[LandyLou]

On vulcanforums I saw a reference to someone drilling out the stock handlebars and running the wiring through. Has anyone tried this? I couldn't find any threads about it. In theory it shouldn't be too hard, and I'd love to tidy up the handlebars some if it was a realistic project.

Thanks
Landy

 

[Knifemaker]

It can be done...but drilling chromed steel won't be easy. You have to make sure the holes aren't so big they weaken the bars, and you'll likely have to cut all the connectors off the wires to feed them through....while hoping there's enough wire to reach. Given the age of the controls, this would make replacing them at some point more of a pain....
But if the bars aren't "tidy" enough for you......go for it.

 

[LandyLou]

It can be done...but drilling chromed steel won't be easy. You have to make sure the holes aren't so big they weaken the bars, and you'll likely have to cut all the connectors off the wires to feed them through....while hoping there's enough wire to reach. Given the age of the controls, this would make replacing them at some point more of a pain....
But if the bars aren't "tidy" enough for you......go for it.

I guess everyone has their own vision for what they want their bike to look like.

I've got an '06. Is replacing the upper wiring/controls a common need at some point?

Has anyone tried internal wiring?

 

[Spockster]

My Honda CT70 had internal wiring and throttle before it was cool to do so. Of course the bars were designed to fold down so it would fit in a car trunk.

I'd say controls do get replaced, but it's not really common. Bikes kept out in the rain/snow will suffer more.

 

[slimvulcanrider]

I ran internal wires in my bars... I drilled one 3/8? hole in the center of my bars, and two 1/4? holes on the bar ends. I used a electrician snake to feed the wires through.

 

[LandyLou]

I ran internal wires in my bars... I drilled one 3/8? hole in the center of my bars, and two 1/4? holes on the bar ends. I used a electrician snake to feed the wires through.

Sounds perfect! Any pics? Any tips? Where did you cut your harness to feed the wires through?

 

[slimvulcanrider]

I don?t have pictures, sold my bike last spring. For feeding wires, I unsoldered all the switches fed the wires through starting with the large hole in the bottom up to the control mount. Then I resoldered all the switches...

Tips, use a rat tail file to make a bevel in the direction the wires are going to run in all 3 holes.