Triumphrat

kurt_3_0_1 · 11-04-2009, 12:49 AM

OK so I wanted to make some highway bars for the long hall that would add a little comfort. I looked at the "Billy Bars" but they seemed to mount to high and looked like your knees stayed in a pretty bent position.
I wanted to be able to stretch my legs a little more. (I have a 30 inch inseam by the way) and to do this I knew I would have to mount the bar hanging from the engine mount versus setting on top of it. I also knew that this wouldnt work as a solid piece though because you could not slide the bar through with the tabs on it,there just wasnt enough clearence.
So my solution was as you see in the pics and I would like to report that it worked out absolutley fabulously (unlike some of my projects LOL)
The Specs are as follows. I took a 20 in piece of 1 inch rigid tubing and cut it in half to ten inches on each side. Then Sleeved one side with 5/8 in rigid tubing and secured with an anchor weld. Next I sanded the part sticking out so it would slide in the other piece easily.
At 2 1/4 inches from the cut I welded the tabs to mount to the engine bolt. That way I could put it together from both side and bolt it in place and not worry about having to slide the tabs through.
a friend donated some passenger pegs from a honda and I cut the mounts out hit them on the bench grinder to shape them up and welded them to the ends of the 1 inch rigid. Then polished the pegs and mounted them after powder coating of course and wahlah success!!!
My total investment $15 and $5 of that was in powder coating

Drifter · 11-04-2009, 08:27 AM

Those look great nice pics also! I have been thinking about making a set but have been to busy with other things. Let us know how they work, soon as i get some extra time i will make a set for my BB..........

yellowrubiu · 11-04-2009, 11:57 AM

Note to self... learn to weld. Very nice!

junker · 11-04-2009, 06:23 PM

Nice work and thank you for explaining how you did it.

I think you just found a purpose for a spare pair of pegs I have in the toolbox.

kurt_3_0_1 · 11-06-2009, 10:06 PM

no problem, If you all decide to build a set and have any questions or need any additional pics let me know :-)

kurt_3_0_1 · 11-08-2009, 06:01 PM

RIDE REPORT:
VENUE: Angel Ride Fairhope AL

Ok so this was the first time I had a chance to stretch my legs a little bit on the ride with these installed my total mileage was nearly 200 for the day longest continuous stint in the saddle was about an hour and a half.
I bought the thruxton gel seat because my I had litterally a 50 mile a$$ on the stocker. The thruxton seat proved to make little difference in that area, so I started looking at corbin seats in the exhorbident amount of around $370 thinking maybe that would also help but what if it didn't? that amount of money is an awful lot to throw at an expirement with so far what has been mixed reviews.
Thats where the highway bars came from they were cheaper to buy but I had the idea that making a set shouldnt prove to difficult and even if they looked like crap I could atleast see if it made things more comfortable or not.
I cannot express to you with any profoundness that would do it justice the difference they made. It is night and day. For anyone thinking they need a new seat to help out there backside let me advise you to save your money and try a set of these instead.
Even if you dont make them and decide to go with "billy bars" I would give that a shot given the results but unless you are a 29 inseam or less get the long ones. also if they make them like this im not sure but they need to hang from the engine mounting bolt and not mount on top of it. I had no idea that they would make the difference because the thought of it is kind of like changing your shoes to get rid of a headache. you think your ass hurts so you need something better under your ass but the position highway bars put you in really fixes it, for me anyway.
They are not so obtrusive that they look out of place on the bike when you are sitting parked as you see in the pic. Maybe they look a little funny with my legs stretched on a cafe' bike when im riding I really dont know, still they made a huge difference in my ride enjoyment. I have owned a kawasaki a sportster a softail and my bonnie. Of all those this is the first time I can claim that I have an a$$ that atleasts lasts as long as my tank WOOHOO!!!!
My next upgrade is to raise the handle bars one inch with some of jim's risers and the kaoko throttle lock. Im hoping these three upgrades will allow me enough comfort to enjoy some 300 to 500 mile days.

Thanks again for the great comments

deluxe · 11-08-2009, 08:55 PM

Be kind of cool if a picture could be taken of you with your feet up

Flaco · 11-09-2009, 06:20 PM

Nice, Looks like they are a little wide though.
I fashioned / fabbed mine so they are the same width as the mid sets and fold up in the same angle as the mid sets.
Just in case I scrape them, which I do, as I have had two sets of foot rests on them in a year and a half.

BTW, I have a longer inseam than you...
Here's a vid of them in action...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IcupB-gznH8
Lots of mods since the video...

kurt_3_0_1 · 11-09-2009, 07:30 PM

Yea Baby! those look great, The only problem with mounting mine on those bolts like you did was that it stretched my legs out to far since my inseam is at 30" I mocked them up like that but the only thing that would touch were my toes. Having mine mounted as pictured lets me fully extend and rest my heals or pull em up a little bit and still have good extension over the "billybars"

Strange question to ask another guy I know but in the interest of motorcycle science, what is your inseam if you dont mind me asking?

Flaco · 11-09-2009, 07:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kurt_3_0_1

Strange question to ask another guy I know but in the interest of motorcycle science, what is your inseam if you dont mind me asking?

Only strange if you want to look up my dress...
Wear a 34 inseam so I can roll 'em up like Brando and Ace Cafe...
Really a 32...
Got to hide what it houses!