Motorcycle handlebar
Encyclopedia
Motorcycle
A motorcycle is a single-track, two-wheeled motor vehicle. Motorcycles vary considerably depending on the task for which they are designed, such as long distance travel, navigating congested urban traffic, cruising, sport and racing, or off-road conditions.Motorcycles are one of the most...
s. Handlebars often support part of the rider's weight, and provide a mounting place for controls such as brake
Brake
A brake is a mechanical device which inhibits motion. Its opposite component is a clutch. The rest of this article is dedicated to various types of vehicular brakes....
, throttle
Throttle
A throttle is the mechanism by which the flow of a fluid is managed by constriction or obstruction. An engine's power can be increased or decreased by the restriction of inlet gases , but usually decreased. The term throttle has come to refer, informally and incorrectly, to any mechanism by which...
, clutch
Clutch
A clutch is a mechanical device which provides for the transmission of power from one component to another...
, horn, light switch, and rear view mirrors.
Types of handlebar
Handlebars come in a variety of types designed for particular types of riding.- Ape hanger handlebars rise far above the mounting location so that the rider must reach up to use them, hence the name. They are popular on chopper motorcyclesChopper (motorcycle)A chopper is a type of motorcycle that was either modified from an original motorcycle design or built from scratch to have a hand-crafted appearance. The main features of a chopper that make it stand out are its longer frame design accompanied by a stretch front end...
. They are available in heights up to 20 inches. Some jurisdictions have regulations on how high the handgrips may be above the seat. - Z-bar, any sharply angled handlebar with either long or short straight rise sections, which are sharply angled upward from the mounting points and again sharply angled to the handgrip and control area. Z-bars can be ape hangers, but not all ape hangers are Z-bars.
- Beach bars, similar to cruiser bars, slope back toward the rider to allow a relaxed riding position.
- Clip-ons are popular on sport bikeSport bikeA sport bike, also written as sportbike, is a motorcycle optimized for speed, acceleration, braking, and cornering on paved roads, typically at the expense of comfort and fuel economy in comparison to less specialized motorcycles...
s, in which two separate short handles are attached directly to the fork tubes, as opposed to a standard one-piece handlebar attached to the top of the triple tree. - Clubman bars are common on cafe bikes. They clamp to the triple tree and are angled forward to give the rider a more aggressive riding position.
- Cruiser handlebars tend to be long and slope towards the rear of the motorcycle so that the rider can sit upright.
- Buckhorn handlebars are a variation on the ape hanger, but shorter, and always with a curved back section directly before the part of the bar that mounts the handgrips and controls. These are often thought to be one of the most comfortable type of handlebar, keeping the arms in a very natural and relaxed position in front of the rider. They are often called "mini-apes" (miniature ape hangers), but a true buckhorn must be rounded on top, never with the sharp angles of a Z-bar on the top.
- Drag bars are nearly straight across to create a forward-leaning and aerodynamic riding position.
- Motocross bars are tubular bars that are clamped onto the triple tree. They are common on motocrossMotocrossMotocross is a form of motorcycle sport or all-terrain vehicle racing held on enclosed off road circuits. It evolved from trials, and was called scrambles, and later motocross, combining the French moto with cross-country...
and off-road motorcycles, as well as dual-sportDual-sportA dual-sport, colloquially known as "dualie" or an "on-off road bike" is a type of street-legal motorcycle that is designed for both on and off-road use. The terms All-road and Dual-purpose are also used...
, streetfighterStreetfighterA streetfighter is a sport bike that is customized by removing the fairing, and making other changes that result in an overall more aggressive look. Beyond simply removing fairings, specific changes that exemplify the streetfighter look are a pair of large, round headlights, tall, upright...
, and supermotoSupermotoSupermoto is motorcycle racing on a circuit that alternates between three types of track: flat track, motocross and road racing, using motorcycles designed for that purpose...
bikes.
Construction
Handlebars are made from hollow metal tubing, typically aluminium alloyAluminium alloy
Aluminium alloys are alloys in which aluminium is the predominant metal. The typical alloying elements are copper, magnesium, manganese, silicon and zinc. There are two principal classifications, namely casting alloys and wrought alloys, both of which are further subdivided into the categories...
s or chrome plated
Chrome plating
Chrome plating, often referred to simply as chrome, is a technique of electroplating a thin layer of chromium onto a metal object. The chromed layer can be decorative, provide corrosion resistance, ease cleaning procedures, or increase surface hardness.-Process:A component to be chrome plated will...
steel
Steel
Steel is an alloy that consists mostly of iron and has a carbon content between 0.2% and 2.1% by weight, depending on the grade. Carbon is the most common alloying material for iron, but various other alloying elements are used, such as manganese, chromium, vanadium, and tungsten...
but also of carbon fibre and titanium
Titanium
Titanium is a chemical element with the symbol Ti and atomic number 22. It has a low density and is a strong, lustrous, corrosion-resistant transition metal with a silver color....
, shaped to the desired contour. Holes may be drilled for the internal routing of control cables such as brake
Brake
A brake is a mechanical device which inhibits motion. Its opposite component is a clutch. The rest of this article is dedicated to various types of vehicular brakes....
, throttle
Throttle
A throttle is the mechanism by which the flow of a fluid is managed by constriction or obstruction. An engine's power can be increased or decreased by the restriction of inlet gases , but usually decreased. The term throttle has come to refer, informally and incorrectly, to any mechanism by which...
, and clutch
Clutch
A clutch is a mechanical device which provides for the transmission of power from one component to another...
. Risers hold the handlebars above their mounting position on the upper triple tree or the top of the fork
Motorcycle fork
A motorcycle fork connects a motorcycle's front wheel and axle to its frame, typically via a pair of triple clamps. It typically incorporates the front suspension and front brake, and allows the bike to be steered via handlebars attached to the top clamp....
, and may be integrated into the bar itself or separate items.
Bar-end weights are often added to either end of the handlebar to damp vibration by moving the bars' resonant frequency away from that generated by the engine. Electrical heating element
Heating element
A heating element converts electricity into heat through the process of Joule heating. Electric current through the element encounters resistance, resulting in heating of the element....
s may be added under the handlebar grips to provide comfort to the user in cold weather.
Sizes
There are several size parameters that describe most motorcycle handlebars.- Width from grip to grip may vary from 30.5 inches to 37 inches.
- Rise above mounting location may vary from 0 inches to 20 inches.
- Pullback, the distance grips are behind their mounting location, may vary from 4.25 inches to 17 inches.
- Diameters vary, commonly 7/8 inch, 1 inch, and 1¼ inches, though oversized bars of 1¼, 1½ and 1¾ inches may reduce to 1 inch at the grips so standard controls may be mounted.