Hepco & Becker bar-end protector: not suitable for 2017 VFR1200X ?

[ArthurY]

Bought and received these and have been trying to install Hepco & Becker bar-end protector on my 2017 VFR1200X.
Looks like the bolt through the bar-ends are significantly smaller in diameter than the OEM bolt.
It may have been designed for older models, may be?

Can anyone confirm this?

[Hound]

I'm assuming you mean the handguard protectors?



On my 2013 bike, the bolts are M8 diameter and the replacements fitted fine. An owner of an 2018 model reported
that he "had to have the bar end weights drilled out to accept the 70mm x 8mm bolts that attach at that end. You
might prefer to get some different end weights".

No mention of the bike already having bolts of a larger diameter, though...

[ArthurY]

Yes, those in your picture.
Looks like there were a re-design in the size of the bar-end bolt since 2016/17 model year?
What year is your model?

[Hound]

Hi Arthur - as stated, I have a 2013 bike, and it takes M8 bolts.

Hepco & Becker state that these guards fit 2012-2017 bikes (2017 being the last official production year), and no
alternative bolt size is offered.

Looking at the parts fiche, it seems that from 2017, two types of bar end weight were fitted - one with an M8 bolt
(green) and one with a larger end assembly (red).



It looks like that part (18) is what needs an internal tap to take an M8 bolt, unless you swap the bar end weight
assemblies for the older type.

[ArthurY]

Originally Posted by Hound

Hi Arthur - as stated, I have a 2013 bike, and it takes M8 bolts.

Hepco & Becker state that these guards fit 2012-2017 bikes (2017 being the last official production year), and no
alternative bolt size is offered.

Looking at the parts fiche, it seems that from 2017, two types of bar end weight were fitted - one with an M8 bolt
(green) and one with a larger end assembly (red).



It looks like that part (18) is what needs an internal tap to take an M8 bolt, unless you swap the bar end weight
assemblies for the older type.

Thanks, @Hound. Appreciate every effort you put in to help me out.
The picture you provided made it abundantly clear. No wonder it will not fit.

I have also contacted the US distributor for Hepco & Becker. May be they have a solution, let's wait for them to respond; hopefully, Mon/Tues of this coming week.

Worst case scenario, if I really hard up for this protector, I may yield and replace the grip internals with the old style parts.

[Hound]

Arthur, an alternative is to contact bazza950 (hopefully he still visits) and ask for more details on how he adapted the bar ends on his 2018 CT (since sold to crisort).

Maybe it's an easier fix than it appears. Good luck!

[ArthurY]

Thank you, again, @Hound.

I'll send them IM and see what they say. Great tips!

[Hound]

Can you post a pic of your bar end weight and show the bolt holding it on (and measure its diameter)? I'm wondering if it's just the weight that needs adapting, not the internals.