Bar Weight Removal

[Colorado Trail]

The internal bar weights on these bikes are weirdly large and a pain to remove, you might need to pull them out to install different bar weights or install handguards, here is a quick way to do it that doesn't require any special tools, although it does go more easily with a small impact driver.

Step 1 - remove bar weight
Step 2 - insert 18mm socket under grip
Step 3 - place washer over bar weight screw
Step 4 - thread screw through the center of the socket
Step 5 - tighten screw until the internal weight bottoms out on the socket
Step 6 - remove screw, washer, and socket
Step 7 - thread screw back into weight and start pulling, the rubber grommets on the weights will fight you a bit, but all in all, it's not terrible

 

[dmonkey]

Nice to see more methods of getting those suckers out! I didn't have luck peeling back the grips like Barkbusters had recommended, so I used a flathead screwdriver to pry at the release clips.

Removing bar ends

I'm someone out there in CT125 land has done it. Any info would be cool. 🤔 Cheers.

hondatrail125.com

 

[Colorado Trail]

I'm glad to see that it went much more easily for you. The clips on mine were pressed further in, so the only screwdrivers that could get to them were too thin to pry with, there is also some grip glue spilled over that you can see in one of the pictures. Hopefully most people have an easier time with it than I did.

 

[AZ7000']

Besides bark busters is there a reason to remove them?

 

[Colorado Trail]

Not unless you want different bar ends, I did it to install Barkbusters.

 

[dmonkey]

Or if you were transferring them to different handlebars.
Having swapped out the grips, throttle tube, and installed heated grips - all of those can be done by removing just the outer part of the bar ends and leaving the threaded insert inside the bars, which is an easier task.

 

[OlderNow]

Or if you were transferring them to different handlebars.
Having swapped out the grips, throttle tube, and installed heated grips - all of those can be done by removing just the outer part of the bar ends and leaving the threaded insert inside the bars, which is an easier task.

Hello. A follow-up question.
What is the purpose of the handlebar weights? Are there conditions underwhich different weights -- heavier or lighter -- would be desirable?
Thanks.

 

[SneakyDingo]

Hello. A follow-up question.
What is the purpose of the handlebar weights? Are there conditions underwhich different weights -- heavier or lighter -- would be desirable?
Thanks.

Usually when I see someone adding bar weights, it's to reduce handlebar vibration from the engine. Prolonged exposure to vibrations will make your hands go numb and potentially cause nerve damage. For example, I made a wrong mistake while bikepacking for a single day on bumpy roads and had nerve damage that took 6 months to heal, but almost didn't heal at all. Pins and needles like my fingers were on fire for 6 months.

While not applicable to this bike, another benefit is that it can smooth out some of the shaky parts of high speed handling this motorcycle is not subjected to. If you're rolling at 300 km/h, turbulence around the motorcycle can cause the bars to shake slightly. If it resonates, this can make for serious safety issues. The bar weights will dampen any minor vibrations, including those ones. I've experienced this at top speed on the Ninja 250 with a double bubble windshield under certain wind conditions. The windshield would vibrate, that would extend to the bars, and you ended up fighting the bars a little.

By adjusting the weight, you can effectively tune the bike to have a better or worse handlebar response depending on the speeds. While you'd expect heavier weights to have better vibration dampening, if you imagine making it out of depleted Uranium but the same volume (i.e. it weighs substantially heavier), that object is now going to stay completely static while the rest of the bars vibrate around it. What you're looking for is the goldilocks of bar weights: not too heavy, not too light. Weight reduction on the motorcycle is not a good reason, since they only weigh about 50-150g.

EDIT: I forgot one more thing. You asked for conditions where different weights would be more desirable. Example reasons on this bike would include: swapping the bars for different bars with a different vibration response, adding reinforcement to the bars that change their characteristics, and doing the big bore kit swap and finding too much vibration.

 

[G19Tony]

Nice to see more methods of getting those suckers out! I didn't have luck peeling back the grips like Barkbusters had recommended, so I used a flathead screwdriver to pry at the release clips.

Removing bar ends

I'm someone out there in CT125 land has done it. Any info would be cool. 🤔 Cheers.

hondatrail125.com

I was able to peel back the grips a bit, and it took two flat blade screwdrivers to release the tabs. All told, it took about 5 minutes to get the bar weights out. I wish I could have remove the screw on the bar end. I would have liked to but the bar weights back in, along with the Barkbusters.

 

[dmonkey]

Barkbusters sells bar end weights that fit their 2-point mount system if you're looking to add some.

Accessory – Bar End Weight (EXT) - Barkbusters Moto

barkbusters.net

 

[G19Tony]

Barkbusters sells bar end weights that fit their 2-point mount system if you're looking to add some.

Accessory – Bar End Weight (EXT) - Barkbusters Moto

barkbusters.net

I bought them, when I got the Barkbusters. I just thought it would be cool to reuse the OEM bar weights.

 

[dmonkey]

The OE ones are certainly heavier (and not something extra to buy!) I measured them at ~330g each including the bar end hardware, while the Barkbuster weights are advertised as ~180g. Not quite an apples to apples comparison though since the weight is in different places, the Barkbusters hardware adds other weight, and the Barkbusters create drag when in motion.

 

[G19Tony]

The OE ones are certainly heavier (and not something extra to buy!) I measured them at ~330g each including the bar end hardware, while the Barkbuster weights are advertised as ~180g. Not quite an apples to apples comparison though since the weight is in different places, the Barkbusters hardware adds other weight, and the Barkbusters create drag when in motion.

The drag doesn't bother me, as we aren't exactly breaking any speed records.

 

[Chuck125Trail]

Colorado Trail many thanks for the info on how to remove the handlebar weights. I too wanted to put on Brush Guards and I fought the weights for a half hour. I then thought of looking on the Forum. Your instructions worked awesome!​

 

[Colorado Trail]

Chuck125Trail, I'm glad that the instructions were helpful, have fun out there.

 

[Chuck125Trail]

Again many thanks for the info. Today was my put on Accessories day. Bark busters, center rack and High Clearance front fender kit.

 

[G19Tony]

Nice to see more methods of getting those suckers out! I didn't have luck peeling back the grips like Barkbusters had recommended, so I used a flathead screwdriver to pry at the release clips.

Removing bar ends

I'm someone out there in CT125 land has done it. Any info would be cool. 🤔 Cheers.

hondatrail125.com

I was able to roll the grips back a bit. Two flat blade screwdrivers on the tabs, and I had both off in less than 5 minutes.

 

[TRF90]

Just to reignite an old thread, there is an even easier way to get the bar ends and weights out. Get a can of WD-40 and spray while twisting the bar end. Twist, spray, pull. Keep that up and they will be out in a minute or so each. There are two rubber grommets that benefit from a little lubrication to get them to begin to slide outward.

 

[DaleT]

Installed Barkbusters last night and followed "Colorado Trails" steps/method posted above. Worked like a charm!
Many thanks sir!!!

 

[ol mike]

I bought some $15 mirrors that mount on the end of the bars,, is there anything made today that is easy to work on > everything is a fight. Everything has to be researched - thank goodness for this website . It's no wonder motorcycle shops charge the amount they do.
When a person sees a Phillips head screw he thinks a Phillips screwdriver will remove it by turning it counterclockwise . Nope - it always has to have some silly useless gadgetry