Triumphrat

aaronjorr · 07-14-2008

Does anyone know where I can find handlebars that are similar to the original bars for my 1999 Tiger 885i? Mine got bent (grumble, grumble) and the dealer wants $125 USD + tax for them. I haven't had much luck googling for parts for my Tiger so any help would be greatly appreciated. Thank you.
Aaron

TucsonBill · 07-23-2008

I bought mine bent, on a wreck from a pawnshop in Denver. Breaking the rules - I do that a fair bit - I bent them back by clamping them in a bracket in a vise and putting a piece of pipe over the grip-end and making them go back to where they started! I didn't have any crimped areas but probably had to move them three inches up and three inches forward. Took about an hour to get it right, cost nothing. They have worked fine for 40K miles.

aaronjorr · 07-23-2008

Thank you for you reply, William. I am much keener on trying that than dropping $125. Speaking of dropping ... My only concern is whether or not these will be structurally sound. This bike is a tad on the tall side for someone (me) with a 30" inseam so I'm concerned that when I drop it again it might break the bars rather than bending them, forcing me to get it towed. Is this a fear founded in reality, or do you think they'll simply bend again? Thank you very much for your input.
Cheers,
Aaron

TucsonBill · 07-30-2008

I've fallen a number of times and have had no problems. If you fall hard enough to bend the bars, you fell hard enough to bend or break something on youself, too! I would worry if the bars are kinked or crimped, but if they're just bent, just bend'um back. I think many alloy bars are a lot more brittle than the basic steel bars on the '99 Tiger.

aaronjorr · 4 Weeks Ago

Thanks a ton, Bill! I'm back on the road for free. A little time (maybe 1/2 an hour) with my friends bench vise and the bars are practically good as new. I appreciate your input, and my wallet does, too.
Aaron