800GS - narrow handlebars

[alex_rsa]

I know it is sacrilege but as I am spending 20 minutes filtering every day I need to slim the width of the bike. The current handlebars are just under 100cm from edge to edge whereas the widest part of the bike is only 60cm. Having use a 125 Honda for a couple of weeks the narrower width makes a big difference.

How do I get narrower bars? I realise I will have to ditch the handguards as the screen will be too close.

The current bars have a thick centre so the options are very limited. Can I change the risers to 22mm diameter and use the bars from a 800R or something from Renthal? I don't want to change the top fork clamp.

Anyone done something similar?

Thanks

Alex

 

[Micky]

I know it is sacrilege but as I am spending 20 minutes filtering every day I need to slim the width of the bike.

Alex

All for the sake of twenty minutes commuting

How much time are you hoping to shave off those twenty minutes?

Maybe buy another Honda 125 just for commuting

 

[alex_rsa]

Commute is 1h10. 20 minutes is spend filtering between wing mirrors.

With the 800 I am constantly having to stop and squeeze between the mirrors where as the Honda went straight through.

 

[MEB]

I've had the same thoughts in regards to narrowing the bars etc.

my commute is only 1/2 hour in total. From start (live on main road) to finish (city centre) it is all stand-still traffic.

my advice would be to forget messing with your bike as nothing is ever just a small job and you stand a chance of reducing the bikes ease of handling.

what i have found useful is that although the bike is wide, it's also quite tall. so i know my bikes' handlebars will sit above most average cars' wing-mirrors. especially older normal cars like civics and fiestas.
your bike is also a punchy v-twin. which is great for taking advantage of opening gaps and small stretches of overtakes. unless its piddling it down.

so yeah... practice what mirrors you can glide over and which ones you can't. that'll shave a good 5 minutes off ... which best outcome for 20 minutes of traffic.

-Max

 

[slparry]

<snip>your bike is also a punchy v-twin. <snip>
-Max

Are you sure