r850r handlebars and abs removal

[motormount]

Hi all,

Just traded my trusty tt600re for an '96 r850r, partly cause it's been like ten years since i lastly rode it in the dirt, mostly because i wanted to go back to BMW's.
- used to ride a r80g/s and a K100rs 20 years ago -

Among other things need to be changed ( fuel hoses etc ), are the twin handlebars that are ugly, to say the least.

Handling is ok, but i can't even stare at them.

And i believe normal handlebars will provide better handling, especially in low-speed maneuvers.

Got an 1100gs upper fork cross brace, most probably will fit.

I can buy a normal size handle bar but i could also buy raiser adapters to fit a fat bar.

Is there any real good reason to go for a fat bar?

I like the look, but if it doesn't have any practical value, i can stick with a normal handlebar.

Also, If it's not against forum rules, i would appreciate suggestions on normal handlebars, fat bar adapters and fat bars that have worked for you.

Next one it's the abs.

The brakes work ok now, but just in case of the unit failure, i would like to know potential problems bypassing it.

I saw the youtube video on the general oilheads topics section of the forum, and several others on youtube.

Everyone super happy and how couldn't they be if the abs fix cost could be twice the value of the bike?

But i've also heard that telelever in terms of braking, needs the abs functionality cause the forks doesn't provide the rider the same information quality as ''normal'' steering/suspension forks do.

Couldn't say, got no experience with telelever bikes till now, but i'd like to hear from you.

Thanks in advance!

 

[Wrigsby1]

There's a ton of ways to change the bars and sort your abs to non abs many of which are documented on UKgser...

The statement "Telelever in terms of braking, needs the abs functionality cause the forks doesn't provide the rider the same information quality as ''normal'' steering/suspension forks do." Is total shite... That's not against you obviously but whoever has been theorising on the net... Probably ADVrider as a simple thread can disappear up it's own arse very quickly on there...

Telelever actually gains many braking advantages over conventional forks whether ABS or not... Think about what happens when you brake and front wheel grip then apply to both designs... A bit of working out for yourself goes along way...

PS Welcome aboard... UKGSER is a great forum and has tons of good advice especially on Oilheads like yours...

 

[motormount]

There's a ton of ways to change the bars and sort your abs to non abs many of which are documented on UKgser...

The statement "Telelever in terms of braking, needs the abs functionality cause the forks doesn't provide the rider the same information quality as ''normal'' steering/suspension forks do." Is total shite... That's not against you obviously but whoever has been theorising on the net... Probably ADVrider as a simple thread can disappear up it's own arse very quickly on there...

Telelever actually gains many braking advantages over conventional forks whether ABS or not... Think about what happens when you brake and front wheel grip then apply to both designs... A bit of working out for yourself goes along way...

PS Welcome aboard... UKGSER is a great forum and has tons of good advice especially on Oilheads like yours...

thanks for your reply,

 

[Steptoe]

Hi all,

Just traded my trusty tt600re for an '96 r850r, partly cause it's been like ten years since i lastly rode it in the dirt, mostly because i wanted to go back to BMW's.
- used to ride a r80g/s and a K100rs 20 years ago -

Among other things need to be changed ( fuel hoses etc ), are the twin handlebars that are ugly, to say the least.

Handling is ok, but i can't even stare at them.

And i believe normal handlebars will provide better handling, especially in low-speed maneuvers.

Got an 1100gs upper fork cross brace, most probably will fit.

I can buy a normal size handle bar but i could also buy raiser adapters to fit a fat bar.

Is there any real good reason to go for a fat bar?

I like the look, but if it doesn't have any practical value, i can stick with a normal handlebar.

Also, If it's not against forum rules, i would appreciate suggestions on normal handlebars, fat bar adapters and fat bars that have worked for you.

Next one it's the abs.

The brakes work ok now, but just in case of the unit failure, i would like to know potential problems bypassing it.

I saw the youtube video on the general oilheads topics section of the forum, and several others on youtube.

Everyone super happy and how couldn't they be if the abs fix cost could be twice the value of the bike?

But i've also heard that telelever in terms of braking, needs the abs functionality cause the forks doesn't provide the rider the same information quality as ''normal'' steering/suspension forks do.

Couldn't say, got no experience with telelever bikes till now, but i'd like to hear from you.

Thanks in advance!

I think you may be confusing your early ABS with the later Servo/abs.
If your abs stops working it doesn’t effect the braking, so no need to remove the abs module. Also a used modulator isn’t expensive.
If the later servo/abs fails you have virtually no brakes. Plus used modulators are very very expensive and usually fail within a short time.

 

[Riceburner]

The "Telelever has no feel" thing is a comment often told by those riders (including the biking media) who take a bike for an hour's ride and don't give themselves time to gel with the bike properly.

Telelever has plenty of "feel", it's just different in nature and not overwhelmed by all the "white noise" that comes from regular telescopic forks. I tend to use the analogy that Telelever is like listening to 4-piece string chamber music, where regular telescopic forks are like listening to a rock concert. If you allow yourself to acclimitise to it, you'll acknowledge the information.

 

[Pete.]

I think the telelever is wonderful. Tip it into a roundabout, speed up, slow down, change direction it just soaks it all up without complaint. I've had plenty of bikes which would have pitched me into the verge if I dared to take any such liberties.

 

[snelly]

The telelever works for me; bags of confidence inspiring feel; even more so with the mrs on the back on the odd occasion you have to get on the brakes hard; she's not trying to go over my head as she would with standard forks. This might not be the same for others tho.

 

[sproggy]

About 20 years ago I was riding home through France on my 1150, letting my Garmin 2610 guide me between the well spaced waypoints I’d set. It took me along a minor but arrow straight road beside a canal or irrigation channel and I was ‘making good progress’ as they say. Without warning the smooth tarmac ended and it became an extremely rough and rutted unpaved track. I have always believed that the telelever saved me that day, allowing me to shed speed while keeping the bike upright. Scary as you like but I lived to tell the tale. Unlikely the outcome would have been so good with conventional forks. After that I turned on the ‘avoid unpaved roads’ setting!

Another experience was a track day at Mallory on my R1100S where the tyres (BT020 if I remember correctly) got a bit too hot and squirmy, made me run wide through Gerard’s and put me on the grass for the entire length of the back straight. Again I believe the telelever saved me there because that grass was neither smooth nor grippy but I stayed on.