Your handlebars are quite an important component on your motorcycle, obviously without them you will be going nowhere fast. They are also a part that not only allow you to control your ride, but also with the correct setup you will feel more comfortable and safe – in turn, making your riding better in every aspect.

Now before you can go ahead and install a fresh set of handlebars on your bike, you must consider the many options available within the handlebar market. With a million different bends, constructions, styles and colours to choose from, you really have to sit down and work out what is best for you.

Our friends at C&R Imports gave us the choice to choose our own set of Tag Metals handlebars. Seeing as the Project Moto 2013 Suzuki RM-Z250 comes with the tapered style handlebar in stock trim, we opted to take that route.

I myself prefer a lower bend with a decent amount of back sweep, and the Tag Metals T2 ‘CR Low’ model was exactly what I needed – but in the end that all comes down to personal preference. You have to figure out what makes you feel comfortable and take that option.

Once you have chosen your bend and style, it’s time to go ahead and obviously remove the old ones! This procedure is very straightforward, remove your front number plate for easy access, remove the ‘bar pad, then your throttle, grips, levers, and kill switch.

Our Tag Metals handlebars come with these sweet plugs already installed out of the box. Image: Adam Spence.

At this point the handlebars should be bare, now just grab the correct sized socket and crack the nuts on the top of your ‘bar clamps. Once they are all cracked, wind the bolts out and your old handlebars will be off – too easy.

Now it’s time to mount your shiny new set of handlebars, and although this is an easy process, I thought I’d talk about just a few small things to look for when you are installing your new setup. You can obviously just throw them on and you will be fine, but it always pays to slow down and pay more attention to the small details if possible.

Firstly, before you do anything, check if the ‘bar ends are plugged. If you plan to race, the scrutineer will be checking for those plugs – usually with a nice sharp screwdriver which will always poke a nice hole through the end of your grips if they are not plugged.

Another reason to plug your ‘bars is obviously for your own safety and others. Handlebar ends can be dangerous things when you find yourself being chased down the track by your own bike. With a plugged ‘bar end, this will minimise the risk of the ‘bar taking a flesh sample from your leg.

Luckily our Tag handlebars come pre-plugged from the factory, which is very handy indeed. But if you find yourself without plugged ‘bars, head to your local dealer and they will have sets available to purchase, usually at a very reasonable price.

Now your ‘bars are plugged, take the time to grab some thread locker and place a drop on each of your handlebar clamp bolts – just to be on the safe side. Align your bars in the clamps using the provided markings on the bar itself, once you are happy with the positioning, it’s time to tighten them up.

The use of thread tape underneath your lever perch is quick, easy and will save you money down the track. Image: Adam Spence.

Most bikes will have a torque spec within the user manual for these four bolts, some people choose to follow that, and others do not. But it is a nice idea to just check over the manual, see what they advise and go from there.

Once your handlebars are secured, it’s time to re-attach your controls. Now you can obviously just bolt them back on and hit the track, which would be the simple and easy way to do things. But if you take a little extra time to do this next step, it could make life much easier down the track.

Grab yourself a roll of Thread Tape, also known as ‘plumber’s tape’ from your local hardware store. Now wrap a section of tape around the ‘bar where you are going to attach your lever, what does this do? It allows the lever to move when you take a fall, which obviously minimises the chance of breaking a lever and ruining your day’s riding.

Now with your ‘bars nice and tight in a comfortable position and your levers set up correctly, it’s time to bolt up your throttle, kill switch and front plate! Last but not least, you will need to grab a set of your favourite grips and fit those to finish off the job.

Stay tuned for our next How To, which will tackle the task of applying those new grips. As always, there are a couple ways to apply your grips, and we will cover all of those techniques so you can head out to the shed and get the job done correctly and with ease.