When you talk about accesories for your Suzuki Intruder, what do you think of first? I'm betting you don't think of Suzuki Intruder hand grips, do you? No, I bet you think of getting some motorcycle saddlebags, or maybe some new Suzuki Intruder handlebars, even. You probably entertain the idea of getting a custom paintjob for your gas tank, don't you?
But I would be surprised if you gave the handgrips much thought. You should though, and here's why:
Suzuki Intruder Hand Grips
There's nothing wrong with the stock handgrips that come on the Suzuki Intruder. In fact, I rather like them. They look good, they feel good, and they're comfortable enough on a long ride. But what if you want to customize your stock Intruder grips? Or worse yet, what if you find a great deal on an older Intruder (say, a 1986 Suzuki VS700 Intruder) and the rubber handgrips are torn up or rotted away? There's only thing you can do:
Buy new Intruder hand grips, of course!
But what kind do you buy? You can get replacement handgrips from a dealer, but I find that most dealer only replacement parts are too costly when you can just as easily get something with a lot more personality in the aftermarket segment.
Where do you get these new Intruder handgrips? From anywhere, really. I would look online for them, though, as you'll probably find them a lot cheaper from an online dealer than you would from your local Suzuki dealer.
What Suzuki Intruder Hand Grip Choices Do You Have?
You can get hand grips made specifically for the Suzuki Intruder. I've seen some great looking grips out there that are Intruder specific. All the way from solid chromed metal with maybe some nice, etched designs to chromed grips with rubber inserts to keep your hand cushioned from vibration and afford a little extra grip.
For that matter, if you really like them or you're trying to restore your motorcycle, then you can always go ahead and get Suzuki Intruder stock replacement grips, as well.
There are, however, other choices available. As long as the diameter is the same, nearly any grip will work.
What Grips Fit A Suzuki Intruder?
Because the Suzuki Intruder handlebars are one inch diameter, this means that in addition to the Suzuki Grips made for the Intruder, you have a huge selection of custom handle grips made for Harley's (which also have one inch handlebars) to choose from.
While the accessories for the Japanese cruiser market have come a long way over the last ten years or so, from what I can tell, there hasn't been much support for the older style cruisers, especially the Suzuki Intruders. It's a shame, really, but it's good to know that as you're a little bit mechanically inclined you can find plenty of Intruder accessories for you motorcycle that aren't neccessarily made for the Suzuki Intruder.
And when it comes to handgrips and handlebars, thanks to Harley there's a bucket load of them available.
So next time you're out looking for new accessories for your Intruder, make sure you don't overlook the handle grips. Take a good look around online, too. You'll find plenty of resources for your Suzuki Intruder Hand Grips.
Showing posts with label Custom Motorcycle. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Custom Motorcycle. Show all posts
Suzuki Intruder Handlebars
A post about Suzuki Intruder Handlebars?
You bet!
You may be thinking to yourself, "Why is he posting about this? What's so siginificant about handlebars that they deserve their own page?" I'll you, there's plenty of significance there, as we will soon see.
Stock Suzuki Intruder Handlebars
If you're intersted in different styles of handlebars for your Intruder, than you don't really have to look any further than the past and present selection of stock handlebars. In fact, just off the top of my head, I can think of three different styles of which you can choose.
Drag Bars
I know you've seen this style before: The bar is either a straight or slightly bent piece of usually chromed pipe that extends out a short distance from the risers in a flat path. Generally, a different set of risers is needed when using this setup because most stock risers are too short and will cause the handgrips to hit the gas tank when turning fully.
Not many stock cruisers come with them, but sometimes you can get them as an option. I believe that unless it is a specialty or custom motorcycle then most riders would rather something a little less extreme and since the drag bars need high risers, most companies will only offer one choice. Also, like many things, styles fade in and out of fashion.
An example of a cruiser that offered drag bars as an option was the 1986 VS700 Intruder.
Ape Hanger Handlebars or Chopper Style Bars
These are my favorites and I believe it this style that suits the Suzuki Intruder best.
Ape hanger handlebars are the kinds of bars you see on all the old choppers in all the old chopper movies. You also see them on a lot of custom cruisers (including the Intruders) riding the roads these days, as well. They are tall and need no special risers--the stock ones will do just fine. Of course, if you get custom ape-hangers then you might need longer brake and clutch cables but that's a whole nother story!
Now, the stock Intruder ape hangers are not extreme like what you would see on many customs, but they do fit the chopper-esque profile of the motorcycle quite well. They can be positioned in several ways to afford a comfortable ride for most people.
This is the style that most all of the Intruders came with, including the Suzuki VS1400 and the Suzuki VS800 Intruder.
Classic Style Low and Wide Bars
Ah, my least favorite stock style. I will not dwell on these long as I feel they do not fit in line with a stock Intruder (though I have seen some nice customs that implement them well!). These are a relatively new addition to the Intruders and I believe is Suzuki's attempt at trying to appeal to the "classic" crowd.
A Handy Tip For Custom Handlebars
If you're looking for something a little different (or a lot!) then I suggest you take a look at the American made motorcycles. They have one-inch handlebars just like the Suzuki's do. And if you look up any Harley dealer, you'll find a very wide selection to choose from.
I know this only scratched the surface of Suzuki Intruder Handlebars, but I hope it gave you a good idea of what's on offer.
You bet!
You may be thinking to yourself, "Why is he posting about this? What's so siginificant about handlebars that they deserve their own page?" I'll you, there's plenty of significance there, as we will soon see.
Stock Suzuki Intruder Handlebars
If you're intersted in different styles of handlebars for your Intruder, than you don't really have to look any further than the past and present selection of stock handlebars. In fact, just off the top of my head, I can think of three different styles of which you can choose.
- Drag Bars
- Chopper Style Bars
- Low and Wide Bars
Drag Bars
I know you've seen this style before: The bar is either a straight or slightly bent piece of usually chromed pipe that extends out a short distance from the risers in a flat path. Generally, a different set of risers is needed when using this setup because most stock risers are too short and will cause the handgrips to hit the gas tank when turning fully.
Not many stock cruisers come with them, but sometimes you can get them as an option. I believe that unless it is a specialty or custom motorcycle then most riders would rather something a little less extreme and since the drag bars need high risers, most companies will only offer one choice. Also, like many things, styles fade in and out of fashion.
An example of a cruiser that offered drag bars as an option was the 1986 VS700 Intruder.
Ape Hanger Handlebars or Chopper Style Bars
These are my favorites and I believe it this style that suits the Suzuki Intruder best.
Ape hanger handlebars are the kinds of bars you see on all the old choppers in all the old chopper movies. You also see them on a lot of custom cruisers (including the Intruders) riding the roads these days, as well. They are tall and need no special risers--the stock ones will do just fine. Of course, if you get custom ape-hangers then you might need longer brake and clutch cables but that's a whole nother story!
Now, the stock Intruder ape hangers are not extreme like what you would see on many customs, but they do fit the chopper-esque profile of the motorcycle quite well. They can be positioned in several ways to afford a comfortable ride for most people.
This is the style that most all of the Intruders came with, including the Suzuki VS1400 and the Suzuki VS800 Intruder.
Classic Style Low and Wide Bars
Ah, my least favorite stock style. I will not dwell on these long as I feel they do not fit in line with a stock Intruder (though I have seen some nice customs that implement them well!). These are a relatively new addition to the Intruders and I believe is Suzuki's attempt at trying to appeal to the "classic" crowd.
A Handy Tip For Custom Handlebars
If you're looking for something a little different (or a lot!) then I suggest you take a look at the American made motorcycles. They have one-inch handlebars just like the Suzuki's do. And if you look up any Harley dealer, you'll find a very wide selection to choose from.
I know this only scratched the surface of Suzuki Intruder Handlebars, but I hope it gave you a good idea of what's on offer.
What about my suzuki VS700 intruder?
I was asked a question the other day by a motorcycle rider friend of mine that I had not seen in many years. He asked me:
What about my Suzuki Intruder VS700?
Did I still ride it? Did it still look the same? Was it still a hot looking customized Japanese cruiser?
Yes, yes, and yes, I answered him.
But those three answers weren't quite the truth... You see, while my Intruder still looks the same and is still a hot looking customized Japanese cruiser, I unfortunately haven't been able to ride it lately... Why? Because the last time I tried to take it out for a spin, it wouldn't even start. I looked at the engine and discovered the rear carburetor was just spitting and overflowing with fuel. Turns out I need to replace the diaphragms and possible the needles as well. Unfortunately, this is a long, time consuming and not altogether inexpensive project.
Now, it wasn't an entire lie... I still ride, just not this particular custom Suzuki Intruder at this particular point in time!
Still, the question did get me thinking: Here I am telling all of you about these great motorcycles but I haven't told you anything at all really about mine. For all you know, I might not even have a ride, let alone a cool one!
So where were we? Oh yes, what about my suzuki VS700 intruder? I'll tell you: it's awesome.
The Suzuki Intruder Handlebars
It's a 1986 model and while it originally had the drag bar I replaced it with the ape-hangers handlebars (not true ape hangers, mind you, but styled after them--in fact, these have the look but are much more manageable) that came on other models of the same motorcycle. Many people prefer the dragbars but I myself like the look and feel of the chopper-style bars.
The Wire Wheels
It also has the true aluminum wire wheels as opposed to the mag wheels made to simulate wire wheels. While this makes for more expensive and labor intensive tire changes (because not only do you have to the tires but you need to also replace the innertube as well), I feel the trade off is much more than worth it when it comes to the aesthetics of the overall package. Afterall, you don't put mags on an old school styled chopper/cruiser!
The Custom Paintjob
The factory paintjob was black and let me tell you, when I say it was black, it was black! The gas tank (obviously); the frame; the radiator cover; the front fender; the rear fender; the side covers--all a glossy black. There's nothing wrong with this color scheme, but I wanted something a little more "me," a little more "custom." So I took it apart, sanded everything down, repainted it a nicer colored-black and then added traditional flames to the front fender, side covers, and gas tank. On the rear fender, I added my own little logo using the same color-scheme as the flames. All in all, it turned out to be a real looker!
The Chrome
Now when I bought this motorcycle it wasn't in the best of shape, but it wasn't bad, either. Like most older model motorcycles, though, the chrome left something to be desired. It was pitted and the bare parts underneath were either rusted or corroded. The chromed plastic pieces left something to be desired as well. After fixing everything else, these parts looked even worse! Unfortunately, as you all know, refinishing chrome motorcycle parts is not an inexpensive adventure by any means.
So I had a bit of a brainstorm.
Instead of refinishing them, I painted them flat-black! The engine cases, the valve covers, the triple trees, the risers... Much to my surprise, it started to look so good that I continued the theme and customized the rest of the Intruder in midnight accents whether it needed it or not. I think this more than anything made the ride stand out from the crowd!
The Extra Stuff
I got rid of the ugly back fender and replaced it with a unique fiberglas one from Highway Hawk. I don't know if they make it anymore, but instead of having one huge breaklight, it's got two nice round ones that tuck in under the fender. I also removed the sissy bar. I changed out the square mirrors for some oval mirrors. I also got rid of the two-into-two stock exhaust and threw on a two-into-one DG/Hard Krome guarnanteed never to blue slashcut system. A new seat and a set of saddlebags and a toolbag later and I was in imported hog heaven!
Until I can get my camera working and get some pictures up, from now on, whenever anyone asks me, What about my suzuki VS700 intruder? I can point them to my Suzuki Intruder Resource blog and they can compare this post with my stock Suzuki Intruder VS700 post to get an idea of jsut what can be done to a not so ordinary cruiser with just a little imagination.
What about my Suzuki Intruder VS700?
Did I still ride it? Did it still look the same? Was it still a hot looking customized Japanese cruiser?
Yes, yes, and yes, I answered him.
But those three answers weren't quite the truth... You see, while my Intruder still looks the same and is still a hot looking customized Japanese cruiser, I unfortunately haven't been able to ride it lately... Why? Because the last time I tried to take it out for a spin, it wouldn't even start. I looked at the engine and discovered the rear carburetor was just spitting and overflowing with fuel. Turns out I need to replace the diaphragms and possible the needles as well. Unfortunately, this is a long, time consuming and not altogether inexpensive project.
Now, it wasn't an entire lie... I still ride, just not this particular custom Suzuki Intruder at this particular point in time!
Still, the question did get me thinking: Here I am telling all of you about these great motorcycles but I haven't told you anything at all really about mine. For all you know, I might not even have a ride, let alone a cool one!
So where were we? Oh yes, what about my suzuki VS700 intruder? I'll tell you: it's awesome.
The Suzuki Intruder Handlebars
It's a 1986 model and while it originally had the drag bar I replaced it with the ape-hangers handlebars (not true ape hangers, mind you, but styled after them--in fact, these have the look but are much more manageable) that came on other models of the same motorcycle. Many people prefer the dragbars but I myself like the look and feel of the chopper-style bars.
The Wire Wheels
It also has the true aluminum wire wheels as opposed to the mag wheels made to simulate wire wheels. While this makes for more expensive and labor intensive tire changes (because not only do you have to the tires but you need to also replace the innertube as well), I feel the trade off is much more than worth it when it comes to the aesthetics of the overall package. Afterall, you don't put mags on an old school styled chopper/cruiser!
The Custom Paintjob
The factory paintjob was black and let me tell you, when I say it was black, it was black! The gas tank (obviously); the frame; the radiator cover; the front fender; the rear fender; the side covers--all a glossy black. There's nothing wrong with this color scheme, but I wanted something a little more "me," a little more "custom." So I took it apart, sanded everything down, repainted it a nicer colored-black and then added traditional flames to the front fender, side covers, and gas tank. On the rear fender, I added my own little logo using the same color-scheme as the flames. All in all, it turned out to be a real looker!
The Chrome
Now when I bought this motorcycle it wasn't in the best of shape, but it wasn't bad, either. Like most older model motorcycles, though, the chrome left something to be desired. It was pitted and the bare parts underneath were either rusted or corroded. The chromed plastic pieces left something to be desired as well. After fixing everything else, these parts looked even worse! Unfortunately, as you all know, refinishing chrome motorcycle parts is not an inexpensive adventure by any means.
So I had a bit of a brainstorm.
Instead of refinishing them, I painted them flat-black! The engine cases, the valve covers, the triple trees, the risers... Much to my surprise, it started to look so good that I continued the theme and customized the rest of the Intruder in midnight accents whether it needed it or not. I think this more than anything made the ride stand out from the crowd!
The Extra Stuff
I got rid of the ugly back fender and replaced it with a unique fiberglas one from Highway Hawk. I don't know if they make it anymore, but instead of having one huge breaklight, it's got two nice round ones that tuck in under the fender. I also removed the sissy bar. I changed out the square mirrors for some oval mirrors. I also got rid of the two-into-two stock exhaust and threw on a two-into-one DG/Hard Krome guarnanteed never to blue slashcut system. A new seat and a set of saddlebags and a toolbag later and I was in imported hog heaven!
Until I can get my camera working and get some pictures up, from now on, whenever anyone asks me, What about my suzuki VS700 intruder? I can point them to my Suzuki Intruder Resource blog and they can compare this post with my stock Suzuki Intruder VS700 post to get an idea of jsut what can be done to a not so ordinary cruiser with just a little imagination.
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