how to bend handle-bar back safely ?

#1
Now that my hand is becoming usable after my catastrophic wheelie crash about a month ago, I'm starting to repair the damage to my bug. My right side handle-bar is slightly bent downwards at the bend next to the grip.
It's about an inch lower than the other grip. How can I bend it back up with the least amount of effort? The steel seems to be pretty strong and I still only have limited use of my right hand. HELP!!!!:sadcrying4:
 

fonz

New Member
#2
First take off the grip and throttle control. Second, you're gonna need about 2 feet of 1 to 1and quarter pipe for a "cheater". I would not try to bend it cold. Heat the area up with a propane torch. You want to get it red hot if possible. You may have to use one of the other types of fuel that are available now. Lowes, Home Depot all carry them. I doubt if you can get it red hot with propane....maybe....I never tried it. After you get the handle bar red hot, slide the cheater bar on and push-pull, whatever. It should move real easy. Of course your paint job is ruined and be careful of near by electrical ties, cables or anything plastic. You might want to keep a spray bottle of water handy if you can feel the heat traveling to near by plastic parts.
 
#3
Thanks Fonz. It looks like there is no way around re-finishing the bike. I dread that because it's powder coated and it's a real pain to remove the stuff. It has to be burned off (so I'm told). Oh well, I guess that's what I get for trying to pull a wheelie. Maybe my hand will be fully healed in another month so I have while to figure out what to do. POOP!:sadcrying4:
 

fonz

New Member
#4
Superior,
I'm just a junior member. There are others here much more qualified then myself to give you advise on your bent handle bar.. Although I'm a good machinist, I have done very little fabricating and no welding at all. With the powder coating at stake, I guess I would try bending it cold. I'm just afraid you might put a permanent "kink" in it, that will forever be a weak spot and susceptible for breakage. There is no real load on the handle bars though, so there's a strong chance you could get by with a cold bend. Use the cheater I described and maybe a screw shackle or "come-a-long". You would need at least one friend I would think to help with leverage.
Like I said. wait for another reply. Others here know a lot more then I do.
 
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#6
In my early dirt bike days, bent handle bars were second only to abraded skin. :lol:

One of my riding buddies Dad was an electrician & owned a conduit bender. That tool made my buddy very popular & busy. We never thought about adding heat to the bar. Just add a longer cheater on the tool if needed. :hack:

One thing I'm sure of... Once the bars were bent & then bent back to as close to original as we were able. They were at risk of being bent again very easily. The crash that originally bent the handlebars may have been a first class eat it. After straightening it wouldn't take near the impact to tweak them again.
 

george3

Active Member
#7
george3

how about a steel bar not pipe so you will not scratch the paint. if you ad heat it will make the metal brittle and possable break or crack later. you need to send pictures of where the bend is. and somebody here might be able to help.
 
#8
Thanks guys, My friend says I should just cut them off and put on risers (or clamps as he calls them) on it. Then I could put on what ever kind of bars I want. I dont have a welder but if that stuff could be bolted on, it might be the way to go. Whaddaya think?:scooter:
 
#9
Thanks guys, My friend says I should just cut them off and put on risers (or clamps as he calls them) on it. Then I could put on what ever kind of bars I want. I dont have a welder but if that stuff could be bolted on, it might be the way to go. Whaddaya think?:scooter:

i have always wanted to do that. but im not willing to commit to that kind of modification. the biggest problem i could see would be getting a comfortable height with out looking funny.
 
#10
id just slide a steel rod in the end and tweek it back. You might have to keep pressure on it with the other hand to keep it from bending where you dont want it too. The powdercoat should be ok if it isnt cracked already
 
#13
i just want to add that powder coat (or the powder coat i have delt with) dosent have to be burned of or anything. just get a low grit sand paper (i used 60 i belive) and just sand it down. then use a higher grit to blend any scratches in the metal.
 
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