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Nice, Aldo!
I stumbled across a set of alu clamps, painted, for an xs750 triple......hold the bars much better too.
I stumbled across a set of alu clamps, painted, for an xs750 triple......hold the bars much better too.
Norton7d
XS650 Junkie
Aldo, when u went with Virago risers, did u also go with Virago bushings?
I found that the Virago risers shaft are thinner and the same size as the threaded portion, vs the 650 riser shaft steps up in diameter size about 2 mm, thus the xs bushings on the Virago shaft is sloppy, so I assumed I also need Virago bushings.
Thanks
At the time I posted this, I still had stock 650 risers on my bike - the V'go aluminum clamps just replaced the stock 650 iron ones "plug-and-play". Since then, I also replaced the 650 risers with V'go ones - I can't remember now exactly how I made up the difference in shaft diameter, but probably wrapped enough tape to do it. Also, if I remember, the V'go riser stems are a bit shorter than the stock 650 ones.
This worked.
Norton7d
XS650 Junkie
So Gary, you took the metric coupler to a lathe and made that neat nut / threaded bottom spacer type piece.
But knowing the Virago riser shaft is smaller diameter, how did you keep the top washer and rubber bushing from being sloppy on the shaft?
But knowing the Virago riser shaft is smaller diameter, how did you keep the top washer and rubber bushing from being sloppy on the shaft?
good question!
But they aren't,
dumb look is free.
mebbie swapped top and bottom washers?
mebbie found a piece of tubing to use as a sleeve.
I tend to use a steel washer between the rubber inserts mebbie that squishes the inserts enough to keep the biolt centered, then there's duct tape .
But they aren't,
dumb look is free.mebbie swapped top and bottom washers?
mebbie found a piece of tubing to use as a sleeve.
I tend to use a steel washer between the rubber inserts mebbie that squishes the inserts enough to keep the biolt centered, then there's duct tape .
"Special" risers are slightly taller than 76 risers and have a wider bar clamp base too ? Thick shanks..
Norton7d
XS650 Junkie
OK, appreciate the honesty. Just glad I was able to determine my concerns were real.
What are you after in the end ? Comfort or rigidity?
Norton7d
XS650 Junkie
Looking to be able to polish the clamps, I assume rigidity and comfort will the same as I wouldnt be using the riser that pull the bars to the rear.
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Are you looking for taller risers or just shinier bits?
Some parts comparison pics.virago top triples at bottom.
I went out and checked madness couple years 8,000 miles virago risers, no mods just kinda tightened nut, prolly a steel washer in the middle still has damping, not wiggly.
I went out and checked madness couple years 8,000 miles virago risers, no mods just kinda tightened nut, prolly a steel washer in the middle still has damping, not wiggly.
Norton7d
XS650 Junkie
Just looking to be polishable aluminium, both the upper and lower portion of the clamps.
Not looking to change triples, I prefer the look of the polished riser atop the black triple.
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I had two of the coupling nuts so made up another set just now. Swapping top and bottom washers helps hold riser centered and reduced section of nut to fit hold the bottom of stem. A benefit of virago risers is they let you pull fork caps and springs without removing handlebars. This top triple is 35mm no iggy switch mount so from 77-79 standard.
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And here comes my standard question: Will the Virago clamps save any weight vs the stock ones, if so, how much?
Norton7d
XS650 Junkie
Hello Gary, I do see the benefit of the offset - angled riser, dont know if I want the look of the offset though.
Does the Virago rubber bushing fill up the cavity in the XS triple? If so, then the only difference is ID? Or they alao shorter to account for the shorter Virago riser shaft?
Does the Virago rubber bushing fill up the cavity in the XS triple? If so, then the only difference is ID? Or they alao shorter to account for the shorter Virago riser shaft?
I used the Virago clamps but on a set of Old School Speed uppers. The uppers come with a much smaller polyurethane bushing and chrome washers and the center hole is perfect. Virago shanks are much to long so I made some spacers and always intended to cut and re thread them but forgot.
You're reading my mind!
The virago bushing has an inner and out metal sleeve and is pressed into the triple but the hole in the Virago triple has a smaller ID so a sleeve would need to be made to use the virago bushes in the XS triples. (virago triple: less offset, fork tubes are closer together) It may be a better set up, similar to a suspension bushing. Using that bushing in a sleeve, the riser stem will be the correct length also. Need to explore further.
Virago risers each weigh 3 grams more.
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PS Virago risers come in a couple varieties some short and straight up, others taller and offset.
A set of the latter on period piece.
A set of the latter on period piece.
