be pricey to replace, but as you note, this bike isn't going to be comfortable and safe otherwise. I couldn't identify a kit to bring your current controls back a bit. Readers, any solutions other than new controls? Mama Dear
VTwin Mama, Dear
Elaine, Dear
VTwin Mama, I am 5'2'' and about 106 lbs . . . and am turning 40 on Sept 7th . . . for some reason the thought just came into my mind one day that I wanted to take the Rider's Edge course and challenge myself, and what a sense of accomplishment!! To develop new instincts, learn and master a new skill, and to know that I'm in control (most of the time) of a 600 lb beast . . . but a lovely beast she is . . . I'm thinking about writing Oprah . . . this would be a great "empowerment" story that her producers would absolutely drool over!!! Perhaps Oprah can give out free Rider's Edge courses to her studio audience!!! How about it, Mama??!! My question has to do with the sidestand. Does anyone else have a difficult time getting the sidestand all the way forward & locked, without having to do acrobatics while trying to keep the bike from succumbing to an attack of narcolepsy?? I bought a "jiffy stand extender" and it bolts onto the side stand . . . could you, Mama, or anyone else offer any insight?? Thanks!! I am soooo excited about my "Midlife CriCycle"!!! And it is great to be able to see that I'm not alone with the issues we biker chicks have when first learning to ride. . . Lisa Groovy Dear
Lisa, I absolutely think you should write to the Oprah show! What fun that would be! And you never know what her producers will want to tie together . . . hmmmm . . . wonder if Oprah has ever been on a bike? I'm sure there are plenty of local riding clubs/classes/instructors in Chicago that would be happy to give her a first hand glimpse! I'm going to pin my hopes on meeting Oprah once I've completed the book I've just started writing about women and motorcycle riding! Of course there are tons of steps to take yet, like finishing it and getting it published, but hey, a VTwin Mama girl can dream! Mama Wednesday, August 24 For Lisa who was looking for insights into kickstand extenders: Re: HD jiffy kickstand extender -- Love it -- it really works, no more cramps from trying to twist one leg under the bike while holding the bike up with the other leg. I had to drill a whole in the original kickstand and then screw the new extender in place. Took a while to get through the metal but it is really worth it. Dorathy (note from Mama: shazam!) Thursday, August 25 For Elaine who needs to move her Honda Shadow 750 handlebar closer: Love your site! I've been faithfully taking in all your wisdom for some time now, but this is my first time responding to anyone's question. For Elaine who is looking to make her handlebars more comfortable, I had the same problem with my VStar. I found my solution at Scootworks.com. They have some really nice pullback risers that work like a charm, and it looks like they have some on their site for Hondas as well. I had a friend help me install mine and it made a world of difference for me. I didn't have to change any of my cables but they did need to be rerouted. My elbows are actually bent now when I ride! Anyway, keep up the good work Mama! Rose in CA (note from Mama: thanks for sharing some more details and where you found your solution! I'm soooo glad you took the time to write in!) I would suggest going to the internet and doing a search under "Honda Shadow 750." Look for the forum or website for riders of your bike. They are a wealth of information regarding add-ons and mods. I ride a Honda Sabre and the forum for this bike has been so helpful. Everything I have wanted to do or add has been done by someone else. I can read about other peoples successful mods and where they got the best prices on items for my bike specifically. I just added pullback risers and what a difference they made. I was able to make a good choice for me based on their experiences. No need to second guess or hope I got the right thing. Hope this helps. Kristy in Charleston, SC (note from Mama: every bit of info helps! I agree that specific bike model discussion forums are a real help . . . I just hopped onto one for my own bike and already have found out tons of info on changing out my windshield and things to consider . . . why make a $150 mistake when people out there are sharing!) Tuesday, September 13 Dear
VTwin Mama, Dear
Vicki, Dear
VTwin Mama, This is Ruth from Tallahassee. I am practicing every day and feel somewhat better when riding, however, I am still waiting for the Scared Crapless Phase to end and the Wow This Is Great Fun Phase to begin! I am sure that it will. I am retaking the MSF course in November, as I failed the first time. I wanted to ask if anyone has trouble with their foot getting hung up between the clutch and the foot peg? I bought a pair of boots with about an inch of tread for traction and the extra height but it seems as though between the upper and lower they are so fat at the toe. Are there any boots that you recommend or is there an extension that fits on the toe for the purpose of moving the shift up? A friend says he uses the sole that protrudes from the shoe to lift up but mine doesn't have any. I have a 650 V Star Classic which has a heel toe shifter so it may not be a problem on it. However, I discovered very quickly that the Yamaha had to much power and was far too nice (it is new) to dump so I also bought a used 250 Honda Rebel which is more my size for learning. Again, thanks for this site and also all the great links you provide. Again, hoping the hurricane changes its mind and just fades away. Ruth, aka Namoo2 on Delphi forum Dear
Ruth, As to the distance between the clutch shifter and foot peg . . . take a closer look as to how that shifter is actually mounted to the bike. You most likely will find some sort of screw holding it on to the "shaft" part coming out from the bike. This can be loosened, the shifter removed and repositioned at a higher angle and then retightened. Voila, thicker boot problem solved! Mama Monday, September 19 For Ruth who is wondering about her boots and the shift control: You will likely not have to remove the shifter. The bike will have a height adjustment for the shifter. The manual should describe where this is (It will be attached to the shift lever somehow). My wife had a problem of not being able to get her boot under the shifter easily and I didn't remember about the easy adjustment until it came up in conversation somewhere. It was a "DOH" experience for me. It was an easy adjustment and made a world of difference for my Sweetie. Best of luck, Kurt (note from Mama: I guess I'm still thinking of older bikes, where the removal and repositioning is necessary . . . thanks for chiming in that sometimes a height adjuster is built right in! Now I'm going out to check mine!) This may sound crazy . . . but the best boots I have found for riding are my winter boots from Totes (Gallop model) . . . they have thinsulate inside so they are warm and have a rubber sole that grabs the ground well when coming to a stop. They are also knee high and thou they don't keep out all the rain they do keep out most, they have a softer boot so I can feel the lever when shifting and they are black. I have a pair of Harley boots that I CANNOT ride in, they have a very hard boot, I can't feel the lever when shifting and they are very heavy and totally uncomfortable. Nice price too. I am sure there are other places to get this boot but this site will give you an idea of what I am talking about. Just my two cents :) Melissa from Toledo (note from Mama: thanks for sharing a boot that has made a difference to your riding comfort and safety!) Wednesday, September 28 Dear
VTwin Mama, I have called around and tomorrow am going to NAPA to get a heavy duty telescoping wand that is magnetic that mechanics use to pick up tools and nuts and bolts out of their reach while working on vehicles. I can't wait to try it. This folds to 6" in length (perfect for my windshield bag), and extends to 32". I'm hoping it will work for my bike. It's usually is the starts, stops and getting the bike going on hills that seems to get us short girls stuck. I'm heading to Florida next Saturday and will have many stops along the way to try this new wand..will keep you posted on whether it works ...Anything else that you can think of would be appreciated. Susan in the North Georgia Mountains Dear Susan, Tuesday, October 18 Dear
VTwin Mama, Dear Jim, Dear
VTwin
Mama, Dear
Steph, Wednesday, November 23 For Steph who wants to remove or adjust the floorboards on her VStar Classic: My husband rides a VStar Classic and
he relocated his floorboards with a relocation kit. He has an extra
kit (brand new-never used) to relocate the floorboards for a 2004 VStar
Classic for sale at $25 plus shipping . . . if theyll fit a 2005 model. |
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