Handle bar Brace

[Rabbit chaser]

HI folks
I have just purchased a 2023 CT 125 Trail.
I have never been in a Forum before, so I am not familiar with the protocol. Please bear with me.
I am in the process of breaking the bike in and adding some accessories. So far I have installed the USB port. Waiting on baskets and Quad Lock stuff.
I have ordered 2 Handlebar braces. They have both sucked! Piss poor quality! About all they accomplished was scratching the heck out of the bars.

Would any of you have an Idea on where I could pick up a quality brace?

I am also looking for some kind of box to put on the back. I don't know if a collapsible one is the way to go or not.

Thanks for all your help!

 

[SneakyDingo]

I have ordered 2 Handlebar braces. They have both sucked! Piss poor quality! About all they accomplished was scratching the heck out of the bars.

Would any of you have an Idea on where I could pick up a quality brace?

Pinging @G19Tony for the model that he has. Tony will be taking off for the cannonball run fairly soon so replies may be delayed. Whatever model you get should have some sort of rubberized mount and shouldn't scratch the bars, or you should add such a component before installing.

I am also looking for some kind of box to put on the back. I don't know if a collapsible one is the way to go or not.

There's a bajillion crate threads on the forum. The general statement is:

• Givi style case: Expensive, not as good looking sometimes, not as common, most people seem happy with it.
• Folding crate: Most people seem happy with these, very few regret, make sure you have something like a bungee to hold it down when it's collapsed. Lots of people like this option and I think it's a big winner if you're not carrying something a lot of the time. Any model (Costco's Instacrate, etc.) will work making this one of the cheaper options.
• Regular crate: Comes in two varieties, the permanently bolted to the bike, and the kind where you can quick release remove it. I have the quick release variety via a Milwaukee Packout Plate + their Packout Crate. Makes it hard to swing a leg over the bike.
• Apache 4800 case, bolted to the back: For your enclosed yet not-too-tall closed and lockable storage.

You should also use 4x 5/16 x 1 1/2" washers when installing everything, available from Home Depot or equivalent, and the bolts are M6 bolts, length will vary depending on exactly what solution you're going to use. I originally used a milk crate I bolted to the bike, and that was with M6 x 40mm bolts.

 

[vintagegarage]

(ed.)
I have ordered 2 Handlebar braces. They have both sucked! Piss poor quality! About all they accomplished was scratching the heck out of the bars.

Please be specific, what handlebar braces did you try that sucked. I'd like to avoid buying them myself.. thanks.

 

[Rabbit chaser]

1 was the Aramox and the other was Yosoo Health Gear. "Motorcycle Balance Bar"
22mm,
Absolutely Junk!

 

[Rabbit chaser]

Sneaky
Thanks for the info.
I am liking the idea of lockable.

 

[vintagegarage]

1 was the Aramox and the other was Yosoo Health Gear. "Motorcycle Balance Bar"
22mm,
Absolutely Junk!

Rabbit chaser, thanks, much appreciated. I will avoid those. I have been using Motowolf crossbars with the compass in the middle, ordering them directly off the Motowolf web site. I think they ship from China, although they may have a forwarder in the US, so shipping costs are more reasonable than shipping from Japan or Thailand. When I track the shipment online, the tracking is somewhat ambiguous. I like them and they fit the Trail 125 very well. I hang a MOLLE bag off of them to carry small items. Unfortunately, even though the Crossbar with compass is still on their web site, the last two I ordered, one a month ago, and one a week ago, were both canceled as being not available. They did automatically refund my PayPal account when they canceled my order. I haven't tried ordering the plain one without the compass, so I don't know if those are in stock. I plan to try Kitaco next if Motowolf is also out of the plain ones.
https://www.motowolfstore.com/colle...f-universal-expansion-crossbar-for-motorcycle

 

[dmonkey]

I wrap the handlebar at each accessory mount point with black electrical tape to prevent scratches. It blends in well and comes off easy. The sticky residue it might leave behind can be removed by rubbing it with some isopropyl alcohol.

This Kitaco handle brace was a bit of a nuisance to get positioned correctly. Because both halves rotate to lengthen and shorten each side, it can take a lot of small adjustments to dial it in for the brace length that corresponds to the height of the position you want it on the handlebar, while also having the hex-shaped center point centered. I got the two sides adjusted to symmetrical lengths, and then let it mount where it wanted to while being level which was close enough to where I had wanted it that I wasn't going to spend any more time trying to perfect it. If you're covering it with a bar bag or just don't care about it being symmetrical then it will go on very quick and easy for you. No real quality issues beyond the quirky adjustment. It's sturdy but I certainly wouldn't trust putting your body weight on it or using it as a tie-down point for securing the motorcycle.



I didn't end up requiring the extra accessory real estate that it provides so I shuffled things around and removed it for now. Would consider putting it back on again if a nice handlebar bag were to tempt me and require it.

 

[Rabbit chaser]

Thanks Vintage
I just ordered one.

I wrap the handlebar at each accessory mount point with black electrical tape to prevent scratches. It blends in well and comes off easy. The sticky residue it might leave behind can be removed by rubbing it with some isopropyl alcohol.

This Kitaco handle brace was a bit of a nuisance to get positioned correctly. Because both halves rotate to lengthen and shorten each side, it can take a lot of small adjustments to dial it in for the brace length that corresponds to the height of the position you want it on the handlebar, while also having the hex-shaped center point centered. I got the two sides adjusted to symmetrical lengths, and then let it mount where it wanted to while being level which was close enough to where I had wanted it that I wasn't going to spend any more time trying to perfect it. If you're covering it with a bar bag or just don't care about it being symmetrical then it will go on very quick and easy for you. No real quality issues beyond the quirky adjustment. It's sturdy but I certainly wouldn't trust putting your body weight on it or using it as a tie-down point for securing the motorcycle.

View attachment 6390

I didn't end up requiring the extra accessory real estate that it provides so I shuffled things around and removed it for now. Would consider putting it back on again if a nice handlebar bag were to tempt me and require it.

Dmonkey
Plan A is to put it on simply to hold a Quad Lock.
I have ordered a basket for the front. Will have to see how that works out.
I bought this bike to stick on the back of my motorhome and Use going back and forth to work (3.8 miles).
I am sure, as I get to messing with it more and more , that I will stretch out on it.
Problem is, where I live in SE PA, if I take it on a couple of the main highways around here, I will get run over. Everybody here is in a hurry. I guess no different here that naywhere else.
Thanks for the info on the Kitaco.

 

[vintagegarage]

Rabbit chaser, I ordered a pair of the plain black ones from Motowolf last night before bed, partly just to see if they really have them. About $15 each, with $10 shipping for the pair, for a total of about $40. The next step will either be a shipping notice with tracking info, or a refund if they don't actually have them. Please report back if you get any notices from Motowolf one way or the other, thanks.

 

[mcmd]

Sneaky
Thanks for the info.
I am liking the idea of lockable.

I too, like the lockable case. Among other uses, it's nice to be able to lock your helmet inside when you go in a store, bank, etc. I have one of the GIVI cases and I'm quite happy with it. They have a pretty wide range of choices in terms of size and style. https://giviusa.com/

 

[Rabbit chaser]

Just thought I would fill you all in on my latest almost Mod.
I have hit the heal shifter a few times, when not expected. I guess because of these flippers attached to the bottom of my legs. Causing the clutch to slip.
I purchased a single shifting lever from Hammerhead. The site says for a Trail 125. I am guessing it would fit on an earlier year bike, but mine is a 23. It's not even close to fitting.
I also installed a Magnetic oil pan plug. That fit fine.
There ya go.

Still pondering the rear box.

Good riding.

 

[Animeimp]

This is the handlebar brace I am using: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B09HC6C6N4 - very solid, and gives me additional places to mount items.

The top box I share between all my bikes is this: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B09DL4BKHZ/ - good lock, and very easy to remove when I need larger carry surface.

If you decide to go with saddlebags also, while these are currently out of stock on Amazon you can find them on eBay and other places: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0BJVK8CMW - no instructions, but very easy to install and very solid! and keeps the bag off the muffler.

 

[Animeimp]

Just thought I would fill you all in on my latest almost Mod.
I have hit the heal shifter a few times, when not expected. I guess because of these flippers attached to the bottom of my legs. Causing the clutch to slip.
I purchased a single shifting lever from Hammerhead. The site says for a Trail 125. I am guessing it would fit on an earlier year bike, but mine is a 23. It's not even close to fitting.
I also installed a Magnetic oil pan plug. That fit fine.
There ya go.

Still pondering the rear box.

Good riding.

The '23 has a slightly different spline. What you can use is the stock shifter, but rotate it 3 splines clockwise, so the front is higher, and the rear is lower. Easier to toe the up shift then.

 

[Rabbit chaser]

The '23 has a slightly different spline. What you can use is the stock shifter, but rotate it 3 splines clockwise, so the front is higher, and the rear is lower. Easier to toe the up shift then.

Thanks Animeimp
Will give it a try.

 

[vintagegarage]

Rabbit chaser, I ordered a pair of the plain black ones from Motowolf last night before bed, partly just to see if they really have them. About $15 each, with $10 shipping for the pair, for a total of about $40. The next step will either be a shipping notice with tracking info, or a refund if they don't actually have them. Please report back if you get any notices from Motowolf one way or the other, thanks.

Still no word from Motowolf on the two plain crossbars I ordered 11 days ago. No shipping notice yet, and no automatic cancellation and refund like I was getting on the ones with the compass in the middle. I am still hoping that I will eventually get a shipping notice, or that the will show up at my door unexpectedly..

 

[Rabbit chaser]

I got a shipping notice from Motowolf on the 21 stating that my shipment was on the way. Nothing yet.

 

[Animeimp]

Thanks Animeimp
Will give it a try.

This video shows how to remove the shifter so you can turn it. it is rather easy and never actually have to take any parts off, just loosen.

 

[Rabbit chaser]

Ok
I just tracked my cross-bar order. Tracking indicated that it arrived at a US Airport on the 30th at 5:59. I guess it should show up this week. Will keep you posted.

I bought a Bauer Box at HF to stick on the back. No big deal attaching. Sneaky provided the bolt and washer info. I went with 30mm bolts instead of 40.
For future reference to anyone else that may go that same route. I have a Bell helmet with visor. With the visor up in position, the lid won't close all the way. I had to do a little Dremeling to the underside of the box lid so that it would close normally with the little visor screw attached. The visor can't be up!

I also ordered a Kryptonite chain. Any thoughts? It just pisses me off that we have to buy stuff to keep the animals from stealing our stuff!

Now I am looking for a cover for when it's on the back of my machine on the rack. Do any of you have any thoughts on that?

Thanks for all your advice. Beats the heck out of reinventing the wheel.

 

[vintagegarage]

I still haven't received a shipping notice on my Motowolf cross-bars. Maybe they will show up when yours does.

 

[Animeimp]

Ok
I just tracked my cross-bar order. Tracking indicated that it arrived at a US Airport on the 30th at 5:59. I guess it should show up this week. Will keep you posted.

I bought a Bauer Box at HF to stick on the back. No big deal attaching. Sneaky provided the bolt and washer info. I went with 30mm bolts instead of 40.
For future reference to anyone else that may go that same route. I have a Bell helmet with visor. With the visor up in position, the lid won't close all the way. I had to do a little Dremeling to the underside of the box lid so that it would close normally with the little visor screw attached. The visor can't be up!

I also ordered a Kryptonite chain. Any thoughts? It just pisses me off that we have to buy stuff to keep the animals from stealing our stuff!

Now I am looking for a cover for when it's on the back of my machine on the rack. Do any of you have any thoughts on that?

Thanks for all your advice. Beats the heck out of reinventing the wheel.

1: a cover for the Baur box? Or a bike cover? Many good ones on Amazon under $30
2: a chain a good, but make sure you chain it TO something.. the bike is so light that if they want it, they will lift it up and carry it away. Worse case get a concrete Eye bolt and sink it into your drive way, and chain to that.