Removing ridiculous bar ends

[Planter]

We just picked up my girlfriends new bike, and as much as she seems to like them, I want to remove them for her safety aswell as the fact it looks ridiculous.

She has the spiked barends.

Now ive tried unscrewing, with the aid of wrenches etc, however, this thing is pretty firm, there is no cap at the end to remove to reveal an screw head or allen key.

Assuming theyve used some industrial type fixant, any ideas on how to remove without damaging the bike, I dont give a st about the barend itself.

Cheers, picture included of the bar end.

[Dog Star]

I would have thought that they must have been put on by hand otherwise they'd be scratched or chewed. Must have either loctite or epoxy on the threads? I'd just get some mole grips on them.

They are bloody awful though - who buys this tat? What's the bike?

[Planter]

Its a K8 Gsxr. And thats my sentiments exactly, the bike is lovely and well looked after but for some unknown reason they chose to add these.

They must have had been on the pipe that day!

Ill give them another go over the weekend. The more I look at them the more annoyed I get.

[moanthebairns]

I once seen a bmx bar end that had not end cap on it stick into a guys leg, nothing too bad but a good one.

imagine hitting that at 100, fk it becomes a bullet

[mi1ne]

vice grips with the tightest possible grip you can get.

Then maybe hook a large spanner or long bit of pipe onto the back of the vice grips to give you loads more leverage. Thats what id try anyway.

[bgunn]

Stilsons.

[GTIR]

Firstly, thanks for for saying "GSXR" and not that other word.

Secondly, I spy "carbon" tat and seeing as the previous owner added those bar ends I doubt he stopped there!
Any anodised tat you need to confess about?

[y2blade]

/Because GIXXER

[dugsud]

bgunn said:

Stilsons.

Yep, perfect job for Stilsons....best tool ever for removing stuff that you don't need afterwards!

[Planter]

Yep, there is a small amount of carbon trim, however, its weirdly only ontop of the fairing, no where else, Ill try get some better pics up later. The bike is in great condition, just a couple bits i would never of done.

Each to their own I guess. Just annoys me when the opinion isnt the same as mine.

No anodised bits 'I promise'

[Dog Star]

Planter said:

Yep, there is a small amount of carbon trim, however, its weirdly only ontop of the fairing, no where else, Ill try get some better pics up later. The bike is in great condition, just a couple bits i would never of done.

Each to their own I guess. Just annoys me when the opinion isnt the same as mine.

No anodised bits 'I promise'

When my R1 got stolen I gave up trying to do a like-for-like replacement of the bike and bought something else instead - every single one of them had been ruined.

Why oh why do sportsbike owners insist on butchering their bikes with the addition of utter tat - st carbon fibre|double bubbles|anodised crap|microscopic indicators|tail tidys - it goes on and on.

[y2blade]

Dog Star said:

Why oh why do sportsbike owners insist on butchering their bikes with the addition of utter tat - st carbon fibre|double bubbles|anodised crap|microscopic indicators|tail tidys - it goes on and on.

That's a very good question.

[Planter]

Dog Star said:

Planter said:

Yep, there is a small amount of carbon trim, however, its weirdly only ontop of the fairing, no where else, Ill try get some better pics up later. The bike is in great condition, just a couple bits i would never of done.

Each to their own I guess. Just annoys me when the opinion isnt the same as mine.

No anodised bits 'I promise'

When my R1 got stolen I gave up trying to do a like-for-like replacement of the bike and bought something else instead - every single one of them had been ruined.

Why oh why do sportsbike owners insist on butchering their bikes with the addition of utter tat - st carbon fibre|double bubbles|anodised crap|microscopic indicators|tail tidys - it goes on and on.

Totally agree DS, have been having the same issue, adn to be fair the bike weve bought has a couple bits added, mostly ste, but they are easy enouh to rectify, bar the bd bar ends I cant get off. Although, as you said, if they'd of just left it be, it would be fine as it was.

Its got a tail tidy fitted and exhaust, which are upgrades that I dont mind, but spears for bar ends and foot pegs is where my mind boggles.

[y2blade]

And as for stupid wky undertrays and cheap st replacement tail light set-ups.....tasteless morons

[ZesPak]

Dog Star said:

Why oh why do sportsbike owners insist on butchering their bikes with the addition of utter tat - st carbon fibre|double bubbles|anodised crap|microscopic indicators|tail tidys - it goes on and on.

To be fair, the "chopper" scene is much, much worse imho.

As for these bar ends, hold on a second. Your OH likes them?

[gareth_r]

I assume that they are chrome?

You can make them safer with an an angle grinder and a cutting disc.

Then you can cut a couple of flats into the remainder to give better grip for the appropriate tool and/or notches for a drift.

Heat might help, depending on what's been used to hold them in.

Or replace the 'bars.

EDIT:
How do the original bar ends fit? Thread inside the handlebar? If so, cutting/filing a couple of flats for a spanner and a bit of heat to soften the thread lock would probably work (although chrome is hard to file).

Edited by gareth_r on Friday 25th July 10:44

[LordFlathead]

My mate had a similar problem.. but they weren't as bad as that

His solution was to heat it and the bars with a hot air gun. They were glued inside the handlebar and the heat softened the glue and they came out with a bit of aggression.

[Planter]

ZesPak said:

To be fair, the "chopper" scene is much, much worse imho.

As for these bar ends, hold on a second. Your OH likes them?

I think its the fact that it was shiny and shes female, but she has come round to my way of thinking and wants them changed.

[Planter]

gareth_r said:

I assume that they are chrome?

You can make them safer with an an angle grinder and a cutting disc.

Then you can cut a couple of flats into the remainder to give better grip for the appropriate tool and/or notches for a drift.

Heat might help, depending on what's been used to hold them in.

Or replace the 'bars.

EDIT:
How do the original bar ends fit? Thread inside the handlebar? If so, cutting/filing a couple of flats for a spanner and a bit of heat to soften the thread lock would probably work (although chrome is hard to file).

Edited by gareth_r on Friday 25th July 10:44

That is a potential, although tey are actual chrome so are quite tough. Cheers for the help

[Planter]

LordFlathead said:

My mate had a similar problem.. but they weren't as bad as that

His solution was to heat it and the bars with a hot air gun. They were glued inside the handlebar and the heat softened the glue and they came out with a bit of aggression.

Makes sense, looks like I need a heat gun for the weekend.

Cheers all