Ebay bar end upgrade DIY

[50dro]

Most if not all of the EBay bar end mirrors come with crappy attachments that are prone to come lose. Here's what I have done to make it a much more solid attachment on my Renthal bars (you may need to adjust your parts list if you bar's ID is larger than 1/2" ). All parts can be found at your local hardware store. Here's what you'll need:

(2) size 00 or 0 rubber plugs

(2) 1/4-28 x 2" SHCS
(2) 1/4-28 nuts
(2) 1/4" lock washer (doesn't need to be a lock washer but that's what I had around that had the appropriate OD. OD must be less than 1/2" or the ID of the bar)

1) Drill into the small end of the plug with an 1/8" drill bit to create a pilot hole. I held the plug in my hand to do this but be careful if you do. GO SLOW AND BE CAREFUL!!!

2) Open up the 1/8" hole with a 1/4 drill bit. Same deal...GO SLOW AND BE CAREFUL!!

3) Assemble as shown below and tighten to a snug hand tight.

4) Grind evenly until the plug fits into your bars. CAUTION!!! This smells like the drag strip and is really cool!! Seriously though...take this step slowly as well.

5) Assure that the nut is pretty snug onto the rubber and insert the assembly into the end of your bars.

6) Tighten while holding the bar-end stationary, assemble and adjust the mirrors repeat all steps for the other side and enjoy!!

***You may consider using blue thread-locker on the the hardware.

***I'm pretty confident in this method but do it at your own risk

Feel free to comment or critique...

 

[gtp3800]

nice let me know how that works over some time. If i get my new bars, then i think ill do that. had a good ride today and my ebay mirror kept moving on me.

 

[nilla]

that's how my 'third eye's' attatch
werks guud

 

[upthemaiden]

Looks MUCH nicer than my x-acto knife hack job haha. I may pick up some of those rubber pieces and try your way instead. I deleted the pictures I had of mine from a while ago, otherwise I'd post them just to make you look better.

I'd probably stay away from the loctite though. The last thing you need is for the threads to hold too well. If you try to unscrew the bolt and have the nut hold on and start spinning with it, you'll never get the bar end out. The important part is for that nut to grip well onto the rubber, and the rubber will just act like a locking washer.

 

[50dro]

Looks MUCH nicer than my x-acto knife hack job haha. I may pick up some of those rubber pieces and try your way instead. I deleted the pictures I had of mine from a while ago, otherwise I'd post them just to make you look better.


I'd probably stay away from the loctite though. The last thing you need is for the threads to hold too well. If you try to unscrew the bolt and have the nut hold on and start spinning with it, you'll never get the bar end out. The important part is for that nut to grip well onto the rubber, and the rubber will just act like a locking washer.

Thanks!

I agree on the loc-tite on the bar end mount although it should be used on the mirror adjustments. Those tend to shake loose on you.

 

[CowboyKS]

Great write-up![up] worth a rep point.

 

[03xb9er]

i had a similiar method on my bar ends. only differences is mine are spikes and do not have any way to tighten the bolt. so i used a piece of threaded rod, some rubber tubing from mcmaster carr, and a serrated flanged nut. the nut grips the rubber and will not turn.

 

[upthemaiden]

, some rubber tubing from mcmaster carr,

That's also a good idea, you could try using some thick fuel line. You could find something with the right outside diameter to fit in your bars and it'll already have a hole in it. I've used it for a rubber bushing before and it compresses and expands pretty nicely.

 

[50dro]

I thought about fuel line but thought the reinforcement would keep it from expanding as well as solid rubber. It may work though...

 

[Macbuell]

I wrapped the crappy metal ones that came with mine in electrical tape, then slit it so it wasn't preventing the metal from expanding. Worked well.

 

[50dro]

I wrapped the crappy metal ones that came with mine in electrical tape, then slit it so it wasn't preventing the metal from expanding. Worked well.

Which bars? Which mirrors?

I know that the Oberon copies would never expand enough to reach the ID of the stock bars.You'd be wrapping a whole lot of tape on them. I haven't tried them on the smaller ID Renthals. They may work better on them but I'm more confident with this method anyway.

and a serrated flanged nut. the nut grips the rubber and will not turn.

I wanted to do that but the OD of a 1/4" flange nut was larger than the ID of the Renthal bars and I couldn't get my hands on a fine threaded flange nut. I would definitely consider that for larger ID bars.

 

[upthemaiden]

The cheap bicycle mirrors that use the rubber plug just use a square nut. They're cheap but the edges are sharp enough that it does a good job of gripping the rubber with the corners. Eventually the nut will start to leave a permanent indent in the rubber and it'll hold well.

I used the rubber hose to fill the gap between the subframe and the tail on that GS500. There was a half inch gap or so on each side and it worked really well to let me put a little bit of tension, but not to really stress the fiberglass. I could definitely see it expanding when I tightened it down though. I doubt it's any better than what you did, but I bet it would work perfectly fine for someone who can't find those rubber pieces, or even doesn't have a grinder to get them down to shape.

 

[firefighter1c57]

just a tip. Before you work the rubber stoppers, throw them in the freezer for a couple hours. Firms them up and makes them easier to drill and to sand. HTH

 

[50dro]

just a tip.  Before you work the rubber stoppers, throw them in the freezer for a couple hours.  Firms them up and makes them easier to drill and to sand.  HTH

That's a great idea! Thanks! [up]

 

[DonOfPensacola]

I put a small film of gorilla glue on the rubber before install. It expands inside slightly and haven't had any problems since.

 

[Miami78]

Oberon sells metal collets that slip over the expanding part of their mirrors...I would guess they would fit the eBay clones. I had to buy a set when I switched from my stock bars to my crossroads (different inner diameter)...was $7-8 and made them solid as a rock with little to no work.

edit - great idea for those who are handy though...looks good![up]

 

[snrusnak]

Bump to a great thread.

Awesome idea Sandro, I'll be doing this this weekend [up]

 

[50dro]

Thanks. Check out my newer one though. This one worked OK, but the newer one is much better. Link

 

[snrusnak]

hm.....always trying to spend my money aren't you

 

[50dro]

hm.....always trying to spend my money aren't you

haha! Only $15 more...