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New Handlebars

8K views 27 replies 11 participants last post by  DAVE M 
#1 ·
Here are a couple of pics of my '72 Daytona I have been messing around with for the last year. The first pic shows the old handlebars that I hate. They look bad and feel bad. The second pic shows the new handlebars that necessitated my buying some new cables for the brake and clutch. The throttle cables fit OK. I'm just glad to have it on the road. It still needs work. I have done nothing to the engine or tranny yet. Still have points and the carbs probably need to be replaced. But it is now a survivor!
 

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#4 ·
I took the high bars off mine and fitted the Western bars ......
How do they look like ? (I mean the Western bars)

I have high bars too on my T140E and find they are tiresome due wind exposure and not practical for cornering.

When fitting your Western bars, did you replace clutch cable, cold start cable, throttle cable, front brake hose ?
 
#6 ·
These are standard Western bars as fitted to USA 1971 T120r.Note the picture of a side view where the bars align with the forks.This point is the best set up for handling with a dead straight alignment.Tip them further forward and there is too much of your weight over the front wheel.I tried many positions with these bars and this arrangement was best suited for the cornering and comfort.
Please ignore that modern Rocket bike in the background,its not so much fun.
 

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#8 ·
71 year used low bars for Home market and these standard western bars for the export model.I have used the Export T140 high bars but the bike loses a lot of cornering ability and the rider is too upright.They make the bike a bit top heavy for the narrow roads and sharp corners in the UK.
I like the Western bars better than the Home market,shorter bars as fitted to my Spitfire.I keep those on the Spitfire just for its originality as it is supposed to be the 60s racer of the day.USA Spitfires had a small tank and higher bars.
 
#10 ·
Hi,

'72 Daytona
The first pic shows the old handlebars that I hate. They look bad and feel bad.
Appear to be standard 'UK & General Export'.

second pic shows the new handlebars
Errrm ... are you tall? :)

My 78 came from the factory with mini ape hangers, they are really awful.
What "NASAman" Fred has fitted appears to be them? Or are the ones on your bike even higher?

71 year
these standard western bars for the export model.
Just to be clear, they were "standard" only on US-market Triumphs, other "export" markets got the flat 'bars Fred pictured.

I have used the Export T140 high bars but the bike loses a lot of cornering ability and the rider is too upright.
I have high bars too on my T140E and find they are tiresome due wind exposure and not practical for cornering.
I have what "rambo" has pictured on my T150 and T100. Personally, I find them too wide, particularly when the steering is turned fully to right or left; as standard, they are about 800 mm. (31"-32") across the ends. I prefer 'bars about 710-740 mm. (28"-29") wide. T160 US-market and TSX 'bars (97-4651 and 97-7205) are that and only about 1" higher than the 'bars "rambo" has pictured, but they are about 2" lower than the "Export [US market] T140 high bars" (97-4411) "rambo" referred to.

replace clutch cable, cold start cable, throttle cable, front brake hose ?
Triumph used only two basic lengths for these - shorter for 'UK & General Export', longer for 'US'. For what it is worth, I always use 'US'-length cable and hoses - with 'low' handlebars, the extra cable length can always be routed around the front of the frame to the 'other' side; then the desirable wide-radius bend is always maintained, even when the steering is turned fully to right or left. :thumb

Western bars
USA Spitfires had a small tank and higher bars.
Be careful with the term "Western" - BSA used the term certainly in the 1960's - on some much-higher and more-curved 'bars - when Triumph did not, and I am not sure that some people, including modern dealers, are not confused.

Rather than be confused by names, British Cycle Supply has a page of part numbers with dimensions - http://www.britcycle.com/Products/Handlebars/handlebars.htm. Unfortunately, while their dimensions of the 'bars "rambo" pictured - 97-4252 - reflect my experience, their dimensons on the T160 US-market - 97-4651 and TSX - 97-7205 - 'bars do not; mine do not have so much 'rise', my T160 'bars are original and my TSX ones are almost identical (aside: begs the question why the Co-op made a different drawing and issued a new part number :confused:).

On the other hand, 42-4968 appear to be what BSA called "Western" 'bars.

western bars. I hadn't heard of these here in Australia until now. I have a 73 Commando that was originally from Iowa that has these bars and wondered if this was a common fitment in the US.
While Triumph used them for many years on US-market variants certainly in the 1960's and 1970's before '73, Norton appears to have had something very similar? - compare 06-1046 (Norton) and 97-4252 (Triumph).

Hth.

Regards,
 
#15 · (Edited)
I prefer 'bars about 710-740 mm. (28"-29") wide.

What about this one ?

Chrome Handlebars

UK Lowrise type,
Approx 28" Wide, 2" Rise, 4" Sweep back, 7/8" diameter

Suitable for BSA models, plus most British bikes of the period:

BSA M20/M21/M33
BSA B31/B33
BSA A50/A65 (Not 1962-64 Nacelle Models)
BSA A7/A10 Rigid/Plunger Models 1948-
BSA C10/C11/B31/B32/B33

BSA Part number 65-4960
Made in England
 

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#11 ·
While I am not a fan of the 'western or US bars' I can understand why you would remove the standard UK bars. I had a set on a Bonnie and they cock your elbow inwards and you have then cock your wrist to compensate. I hated them, felt like an arthritic old man when I rode for more than 10 minutes - and that was when I was 30ish!!!
IMO another typically british folly.
 
#14 ·
Hi,

Mine are similar to Rambo's ("Western Bars") but they are #97-1870.
Mmmm ... as I intimated in my earlier post, I'm not sure that BCS's dimensions are entirely accurate compared to originals? I have both 97-1870 and 97-4252 - made by L.F. Harris in the period when they claimed to be working from original Meriden drawings - no differences in bends or overall widths, the only difference is 97-1870 (along with the 'UK & General Export' 97-1871) has two small holes in the left 'bar for the pre-'71 horn/dipswitch mounting screws.

I may cut an inch off each side and reduce them from 32" to 30"
:thumb Great minds clearly think alike. I have been told that at least one variety of 'bars supplied on British police bikes was the same bends as the US-market 'bars but not so wide. But that was with a drum front brake; before I hack up a pair of 97-4252, I need to check that the shortened right-hand 'bar still has enough length for a disc-brake master cylinder.

Regards,
 
#20 ·
I'll show you mine.......

As you can see I have polished stainless steel risers, this puts the bars at just the right height for me and my preferred seating position. I can't lay over the tank or tuck up, my back has fused discs [1984), so I need a more upright position. But I have often done big miles using this setup, so works for me.
 

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#22 ·
Have a closer look, they are pretty obvious lilic24000. Zoom in on the top of the triple tree.

I threw the metalistic bush in the bin....they never do anything for Tridents anyway. And I don't use the parrot beak eye bolt setup either.

IMO the metalistic rubber mount bushes are the greatest hoax since the flux capacitor......you don't need them. I've ridden twins and triples 500-1000km in a day sitting on 100-130km/h and never had an issue.
All they did was give you handlebars that wobble.
 
#23 ·
+ 1 - hate the feeling, all my handlebars are mounted solid.
For me the main problem of Triumph riding position are footrests, not handlebars, however I prefer lower, general export version.With them footrests on my Trident are 2 inches too far forward. BSA is better, but again its top yoke with handlebars kept back compared to Triumph makes it not comfortable. My friend found some aftermarket "superbike" bars and installed them on his 70 TR6 - I found them the best with rise and width and plan to install them on the Trident, when I finish with the BSA. They are also not so wide like original Trident bars.
Perhaps he will email me the picture.
 
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