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.

[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.

[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'

[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.

[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

[Planter]

graham22 said:

Want to be a bit careful as there's probably only a 6mm screw holding the weights on - if like most Suzukis, last thing you want to do is break that flush.

Could they be just bonded or stuck to the original weights (any residue to give a clue?).

Usually with the standard ones, you can normally hit the head of a well fitting screwdriver to break the 'seal' on the threads.

Can you find similar ones on the internet, perhaps the fitting instructions might give a clue as to whether these are to be fitted with copius amounts of threadlock or glue - assume only way to tighten them is by hand? Is there something that disolves threadlock/glue that can be poured in from the other end of the clip on (thinners?).

Ive taken the handlebar grip back and rolled it to have a look, and wasnt able to see any residues. Ive found similar on the internet and they are all just wound on with a thread. So im wondering if its just some strong glue of sorts. So will try with a pair of grips and a bit more leverage this eve and go from there.

Its just annoying as it should be so simple, never is though!

Cheers again

[Planter]

EmmaJ said:

OP I'm guessing you purchased the bike from a dealer or similar who took it in as PX as otherwise you'd surely just contact the seller and ask them how they fitted the bar ends which would yield the best approach for how to remove them?

They do seem ridiculously dangerous why on earth with anybody fit those things

I purchased privately, however, the owner wasnt sure how her ex-partner had fitted them, she was happy to have them but didnt unfortunately fit them herself.

My first port of call, was to ask the previous owner.

[Planter]

bass gt3 said:

There'll be a carrier that screws in/fixes into the bar like the normal bar end. These spikes then screw on over the top of the carrier. More than likely the person who put them on used a very strong thread locker and you'll struggle to get a grip to remove.
Best way is to cut off the pointy bit and that should reveal the nut/allen head that holds the carrier into the bars. Undo and voila! You're tat free ..

I think that sounds like the best way, ill let you know how I go

Thanks very much

[Planter]

Cheers for all the help folks, ill update with photos of the bike when its done, and before im asked, yes ill make sure the misses is on it aswell.

[Planter]

WaferThinHam said:

Bin off your OH if she like those, she clearly has no taste.

She's with me, she has great taste.....just a momentary slip with the bars.

Anyway...UPDATE; the bar ends are gone and replaced with some standard ends.

Cheers for all the help folks.

[Planter]

graham22 said:

How did you get the bar ends off after all of this?

Took a grinder to the ends and then could see inside, thy were threaded but just very well threaded and glued and glued and glued, bit of heat from a heat gun and hey presto, ste removed. And now my girlfriends prefers it. Good job, or id of found a replacement for her too!