[Rick Dangerous]

I have never had a bike with one (maybe a dirt bike as a kid) and i'm just wondering.

Is it needed for strength?  Purely aesthetic? 

Could i remove it or would i need to replace the bars with something beefier?

I don't hate it; just wondering why it's there and if it's needed!

[Jack Straw]

It's there mainly to get in the way and annoy us.

The original Brit built Interceptors in the 60's had a similiar bolt on "reinforcement".  Perhaps on our bikes it's a "homage" to the past.

It's the first thing some of us discard.

[viczena]

A nice way to install farkles.

[Karl Fenn]

You can get if off, if you undo the brackets and bend them it just comes off, it's does little for strength just a touch of the Yam DT, just undo the brackets and open them up it comes off.

[SandSquid]

It's there to give us an opportunity to remove it, whilst learning how to remove the controls and not scratching the rest of the handlebar.

[Rick Dangerous]

Sayonara cross-bar!

Looks like I have my next free little project lined up. 

[SandSquid]

Sayonara cross-bar!

Looks like I have my next free little project lined up.

You won't regret it. Bike looks so much better without it while clearing up your view of the clocks. Just looks cleaner overall.

[biscot]

One of my first mods. I just bent the brackets out of the way. Might be a point if it was an integral part of the handlebar, but nobody can seem to figure out why it's there.

[Rick Dangerous]

How hard are the brackets to bend out of the way?  Can it be done with a couple of vice grips or?

Really don't want to take off the grips/hand controls if i can avoid it.

[NVDucati]

How hard are the brackets to bend out of the way?  Can it be done with a couple of vice grips or?

Really don't want to take off the grips/hand controls if i can avoid it.

They are not super strong. You can spread them. If you don't want to scratch them... you can slip two 6 penny nails through the bolt holes (from inside>out) and grab the nails with your vice grips.

[Jack Straw]

They can be bent open enough to remove them.  I did it without much fuss.  The brackets may not survive though.

[Rick Dangerous]

Okay thanks!  I'm not worried about scrapping them; just trying not to scratch the bars themselves.  Thanks all!

[biscot]

I just stuck a large screwdriver/pry bar in there and spread them. Didn't scratch anything and the brackets could be reinstalled if I wanted. Not likely.

[jimku]

I like the cross bar with a Royal Enfield wrap.

[Breezin]

I've wanted to ask for so long... what is a crossbar wrap for?

[Jack Straw]

It makes the crossbar more pleasant to gnaw on.

[NVDucati]

I've wanted to ask for so long... what is a crossbar wrap for?

Mostly traditional but the original reason was to protect the sternum of dirt racers. The theory was some padding and it would serve as a "roller" to let you continue on your way over the handlebars to complete the perfect forward roll.

[Karl Fenn]

You don't need take anything off, just undo the cap heads and bend the brackets open with a flat blade screwdriver, no need to remove anything.

[GravyDavy]

Personally, I like a bit of triangulation to stiffen the primary source of steering input.  It's amazing how much standard handlebars flex and spring back.

And I like the way the look reflects the roots of the bike.

[Intybe]

You don't need take anything off, just undo the cap heads and bend the brackets open with a flat blade screwdriver, no need to remove anything.

But it's soft metal so be careful; I wasn't
 

[6504me]

I've wanted to ask for so long... what is a crossbar wrap for?

Back in the day... to keep your teeth in your mouth riding dirt bikes and as stated to assisted with executing the perfect "flying W".

[SandSquid]

You don't need take anything off, just undo the cap heads and bend the brackets open with a flat blade screwdriver, no need to remove anything.

Better shot at not damaging the clamps if you don't just pry them off. You know, just I case someone wants to keep them. I myself have kept every part I've removed or replaced from the bike. My goal is to have the entirety of spare (non-consumable) parts on hand. As long as I own the bike.

[jimku]

Personally, I like a bit of triangulation to stiffen the primary source of steering input.  It's amazing how much standard handlebars flex and spring back.
And I like the way the look reflects the roots of the bike.

I AGREE!

[Dexter]

Has the idea that the crossbar may be there to help dampen any vibrations in the bar ends been entertained at all?

[zimmemr]

The cross bar on the Interceptor is a styling exercise, nothing more. I won't argue with GravyDavey's comment that it makes the bars a bit stiffer, I've noticed it myself, but I'd also point out that literally millions of handlebars without crossbars are attached to motorcycles of all types and not many people complain about it.

As food for thought there are also a few handlebars like Fasst company's "Flexx bars" that are intentionally designed to flex.
https://mojomotosport.com/products/fasst-company-flexx-handlebar

[GravyDavy]

The cross bar on the Interceptor is a styling exercise, nothing more. I won't argue with GravyDavey's comment that it makes the bars a bit stiffer, I've noticed it myself, but I'd also point out that literally millions of handlebars without crossbars are attached to motorcycles of all types and not many people complain about it.

As food for thought there are also a few handlebars like Fasst company's "Flexx bars" that are intentionally designed to flex.
https://mojomotosport.com/products/fasst-company-flexx-handlebar

Agreed. Nothing really bad will happen due to removing the crossbar if someone doesn't like the look.

[NVDucati]

The cross bar on the Interceptor is a styling exercise, nothing more. I won't argue with GravyDavey's comment that it makes the bars a bit stiffer, I've noticed it myself, but I'd also point out that literally millions of handlebars without crossbars are attached to motorcycles of all types and not many people complain about it.

As food for thought there are also a few handlebars like Fasst company's "Flexx bars" that are intentionally designed to flex.
https://mojomotosport.com/products/fasst-company-flexx-handlebar

Memory Check:
Do I recall that some motorcycles once came with rubber bushings in the handle bar mounts?

[zimmemr]

Agreed. Nothing really bad will happen due to removing the crossbar if someone doesn't like the look.

I use to run 32" bars on my dirt trackers, sometimes it felt like they were moving more than a 707's wingtips.  One reason I liked them was because they'd fold up when the bike hit the deck and prevent the bike from bouncing upright, getting some traction and cartwheeling down the track.

For awhile solid aluminum bars were a fad. When you low sided with them on, the bar would flex, act like a spring and pop the bike upright, it'd then tumble down the track doing a bunch of damage. 

[Karl Fenn]

Yea what like triumph l do recall, hence the flexibility theory goes out the window, l removed mine did not make the slightest difference to steering.

[zimmemr]

Memory Check:
Do I recall that some motorcycles once came with rubber bushings in the handle bar mounts?

T140 and T120 Triumphs come to mind as well as XS650 Yamaha's. The TR6C and T100C Triumphs, which were designed with some off-road capability had solid mounts. I'm sure there are hundreds more, including HD's but those are the ones that leap out. FWIW there were solid mounts sold on the aftermarket to replace the Triumph's rubber bushings and when I foolishly built an XS650 race bike, I machined up a set of solid bushing to replace the OEM rubber bushings. It didn't matter much, after a years worth of work all I'd accomplished with the Yamaha was to build the worlds fastest shopping cart. A point driven home with several lurid crashes that year,

[Dexter]

Memory Check:
Do I recall that some motorcycles once came with rubber bushings in the handle bar mounts?

I imagine some still do. My ST1100 has rubber bushings and the bar end weights.

[Voun]

Memory Check:
Do I recall that some motorcycles once came with rubber bushings in the handle bar mounts?

As far as I remember my Kawa 250 S1 had rubber mounted handlebars

[Keef Sparrow]

...but nobody can seem to figure out why it's there.

It's a nod to the past as the original Royal Enfield Interceptors were fitted with a handlebar brace - possibly just for styling reasons, but the modern bikes a going for that 1960's retro look so that's why it's there. Some people say that the handlebar brace helps stop vibration through the bars and they have felt an increase in vibration after taking it off - other people say they have felt no difference. The Bullet Trials has one fitted as standard too, which makes more sense for a 'off road' machine, which the Trials isn't really. Could be good for mounting a clock or B Line sat nav though.

[Rick Dangerous]

I finally got around to removing mine and can confirm it looks much better/cleaner/faster than before.  The crossbar is also a heavy bit; so the less weight the better.

Taking the cross bar out was easy; the clips were a pain.  I put towels on everything to cut down on the risk of a slip and scratch, and had to wrestle with them a bit until they both snapped off.  They would not open wide enough to take off for me without snapping first. Luckily the bars are not scratch prone; once they were off, i wiped everything down and it's all 100%, no damage or scratches to anything. 

[6504me]

The fact that the crossbar is so substantial might mean RE intended it to be structural in an anti-vibration and/or handlebar flex sense.

Otherwise, why spend the money making the bar so heavy?  Just sayin'?

[SandSquid]

The fact that the crossbar is so substantial might mean RE intended it to be structural in an anti-vibration and/or handlebar flex sense.

Otherwise, why spend the money making the bar so heavy?  Just sayin'?

I kinda thought the same thing, which is why I polled peoples' opinions here before I removed mine. I went ahead and did it, and I feel literally zero vibration or flexing or anything different than when it was installed. So, if there is a reason to have it other than aesthetics.... well, I don't know. I just know it looks a whole lot better without it. 

[Bagonne]

anyone here ever had a bar like this on a bike like this?

https://www.ebay.com/itm/202654793189

[6504me]

I kinda thought the same thing, which is why I polled peoples' opinions here before I removed mine. I went ahead and did it, and I feel literally zero vibration or flexing or anything different than when it was installed. So, if there is a reason to have it other than aesthetics.... well, I don't know. I just know it looks a whole lot better without it.

Perhaps the crossbar was included in the design preemptively then the engine was so smooth it was unnecessary but already sourced?

Besides, as noted, the original 750 Interceptor, the King Kong of Motorcycling, had one.

[YellowDuck]

Besides, as noted, the original 750 Interceptor, the King Kong of Motorcycling, had one.

Wonderful photo.  As someone with next to no knowledge of old British iron, is that a cable-actuated drum brake?!!?

[NVDucati]

Wonderful photo.  As someone with next to no knowledge of old British iron, is that a cable-actuated drum brake?!!?

[drums4money]

anyone here ever had a bar like this on a bike like this?

https://www.ebay.com/itm/202654793189

Yes.  I love it.
It's close to the Magura constant taper that was on my Monster S2r.  I like the lower & slightly more forward riding position.  I haven't had it side by side with a Continental to see how close it comes to that grip position.

[zimmemr]

anyone here ever had a bar like this on a bike like this?

https://www.ebay.com/itm/202654793189

I've used them my dirt trackers and hate them. Part of the problem with them as I posted elsewhere is that if you drop the bike at speed the bars will flex instead of bending, which allows the bike to pop up off the track, get traction and then cartwheel itself into junk. Cheap steel bars fold up like a deer skin wallet, the bike stays on it's side and if you're lucky you can get up and get back to racing. They also flex like crazy which I don't like, but that's why they build them that way.

[6504me]

Wonderful photo.  As someone with next to no knowledge of old British iron, is that a cable-actuated drum brake?!!?

Yes, a c-a-b-l-e operated drum brake and they came in different varieties... single leading shoe, double leading shoe, and four leading show.

[Bagonne]

Yes.  I love it.

Nice. You think it would aggravate wrist issues?  Looks way cooler

[zimmemr]

Wonderful photo.  As someone with next to no knowledge of old British iron, is that a cable-actuated drum brake?!!?

Cable operated front brakes were just about all we had until the CB750 came along in October of 1968 and changed the game forever. I had a cable operated rear disc brake on one of my short trackers, it didn't work very well, but at least it wouldn't lock the rear wheel.

[drums4money]

Nice. You think it would aggravate wrist issues?  Looks way cooler

I find it more comfortable than a bar with more degrees of bend at the ends. For my shoulder width & arm length if works.  I had a pure flat drag bar on my BSA and that was indeed uncomfortable on the wrists.

[Bagonne]

I find it more comfortable than a bar with more degrees of bend at the ends. For my shoulder width & arm length if works.  I had a pure flat drag bar on my BSA and that was indeed uncomfortable on the wrists.

imma buy one then.  For the money if it's painful I can get another shape and try again.  So many options

[drums4money]

imma buy one then.  For the money if it's painful I can get another shape and try again.  So many options

I bought the exact same bar from the exact same vendor. I ordered the titanium colors. 

[Bagonne]

I bought the exact same bar from the exact same vendor. I ordered the titanium colors.

looks great.  Curious what your height is

[drums4money]

looks great.  Curious what your height is

6'0"

[Rick Dangerous]

Went for a 90 mile ride today; can confirm there is no extra flex or vibration that i noticed.  I like the view from the cockpit better as well. 

I'm going to have to give a big thumbs up to this mod all around.

[6504me]

Went for a 90 mile ride today; can confirm there is no extra flex or vibration that i noticed.  I like the view from the cockpit better as well. 

I'm going to have to give a big thumbs up to this mod all around.

I just unbolted the bar and slid the clamps to either side in case I wanted to put the cross bar back on.

Don't notice the clamps at all at the MC and mirror mount. Think I'll just leave them there.

[Breaker Express]

I thought about removing it then I bought the beeline moto and had to have somewhere to mount it using the mirror stalk mount so mine is staying.