Helibar Group Buy - Anyone?

Helibar Group Buy - Anyone? (potentially Apex now)

Anyone interested in getting a group buy going for some Helibars?

 

There was a group buy in 2007.. Take into consideration that Heli no longer makes bars for all the various VFRs that are ridden here.

Great bars BTW.. Quality stuff.

 

As said, there was previously a group buy but that was long enough ago that there may now be enough newer people here to make it worth another try. I am sure a quick email to those who make helibars will answer if they are still being made.

 

Heli has group buys.

What they are making are for more current bikes. Case in point: My mach 1 91 decided to fall over one day. Down it went an bent one Helibar. The set on the bike were from very early on. My first thought was to see if the bent bar could be straightened. Short of that, a new set was needed.

I struck out on both at bats.. Whoever was "personing" the phone (we need to stay PC at all times here) told me that the bent bar could not be straightened and a new set was no longer available.

In my usual polite and PC manner I asked to speak with the boss.. Good dude who told me the bent bar could not be fixed and provided a technical explanation as to why. The specific bar set for the 90-93 VFR were no longer being made and there were none in stock.

What the boss did was make me up a new set that were a bit different in looks but not in fitment. Aboot 220 pesos at the time.. Heli is not one of those mega outfits whose customer service motto is "fuck you". Its a machine shop..

 

Yeah, I realize that ... that's why I want to get a set for my '02 now as I think that's the oldest model of VFR they're stocking these days.

After riding last night, I realized how that extra little bit of height and pullback would make the bike even better.

If there's anyone interested, I'm hoping they'll respond and we can get a group together .... otherwise, I'm buying a set on my own sometime between now and the middle of April. I'm holding off on installing the heated grips until then. My hands have been very warm with a pair of ski gloves. The fairing seems to keep the wind off them incredibly well.

 

I got my Heli Bars and Sargeant seat both on group buys here. You will like them, the bars and seat took me from hurting by 50 miles to riding all day.
I'm kinda surprised no one is chiming in. For those on the fence, they list 5th and 6th gen bars in stock ....

 

I figured there'd be a few more responses as well.

Oh, well ... if I can't get anyone in on a buy, I'll just pony up for the full amount. I want them.

 

I see in the install they require hacking off the reservoir tabs. Is this from the length of stock lines, or due to the angle of the bars themselves? Say if I ordered new stainless lines with a bit more slack would it be alright to leave the tabs in place? I'm not too keen on hacking chunks off factory parts if I can help it.

 

The only bad thing is getting the dampers out of the old bars (a common issue). One side popped right out, the other took half a 4 letter word dictionary!!! :mad-new:

 

Never installed a set myself, but I believe someone has a thread showing the installation process on here. Couldn't really tell you to be sure. I know you don't need new cables / lines to install these, but I fully understand not wanting to hack apart OEM equipment.

I've got a heat gun at my disposal for this.

 

Reading through the instructions, it sounds like this doesn't have to do with the cables so much as being able to rotate the housing ....

"Before stock bars can be removed, it is necessary to rotate the front brake line forward at the master cylinders.
To do this, you must fi rst remove the aluminum tab that positively locates the hydraulic line at the banjo fi ttings.
1.) ON the right side remove the tab. This allows the Front Brake Hydraulic line to be rotated forward."

 

I cut nothing on mine. There ain't much slack left in the cables, but there is enough and they have been on 7 or so years now.

 

Can you shoot a quick photo and post here of that brake line at the master cylinder?

 

I might be interested in a set for my '06 Jeff. ...But if its only the two of us, we might just have to pony up

 

I probably can this weekend. The bike is still in storage :frown-new:
I only remember having to reroute the throttle cables slightly and I even have the bars up flush with the forks, not sitting on the triple tree. Your 6th gen may have different requirements....

 

So.. the cutting is for those too lazy to crack open the brake system and remove the banjo bolts? wow

 

Ok ... so far we have:

1. Me
2. Smooth
3. Red99RC46 (maybe??)

I'll contact Helibars to see how many guys we need for a group buy.

 

that's a big maybe. lol

Cost wise I might look at some risers first.

 

I considered risers as well, but it seems a lot of the guys that went from risers to Helibars wouldn't go back. I've also heard of issues with the bars contacting the tank with risers?

 

OK. Now I'm at a loss. What's the diff between a rider and a bar. I always thought it was just different terminology. Everything I find on the net look like and are listed as bars.