Page last modified: 08/24/08

One mod Douglas Berry made to his '82 GS1100 were different bars. He built his own. His idea is so excellent that we think that many have already done this over the years to their own GS. His description of the procedure came without pictures, but it is descriptive enough to not need any pictures at all.

The Details (from Doug's write-up):

"Using aluminum straight bar stock he same size as the stock bars, I used about ( I don't have the measurements in front of me) 12 to 14 ". This gave me enough bar out the end over the forks to provide me with an anchor point for my small Shoei fairing. That length can change at will. This bar just clamps into the stock bar mounts.

"Then I chose the "clip-on" style of bar from a Suzuki 600 Katana. This bar having the right amount of rise for me. Now, two aluminum towers were welded to the straight bar stock and machined to fit the clamps of the 600 grips. The "towers" can be any height, giving the possibility of height adjustment for the bars themselves. (Higher up for freeway, lower down for canyon). The "towers" can also be welded on nearly anywhere along the length of the straight bar giving a wider or narrower stance. I preferred a narrower stance and have the towers welded on just slightly inside the line of the fork tubes.

"Then the new bars slip over the towers, lightly do them up, sit on the bike, close your eyes and move the grips until the perfect fit shows up and lock them down. I found this so comfortable I have lock-screwed mine into one place.

"It does produce a bit of a stretch over the tank, but then a tank bag is really comfortable! I have had friends ride my bike and they will tell me that the left bar is fitted differently from the right one. I guess that makes it a custom."