Handlebar Controls

Briefly...everything attached to my upper yoke on my project bike is junk! This thread is not intended as a debate about whether the original stuff was any good to begin with, so if you want to bitch about that, please start your own thread. I am contemplating keeping all of the original stuff for parts, as my 750 is all stock. This means I need to find suitable controls for my current project. I have been searching Ebay looking for ideas. I have looked through the stuff at Mike's XS650 site. Somebody I am sure has already done this homework, so I am now turning here for ideas.

Let's suppose I want to keep the stock front brake, but want a compatible master cylinder. I know that master cylinder size should be matched to slave cylinder size. I bet there is one out there that works well for the application. How about switch clusters, clutch perches and throttle controls. Am I going to end up having to custom make cables?

To complicate this, I would prefer if it actually looked at least pleasant, if not nice. Some stuff looks like it belongs on a lawn tractor! I know I can go to CNW. No offense to their products and solutions, but I want to see what else is out there.

What have you got?

Thanks,
Russ

Switchboxes are easy, they look good and are American-made, bring your wallet.

http://www.pingelonline.com/handlebar_c ... button.htm

Vince

Years ago, I ditched the right hand stock master cylinder switch gear assembly and replaced with a Magura master cylinder because it greatly improved the progressive feel of front end stock caliper braking, looks very nice too.

If I remember, all I "lost" in switchgear was the kill button on the right side.
I never used it anyway so is no big deal. Fortunate that the left side has all the switches and buttons wired up.

Anyway, consider dumping your stock right hand set up and just replacing with a simply Magura master cylinder and lever, comes with the wires to activate the rear brake light, nice and tidy and a huge improvement in front braking.

Yes to ditching all rightside switches and having the leftside controlling everything.

I can agree with getting rid of the right side controls and putting everything on the left, but the Lucas switches don't quite cover the bases to get both high/low beam and turn indicators. So something after market or from a donor bike is what I was thinking. There is lots to choose from.

The sides need to feel and look symetical in that I don't want vintage Lucas on one side and modern Japanese or German on the right. Since posting this it has also occured to me that it will probably comepletely screw me up to have my 750 with stock controls and my 850 with something else. At least they both shift on the right. But this is something I am seriously wondering about as for my own sanity and safety in traffic if I want to give myself this issue.

Still looking, still thinking...

Russ

I am collecting links:

front-master-cylinder-t3362.html
master-cylinder-upgrade-keeping-original-switch-cluster-t9276.html

Here are some switch options
http://www.kandstech.com/index.php?page=switchescontrols

I like the look of Ducati switches and have used those a couple times, especiailly with e-starts and a Brembo or Magura master cylinder. The Ducati switches are fairly plentiful from wrecks or race conversions.

Russ,
Might I suggest a pair of matching Brembo master cylinders from a Ducati Monster. Available on e-bay. Then you don't need to worry about any stinking cables. Jim

Switch 1200 41 looks pretty nice.

PS. I have the CNW one and frankly it looks fine.

radiofun said:

Switch 1200 41 looks pretty nice.

PS. I have the CNW one and frankly it looks fine.

Click to expand...

Got a photo of it? I noticed that CNW doesn't have one on the web site.

Russ

Here is what I used on my MkIII. This is a K & S brand switch that is very similar to the factory switch that's on my 2001 Speed Triple. It has the usual placement for high & low beam, turn signals, and horn. Also has a three position headlamp on/off switch. I have mine wired to have the first position off, second - pilot lamp, and third - main headlamp. Also has one of those flash to pass light switches on the top. BTW, on the RH is a Nissin master cylinder from a Suzuki Bandit 1200 - smaller bore than factory Commando, micro switch, and works well with the standard disc and Lockheed caliper. RH start / kill switch is Hinckely, from a salvaged Speed Triple - it matches the other switch quite well.




Spotted one on eBay:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/K-S-Street-Hand ... es&vxp=mtr

The headlamp on/off might not mean much to you, but it was nice on the MKIII because I eliminated the dash and both handlebar switches. No headlamp switch was in my shell. I might also add that my bike has a purpose built one-off wiring harness, so this was pretty easy to integrate into the works.

I'm using a VW latching relay to switch hi/lo beam on my bike and it works well....a momentary contact pushbutton switch will toggle it and will flash the hi beam if the lights are off. Anyway it might be useful with whatever switch arrangement you end up using, I posted some info at latching-headlight-relay-addition-t8223.html (I had to use an additional relay w/ the stock switchgear but that would not be necessary with a pushbutton wired to ground)

Russ, Very similar to the one on Brithit's bike. Here is a picture from CNW's Gallery. The switch is mostly black, so it's unstated.

http://www.coloradonortonworks.com/abou ... g=066a.jpg

Thanks guys,
Ever notice how you can't figure out one aspect without having to make decisions about another? I am glad I started this search and line of thinking early. Now of course it has me thinking not just about controls, but all the stuff they hook to. I had pretty much planned on making my own wiring harness. So let the games begin!

Keep the ideas coming. It never hurts to have a thread with lots of references.

I found a chrome version of the K&S 12-0041 on Ebay.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/K-S-TECHNOLOGIE ... 45fc396a88

Hi,
This photo is of a Honda CBR600R front master cylinder that I took off a wrecked bike for free. It has a 13mm bore which works great with the stock calipher, and a simple to hook up mechanical front brake light switch. It was a little tricky to connect to the stock hose, but I eventually found an adapter.



This photo is of a Suzuki GSXR switch purchased front Ebay for $30. It has directionals, HI/Lo, horn, kill switch (used the 4-way button), and a Hi beam flipper button. If you use a donor switch its best to know what it came off of so you can get a wiring diagram which will make the hook up much easier.

What clutch lever is used?