Bonneville America Forums Forums Technical Forums Custom Corner Bar swap (1"-7/8")

Can anyone tell me what would be involved in swapping out my bars to 7/8" bars? I've never quite got to grips (if you pardon the pun) with the fatter bars and want to know if a swap's feasible/affordable. Whenever I ride without gloves-putting the bike in the garage, for eg; never on the road) I always feel so much more comfortable because of the reduced diameter. I've tried using grips designed for 7/8" bars but they're either too firm to get on or, as in the case of the one's on there at the moment, they've started to split after only a few hundred miles.
I realise I'll need bars and controls but is it just a case of buying them or do I need to buy specific fittings to work with our bikes?

What components will I need?

Bars.
Grips.
Levers.
Controls (start button, indicator switch, etc.).
Throttle tube? (Are these universal?)
Front brake master cylinder (poss. with lever?)
Throttle/clutch cables?
Shims for risers?

Additional work: connect/solder control wiring. (I'd run them internally, anyway.) Speaking of which, how does and internal throttle work? Is this an easy thing to do?

Anything else to consider?

(Also, 2 things, unrelated: last time I bought a gear-shifter (for another bike) I had to get a specific fitment (something to do with splines?); is it true of our bikes? If so, what do I need to know?
2. I'm after a connector for the wires going to the back of my bike (brake, tail, indicators) but I want something a bit more substantial than one of those plastic things with the screws in. I've tried searching the net to no avail as I don't even know what it is I'm after: can anyone point me in the right direction? I'm sure I've seen something made out of metal (billet?) that you inserted the wires into and then clamped the individual wires down with a lever.

Thanks in advance, Neill

They make shims for the risers to go from 1" to 7/8" so that's easy. Not sure if they make anything for the grip/control end. You may need to find some made for the 7/8" bars.

Not sure but you may find the Bonneville ( Not America or Speedmaster) may have all the switches, risers that you are after, worth having a look on ebay for bits.
If you mean electrical crimps, straight through or male+female bullet send me a PM and I will mail you a few. you will have to pick up some crimping pliers though, Halfords for example do cheap ones (cheap meaning crap).

Neill, have a look on "HERE" and browse the catalogues...

I've heard of 7/8" to 1" shims, but not the reverse. Sounds intersting. I just put new 1" risers on my '66 running 7/8" bars and the shims worked great.

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They make shims for the risers to go from 1" to 7/8" so that's easy. Not sure if they make anything for the grip/control end. You may need to find some made for the 7/8" bars.

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You can get the bars and controls for the Bonneville Scrambler.They are 7/8" and the controls also.You could also go to junk yard and pick up everything.Then you have to figure out the wiring.Good luck there Edwardlittlehands.