Stock replacement handlebar install

[moorepowersports]

Hey guys...

Just picked up this 1999 Wolverine 350 and I have been doing a few odds and ends to get it back up to snuff. It must have been tipped over or rolled at some point in its life because the bars were tweaked a bit. I was thinking about doing risers and 1-1/8 Pro Taper motocross bars, but I haven't decided if I'm going to keep it or re-sell it... so I went with the safe option.

I chose a set of CMP Honda bend handlebars. (they offer a honda bend or polaris, and i'm not a fan of the polaris bend) Installation is pretty straight-forward, but I haven't seen a lot of tutorials or anything on this site so I gave it a whack. Captions are at the bottom of the pictures...

Step 1: Remove the old controls. Requires a 10mm wrench/socket and a phillips screwdriver.

Step 2: Pop off the handlbar cover by giving it a careful pull, and set it off to the side to expose the handlebar clamps. You will need a 12mm to remove them.

A quick comparison of the bends... you will notice that they are a bit different, but honestly it beats having a crossbar in your way(covering the key and reverse switch) like you would with a generic 7/8" atv bar. They are about 20 bucks cheaper than OEM and readily available from any local aftermarket parts vendors.

Step 3: Reinstall the new handlebars. There are locating lines stamped into the clamping portion of the bars so you can easily center them left to right... this also helps in keeping the bars from moving. When tightening the clamps on the handlebars, you should always tighten the front of the clamps first so the gap is smaller in the front than the back. It is also a good idea to sit on the seat and put the bars where they feel right before you tighten them fully. I found this particular bend to really make a difference in feel as it was rotated forward and back a very small amount.

 

[moorepowersports]

Step 4: Scuff the portion of the handlebars where the grips mount with some really coarse sand paper. I used some 40 grit I had kicking around. This will make a big difference in how well the grips stick.

Step 5: Remount your controls where they feel good and function properly. Make sure the levers don't snag on anything and that they aren't hanging awkwardly off the end of the bars like I always seem to see. Install your grips with your favorite style glue(I use a liquid gasket sealant) and admire your job well done.

 

[moorepowersports]

This would cost about $40 bucks and takes maybe a half hour if you are taking pictures step by step haha.

 

[b_700x]

Awesome little write-up, thanks for taking the time to do it! :tup: