"KX Bend" handlebars?

[mattb348]

I just bought some "renthal aluminun" handlebars online, but I coulnd't find any that actually were specifically for my 2002 KX 500 :(

I had to go with the ones that said "renthal aluminum" "KX bend". I'm gonna assume that they will be 7/8" and fit my 2002 KX 500. They were $60.00

But at any rate, the real question here is this: What exactly is "KX Bend"? Is the bend for ALL the KX's the same, despite the year and CC size or something?

 

[Okiewan]

Any bend in a 7/8 bar will fit any bike (with stock mounts, except some KTM's that come with oversized bars). A KX Bend is just what Kawasaki specified in height, width and sweep. There isn't a "wrong bend", it's up to you to determine the bend you like and there are many to chose from.

 

[2-Strokes 4-ever]

As stated, any 7/8 bar will bolt right up to your KX. If your at all picky, finding the bend your comfortable with can be a mind-racking experience. Consider this: your height, the taller you are...the taller the bar (and if you're a stand-up or sit-down rider, that weighs in there too) rise: amount the end of the bar is sweeping up or down, and sweep: weather the end of the bar goes away from you or towards you. Even at a dealer that has a big stock, you really won't get a feel till they're mounted up. The Yamaha/MC/Reed bend is very popular. If the KX bend is a copy of the stock bars (most likely) I always found they had too much sweep (blisters on the thumbs) I probably made it worse huh?

 

[mattb348]

Any bend in a 7/8 bar will fit any bike (with stock mounts, except some KTM's that come with oversized bars). A KX Bend is just what Kawasaki specified in height, width and sweep. There isn't a "wrong bend", it's up to you to determine the bend you like and there are many to chose from.

Thanks for the info!

 

[mattb348]

As stated, any 7/8 bar will bolt right up to your KX. If your at all picky, finding the bend your comfortable with can be a mind-racking experience. Consider this: your height, the taller you are...the taller the bar (and if you're a stand-up or sit-down rider, that weighs in there too) rise: amount the end of the bar is sweeping up or down, and sweep: weather the end of the bar goes away from you or towards you. Even at a dealer that has a big stock, you really won't get a feel till they're mounted up. The Yamaha/MC/Reed bend is very popular. If the KX bend is a copy of the stock bars (most likely) I always found they had too much sweep (blisters on the thumbs) I probably made it worse huh?

Thanks for the info. I'm not picky about handlebars actually. I don't even really notice them as soon as I start riding anyways. Hell, I can even adept to bent handlebars after riding with them for a few minutes.

Of course, I don't actually WANT to have bent handlebars :)

I'm glad I went with the KX bend now that I know that all bends work on all bikes (except some KTM's). I like to stay as close to stock as possible, but with higher quality :)

Thanks again guys.