Highway Bars

CX Customization and Modifications

Highway Bars


DaveNearAtlanta 06-08-2007, 7:43 PM
This is one accessory wanted by almost everyone who racks up long miles on these bikes.  I've seen quite a few solutions - some are much better than others.

Let's post a few of them here in this thread.

Here's one I like.  I don't know who made it.


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1982 GL500I
1983 GL650I

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Re: Highway Bars


DaveNearAtlanta 06-08-2007, 7:50 PM
Here's another.


My Home Page
1981 GL500I
1982 GL500I
1983 GL650I

This User ID is no longer used. DaveF is my new User ID.

Re: Highway Bars


DaveNearAtlanta 06-08-2007, 7:54 PM
A floorboard version.


My Home Page
1981 GL500I
1982 GL500I
1983 GL650I

This User ID is no longer used. DaveF is my new User ID.

Re: Highway Bars


DaveNearAtlanta 06-08-2007, 8:01 PM
This one looks like it would drag during cornering.

My Home Page
1981 GL500I
1982 GL500I
1983 GL650I

This User ID is no longer used. DaveF is my new User ID.

Re: Highway Bars


DaveNearAtlanta 06-08-2007, 8:08 PM
Another one.


My Home Page
1981 GL500I
1982 GL500I
1983 GL650I

This User ID is no longer used. DaveF is my new User ID.

Re: Highway Bars


DaveNearAtlanta 06-08-2007, 8:14 PM
Yet another one.


My Home Page
1981 GL500I
1982 GL500I
1983 GL650I

This User ID is no longer used. DaveF is my new User ID.

Re: Highway Bars


DaveNearAtlanta 06-08-2007, 8:22 PM
Here's one that uses a set of rear passenger pegs.  This one has been known to drag during hard cornering and is therefore dangerous.


My Home Page
1981 GL500I
1982 GL500I
1983 GL650I

This User ID is no longer used. DaveF is my new User ID.

Re: Highway Bars


DaveNearAtlanta 06-08-2007, 8:27 PM
Here's another.


My Home Page
1981 GL500I
1982 GL500I
1983 GL650I

This User ID is no longer used. DaveF is my new User ID.

Re: Highway Bars


DaveNearAtlanta 06-08-2007, 8:44 PM
And another.


My Home Page
1981 GL500I
1982 GL500I
1983 GL650I

This User ID is no longer used. DaveF is my new User ID.

Re: Highway Bars


Anonymous 06-08-2007, 9:48 PM
Where can I get the crah bars in this photo...I really like the floorboard look.

Thanks,

Bill

Re: Highway Bars


DaveNearAtlanta 06-09-2007, 5:03 AM
I don't know where to get the floorboard version.  These are mostly photos I've found on the 'net.

Here's more.


My Home Page
1981 GL500I
1982 GL500I
1983 GL650I

This User ID is no longer used. DaveF is my new User ID.

Re: Highway Bars


DaveNearAtlanta 06-09-2007, 5:12 AM
Floorboards.




My Home Page
1981 GL500I
1982 GL500I
1983 GL650I

This User ID is no longer used. DaveF is my new User ID.

Re: Highway Bars


DaveNearAtlanta 06-09-2007, 5:25 AM

My Home Page
1981 GL500I
1982 GL500I
1983 GL650I

This User ID is no longer used. DaveF is my new User ID.

Re: Highway Bars


DaveNearAtlanta 06-09-2007, 5:31 AM

My Home Page
1981 GL500I
1982 GL500I
1983 GL650I

This User ID is no longer used. DaveF is my new User ID.

Re: Highway Bars


DaveNearAtlanta 06-09-2007, 5:40 AM
This is what I'm currently using.  With a sleeping bag on the seat behind me, I can recline.  I'll probably be adding a lower set of pegs in the near future to allow my legs to stretch as well.


My Home Page
1981 GL500I
1982 GL500I
1983 GL650I

This User ID is no longer used. DaveF is my new User ID.

Re: Highway Bars


Harold 06-10-2007, 7:28 AM
I was thinking about trying to fit a set of these, only $10.00 or less at epay (search ebay stores for,,,  cx500 pegs )





"People are more violently opposed to fur than leather because it's safer to harass rich women than biker gangs."

1978 CX500
1980 CX500 Custom
1981 CX500 Custom
1982 GL500 Silverwing
1975 XL-100
http://www.myspace.com/downwiththebutterfly

Re: Highway Bars


Phil in VT 06-10-2007, 10:00 AM
What would you attach them to?
82 Honda GL 500 SilverWing Trike "Old Yeller"
06 Suzuki S 50 Boulevard Cruiser





ANY WARM DAY ABOVE GROUND IS A GOOD ONE
(unknown senior citizen)


Springfield, VT

Re: Highway Bars


Isaac 06-10-2007, 6:51 PM
I see Phil's obsession with spread eagle riding continues unabated.

I wonder how many guys on here use these bikes as full blown cross-country tourers?

I create steel Frankensteins.

Re: Highway Bars


WayneDW 06-10-2007, 7:14 PM
Isaac,
Some of us, I have. Go to the "traveling friends" section and find Dave near Atlanta's posting about his Alaska trip. He's been there and back on his. Of course, we're talking about the Interstates, primarily, not the CX500's. Though my bro-in-law took his Custom to Colorado and back, back in the 80's. I will admit he turned it in for a Silverwing Interstate the next year.
The Silverwing Interstate is a fine touring bike, IMO. You can put on the miles on the way to the mountains and still have a nice nimble bike in the switchbacks once you get there. The highway pegs add ons are a necessity to make the long days bearable.
I've got mine mounted on the outside of my crash bars, high enough to not scrape in the twisties.

Wayne
Wayne
1983 GL650 Silverwing Interstate

WWW.fossilapostles.com

Re: Highway Bars


Isaac 06-10-2007, 7:49 PM
That's pretty cool. I wonder how much it costs per mile to ride one of these things touring style like that.

I create steel Frankensteins.

Re: Highway Bars


Harold 06-10-2007, 9:05 PM
Phil, I was going to bend a piece of half-inch iron pipe into the shape of (roughly) handlebars,  then weld nuts on the ends of it that the pegs I pictured would thread into. They would mount much the same as the first set that Dave posted.
__          __
    \____/



"People are more violently opposed to fur than leather because it's safer to harass rich women than biker gangs."

1978 CX500
1980 CX500 Custom
1981 CX500 Custom
1982 GL500 Silverwing
1975 XL-100
http://www.myspace.com/downwiththebutterfly

Re: Highway Bars


Isaac 06-10-2007, 10:02 PM
That's a good idea. Of course most of these ideas involve a few minutes of drilling and welding. You could essentially slide a 2X4 across the front of the bike, ziptie it on, and have highway pegs.

I create steel Frankensteins.

Re: Highway Bars


Phil in VT 06-11-2007, 3:13 AM

Harold,

   That shape is almost exactly what we did for my Son in law's GL 650.  We heated and bent a piece of 3/4" solid square bar stock and welded tabs on to mount it to the engine.  Then just cut off each end leaving enough bar to drive a rubber foot-peg cover on.


82 Honda GL 500 SilverWing Trike "Old Yeller"
06 Suzuki S 50 Boulevard Cruiser





ANY WARM DAY ABOVE GROUND IS A GOOD ONE
(unknown senior citizen)


Springfield, VT

Re: Highway Bars


Anonymous 06-11-2007, 6:18 AM

Isaac,

my fully loaded GL500 with rider and passenger at posted highway speeds gets 50 miles per gallon, so 1 gallon @ $3.00 divided by 50 = .06 cents per mile.  That's what I call economy, and my  800cc Boulevard gets 65 mpg fully loaded saddlebags and duffle bag.

Re: Highway Bars


Phil in VT 06-11-2007, 6:20 AM
That last post was me. I cleared cookies this morning and forgot to log in.
82 Honda GL 500 SilverWing Trike "Old Yeller"
06 Suzuki S 50 Boulevard Cruiser





ANY WARM DAY ABOVE GROUND IS A GOOD ONE
(unknown senior citizen)


Springfield, VT

Re: Highway Bars


enriquez 06-11-2007, 6:22 AM
Here's what I did with a set of stock driver pegs on my Custom.  Did a 320 mile ride roundtrip to the beach this weekend with them and they were so very nice.  I leaned my bike as far as I could without dropping it and the pegs never touched.

_Scott


1979 CX500 Custom

Re: Highway Bars


TechJD 06-11-2007, 11:31 AM
Looks like I have the most different style Crash-Bar / Highway Pegs setup here
Guess thats one of the reasons it won Most Unusal Bike




1981 GL500I

Re: Highway Bars


scoty777 06-11-2007, 11:32 AM
Hey Phil, How do like you Boulavard? I looked at one, almost got it, but I was too cheap.
1981 CX500-D
Here is a test to see if your life mission is over; if you are alive, it isn't.

Re: Highway Bars


Phil in VT 06-11-2007, 12:17 PM
I'm still having a passionate affair with the Boulevard.  Loving it.
82 Honda GL 500 SilverWing Trike "Old Yeller"
06 Suzuki S 50 Boulevard Cruiser





ANY WARM DAY ABOVE GROUND IS A GOOD ONE
(unknown senior citizen)


Springfield, VT

Re: Highway Bars


RichNCT 06-12-2007, 10:12 AM
TechJD, Your crashbars are mounted backwards, but don't take that as a criticism, it looks like it works good in that orientation.  Normally, the two tabs seen on the bottom would would face rearward and bolt to 3/16 x 1" flat bars with a 90° welded tab on the other ends that bolts to the H-box mounting bolts.
Born to be relatively wild

Re: Highway Bars


RichNCT 06-12-2007, 10:19 AM

"I'm still having a passionate affair with the Boulevard.  Loving it." 

Phil,    It's still cheating, nothing but a tawdry affair and in your heart of hearts you know it.   I pity 'Ol Yeller's broken heart.  I hope she is big enough to forgive you when you come to your senses.  Rusty was and I pledged never to stray again.


Born to be relatively wild

Re: Highway Bars


TechJD 06-12-2007, 11:38 AM
 RichNCT wrote:
TechJD, Your crashbars are mounted backwards, but don't take that as a criticism, it looks like it works good in that orientation.  Normally, the two tabs seen on the bottom would would face rearward and bolt to 3/16 x 1" flat bars with a 90° welded tab on the other ends that bolts to the H-box mounting bolts.


Yea I figured they probably mounted that way but this way gives me 3" more leg room :) and at 6'4" with a 34" inseam
it makes a comfortable ride with my feet up :) .

I didnt get the original mounts with it so I made mine out of 3/8 x 1 inflat bar and covered it with 1" alumin flat bar
I ended up with one a little off but didnt have any more flat bar so it has to do for now :)

1981 GL500I

My version


RichD 06-15-2007, 9:28 PM

Another angle

 

 



Rich DeMartile

My version


RichD 06-15-2007, 9:36 PM

Angle iron with ears welded on under motor mounts to existing aluminum bosses on front of engine. Sorry about the shakes...I guess I need to do more sit-ups.

 



Rich DeMartile

Re: My version


RichD 06-15-2007, 9:46 PM

The rest is just carefully bent flatbar with rounded ends (I used a hacksaw blade for a bending template) and a couple of 3" long flatbar links to allow for a little rotational/radial adjustment for each footpeg. I chose the inside the header pipe routing to keep it all compact and my other goal of not creating a cornering hazard. The only part that could ever drag might be the peg itself and it folds up. I've never even come close to dragging them. I can downshift and brake with my heels also. You really don't notice them as being added on since only the actual pegs stands out from the bike. You notice I had to lay under the bike to get you these photos.

 



Rich DeMartile

Re: My version


RichD 06-15-2007, 10:14 PM
Right side photo. Notice the access to the brake pedal is just below your heel. Taller riders could opt for a slightly longer flatbar link to gain more legroom. I'm 6' tall and my knees are about 1" to 3/4" away from the fairing at all times when using the highway pegs. Very natural driving position even for tight curvy roads or in town.

Rich DeMartile

Re: My version


TechJD 06-16-2007, 9:37 AM
Nice work RichD
but then all the different styles here look good
a lot of custom work done on these bikes here
I Give Big High five too all

1981 GL500I

Another example


DaveNearAtlanta 02-02-2008, 6:47 PM
On a trip to south Georgia today, I spotted an 82 GL500 parked beside the road with a for sale sign on it.  Here are some photos of this owner's highway bars solution.









Nothing fancy, but it is functional.


My Home Page
1981 GL500I
1982 GL500I
1983 GL650I

This User ID is no longer used. DaveF is my new User ID.

Re: Highway Bars


markinidaho 02-08-2008, 5:53 AM
Just as a contrast, I have problems with my lower back and find the rear passenger pegs more comfortable on long rides.

Re: My version


SeatSkins 02-08-2008, 8:11 AM
RichD... I love the way yours look! Super clean looking from the side. I think I'm going to revise my forward control idea to go inside the pipes like that too.

Nice work!
1980 CX500 Deluxe -"Ugly Bob"
1981 CB650 chopper in progress - "Low Budget All-Star"

Re: Highway Bars


Natrik 05-04-2008, 1:07 PM
So after studying many different solutions I fabricated one of my own. I used a piece of 1" OD steel pipe and some 3/4" flat bar, both were 1/8" thickness. Turned out pretty good, and it is VERY strong. I can hop up and down and there is no movement or bending. They are up high enough there is no chance of them dragging around a corner. In the future I want to cut them off short, weld a piece of the pipe at a 90 degree angle and clamp on a set of floorboards. These will do for now, though.


If it wasn't for physics and law enforcement, I'd be unstoppable.....

1980 CX500 Custom, Hondian

Re: Highway Bars


Natrik 05-04-2008, 1:09 PM
Here's what they look like on the bike...


If it wasn't for physics and law enforcement, I'd be unstoppable.....

1980 CX500 Custom, Hondian

Re: Highway Bars


Natrik 05-04-2008, 1:12 PM
They seem like they stick out a bit, but they really don't. I wish I could build a setup like the one on that German website!


If it wasn't for physics and law enforcement, I'd be unstoppable.....

1980 CX500 Custom, Hondian

Re: Highway Bars


tntchitwood 05-04-2008, 2:17 PM
very nice Natrik, I like the way you mounted to the motor mount too. I made a set out of chain one time, bolted only to the two spots on the bottom of the motor and they broke out the bolt holes. At 6' and 250 lbs they didn't hold up.
'82 Silverwing Chopper
'02 750 Shadow

http://choppercharles.com/cs/forums/29599/ShowPost.aspx

Re: Highway Bars


DaveNearAtlanta 05-04-2008, 3:10 PM
Nice work, Natrik!  Very clean and functional.


My Home Page
1981 GL500I
1982 GL500I
1983 GL650I

This User ID is no longer used. DaveF is my new User ID.

Re: Highway Bars


BearCX 05-05-2008, 3:44 AM
Top stuff, M8. (Love that tank.  Mmmmm.....Shiny.)



If you're still in control...You're not going fast enough.

Re: Highway Bars


dafaic 05-05-2008, 1:11 PM
photo used from above DaveNearAtlanta posted

Well I just picked up a set of these off epay and was wondering I guess I have to remove the exhaust to install?

I am going to take these and have them powder coated as they has some road rash. I was thinking some kind of a wrinkle finish to help hide the imperfections.

81' Gl500
08 Hemi QC Ram
07 2.7l Charger
One Fast 97 TA

Re: Highway Bars


GL650 Rider 05-19-2008, 6:11 AM
Natrik,

Can you give the length of the 1" OD steel pipe along with the length of the 3/4" flat bar. I really like your design and would like to make one for my "83 GL650. I have been looking for a good design and yours is the best that I have seen thus far. Any further information that you would have would be of great use.

Thanks

Re: Highway Bars


Natrik 05-19-2008, 4:48 PM
Sure! I'll draw up some dimensions and post for anyone to use. They are great, I use them on almost every ride. Give me a day or two, my band has a gig and studio date coming up, I'm a little short on time....

If it wasn't for physics and law enforcement, I'd be unstoppable.....

1980 CX500 Custom, Hondian

Re: Highway Bars


GL650 Rider 05-20-2008, 10:30 AM
Thanks so much. I truly appreciate it. I can not wait to build my own and attach it to by bike. It will be so nice to be able to stretch out a bit on a long ride. Thanks again.
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