Ed
08-11-2004, 02:00 PM
Product Review:
Earache steel barends (2004 R6)
What the hell is it?
It goes into your handlebar. In case of a crash or drop in the garage, the ground will hit it instead of breaking it off and the brake/clutch levers. Earache sells plastic ones or steel ones. I bought the steel ones (colored black).
How much and where?
Earache is a guy from the R1 forum that makes barends, slider, etc. Penfold seemed to vouche for him, so I took a chance and bought a set of barneds from him. 65 for the steel ones. 25 for the plastic ones. PM Earache for more details.
What the hell does it look like?
I don't have pictures because I don't have a digital camera. It screws right into the handlebar. No messing around with rubber ends that have to expand or metal tubes that'll expand. The barend screws right in, so it looks like it'll stay in if you crash. The rubber ones seem like they'll pop off in a hard fall. Earache's barends are heavy to keep the handlebar shakes down to a minimum. They're colored black on the actual end and are gray in the threaded part that screws into the handlebar. The earache barend is also twice as long as the stock barend, so it'll extend further out and possibly prevent your clutch or brake lever from breaking on impact.
Pros:
-Fit: It screws right in. You don't have to mess with rubber ends or steel tubes that have to expand.
-Color and Size: the gloss black is a good paint job and the circumference of the bar end is the same size as the handlebar, so it doesn't look awkard or out of place.
-Weight: It's nice and heavy so your handlebars won't shake when you've switched the stock ones out.
Cons:
-No allen wrench screw in point: You screw the barends in by hand. I'd rather do them with an allen wrench to get them in tight, but it still screws in alright.
Conclusion: It's better than other barends out there, and the fact that they're decently heavy helps to minimize handlebar shakes. Plus earache got them to me fast. I recommend them. I'd give the barends 7 out of 10.