OP
@louis avatar
UTC

Hooked
'07 GTS 250ie (Midnight Blue), '07 GTS 250ie (Dragon Red - wife's ride)
Joined: UTC
Posts: 269
Location: Woodbridge, NJ
 
Hooked
@louis avatar
'07 GTS 250ie (Midnight Blue), '07 GTS 250ie (Dragon Red - wife's ride)
Joined: UTC
Posts: 269
Location: Woodbridge, NJ
UTC quote
Hello...

The new topcase for my new GTS came with handlebar weights. So I put them on the GTS, but now I have the stock ones laying around... I was wondering if I could put them on my LX150 (well, I should say my wife's LX150 now). They are pretty sharp... a little extra chrome can't hurt. So my question is: what's under the ends of the rubber handlebar grips on an LX150? Might there be threaded holes there for just this purpose? When I press on the ends it kind of feels like there's a hole there... Does anyone know? Can this be done?
@oopsclunkthud avatar
UTC

Banned
3:5
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Posts: 9028
Location: San Francisco
 
Banned
@oopsclunkthud avatar
3:5
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Posts: 9028
Location: San Francisco
UTC quote
The ends of the bars are filled almost to the end but they are not threaded.

If you drill and tap them, and add a spacer, you can install the barends. drilling and tapping the bars is a pain but i did it on my LX.
OP
@louis avatar
UTC

Hooked
'07 GTS 250ie (Midnight Blue), '07 GTS 250ie (Dragon Red - wife's ride)
Joined: UTC
Posts: 269
Location: Woodbridge, NJ
 
Hooked
@louis avatar
'07 GTS 250ie (Midnight Blue), '07 GTS 250ie (Dragon Red - wife's ride)
Joined: UTC
Posts: 269
Location: Woodbridge, NJ
UTC quote
oopsclunkthud wrote:
The ends of the bars are filled almost to the end but they are not threaded.

If you drill and tap them, and add a spacer, you can install the barends. drilling and tapping the bars is a pain but i did it on my LX.
Thanks for the info.! I'm glad I asked, I'm glad you answered. I was tempted to assume the bar ends were the same as the GTS. That would have been foolish. I doubt I'll get involved with the drilling and tapping.

Thanks again. I'll bet it does look really good on yours.
@silver_streak avatar
UTC

Veni, Vidi, Posti
2007 Vespa LX 190, 2011 LXV150ie
Joined: UTC
Posts: 8758
Location: Annapolis, MD, USA
 
Veni, Vidi, Posti
@silver_streak avatar
2007 Vespa LX 190, 2011 LXV150ie
Joined: UTC
Posts: 8758
Location: Annapolis, MD, USA
UTC quote
I just did it a week ago on my LX150. Bought a set of Suzuki Hayabusa bar end weights (how's that for irony!?) off eBay just because I liked the looks and they didn't cost much.

They are tapered chrome-plated billet aluminum and only weigh a few ounces apiece, but I wasn't doing it for the weight/stability (the LX has no wobble problems). I wanted them for the looks, and to function as "sliders" in case of a dump. When I got punted by an SUV at a stoplight a couple of months ago, my left brake lever got broken off because it was the thing that stuck out the farthest when the scoot went down on that side. The bar ends stick out just a bit farther than the brake levers, and I consider them to be "sacrificial".

Besides, they look great!

Just cut out the rubber ends of the grips with a #11 X-acto knife, and drill and tap for a 6mm screw in the center of the mild steel plug. You'll need about 3/8" of spacer on the left side, and about 1/2" on the right to allow the throttle grip to turn freely. Eyeball it carefully and use a center punch to get the hole started accurately in the center, or it will look like shit.
⚠️ Last edited by Silver Streak on UTC; edited 1 time
OP
@louis avatar
UTC

Hooked
'07 GTS 250ie (Midnight Blue), '07 GTS 250ie (Dragon Red - wife's ride)
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Posts: 269
Location: Woodbridge, NJ
 
Hooked
@louis avatar
'07 GTS 250ie (Midnight Blue), '07 GTS 250ie (Dragon Red - wife's ride)
Joined: UTC
Posts: 269
Location: Woodbridge, NJ
UTC quote
Silver Streak and oopsclunkthud:

Might either of you have a photo or two of this? Visualizing it might help me and motivate me to try it.... Don't go crazy out of your way of course, but if you had a quick close-up photo I'd love to see it. Thanks.
@silver_streak avatar
UTC

Veni, Vidi, Posti
2007 Vespa LX 190, 2011 LXV150ie
Joined: UTC
Posts: 8758
Location: Annapolis, MD, USA
 
Veni, Vidi, Posti
@silver_streak avatar
2007 Vespa LX 190, 2011 LXV150ie
Joined: UTC
Posts: 8758
Location: Annapolis, MD, USA
UTC quote
I'll try to take one tomorrow if it stops raining.
@silver_streak avatar
UTC

Veni, Vidi, Posti
2007 Vespa LX 190, 2011 LXV150ie
Joined: UTC
Posts: 8758
Location: Annapolis, MD, USA
 
Veni, Vidi, Posti
@silver_streak avatar
2007 Vespa LX 190, 2011 LXV150ie
Joined: UTC
Posts: 8758
Location: Annapolis, MD, USA
UTC quote
Louis, as promised, here are some pics I took today of my installation:

Overall view of scooter:
External inline image provided by member with no explanatory text

Closeup of handlebars:
External inline image provided by member with no explanatory text

Bar end weight removed showing washers as spacers:
External inline image provided by member with no explanatory text

Closeup showing cut out grip and tapped hole:
External inline image provided by member with no explanatory text

Pretty easy to do, actually. The hardest thing is getting the hole drilled accurately with a hand drill.
@znomit avatar
UTC

Veni, Vidi, Posti
LX190 Friday afternoon special, [s]Primavera[/s], S50, too many pushbikes
Joined: UTC
Posts: 10610
Location: Hermit Kingdom
 
Veni, Vidi, Posti
@znomit avatar
LX190 Friday afternoon special, [s]Primavera[/s], S50, too many pushbikes
Joined: UTC
Posts: 10610
Location: Hermit Kingdom
OP
@louis avatar
UTC

Hooked
'07 GTS 250ie (Midnight Blue), '07 GTS 250ie (Dragon Red - wife's ride)
Joined: UTC
Posts: 269
Location: Woodbridge, NJ
 
Hooked
@louis avatar
'07 GTS 250ie (Midnight Blue), '07 GTS 250ie (Dragon Red - wife's ride)
Joined: UTC
Posts: 269
Location: Woodbridge, NJ
UTC quote
Silver Streak wrote:
Louis, as promised, here are some pics I took today of my installation:

Bar end weight removed showing washers as spacers:
External inline image provided by member with no explanatory text

Closeup showing cut out grip and tapped hole:
External inline image provided by member with no explanatory text

Pretty easy to do, actually. The hardest thing is getting the hole drilled accurately with a hand drill.
Wow, you did a great job! Thanks for the photos. I might be able to pull that off. I was really curious to see what was under the ends of those handgrips. And just some ordinary washers as spacers... Looks great. Awesome job.

You've done a great job dressing that scooter up, beyond just those h-bar weights.

Thanks again.
OP
@louis avatar
UTC

Hooked
'07 GTS 250ie (Midnight Blue), '07 GTS 250ie (Dragon Red - wife's ride)
Joined: UTC
Posts: 269
Location: Woodbridge, NJ
 
Hooked
@louis avatar
'07 GTS 250ie (Midnight Blue), '07 GTS 250ie (Dragon Red - wife's ride)
Joined: UTC
Posts: 269
Location: Woodbridge, NJ
UTC quote
znomit wrote:
Yes, 20th post in the thread... Excellent drilling/tapping photos. Thanks.
@wahscoot avatar
UTC

Hooked
GTS 300ie Super "Frances"
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Posts: 187
 
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@wahscoot avatar
GTS 300ie Super "Frances"
Joined: UTC
Posts: 187
UTC quote
Louis wrote:
Silver Streak and oopsclunkthud:

Might either of you have a photo or two of this? Visualizing it might help me and motivate me to try it.... Don't go crazy out of your way of course, but if you had a quick close-up photo I'd love to see it. Thanks.
I think like you...sometimes. 8)

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