Fat Bar Mod

My son and I purchased a new bar for our 2016 KLR650 after the stock bar got bent on a fall at Devils Creek. We picked out a ProTaper Contour Bar with a fat bar mount, but upon installation we really just didn't like it on the KLR, so we need to find something else.

As for the ProTaper, I moved it over to the DR650 and we really, really like it on that rig!

Bar: ProTaper Contour, Henry/Reed Bend, P/N 027925 ($67)
Bend: (inches/mm) Width=31.5/800, Height=3.6/92, Rise=2.4/61, Pull=2.2/57
           (OEM Bend Width=32/812, Height=3.1/79, Pull=2.3/58)
Mount Surface: 1 1/8", adapter required.
Control Surface: 7/8", stock controls fit.

The design of the Contour retains 7/8" control surfaces so none of the controls had to be replaced.

Like all ProTaper Bar Models, there is a wide range of bends from which to chose. One size does not fit all riders when it comes to bends and, for that matter, as evidenced by the fact we hated the Henry/Reed on the KLR and loved in on the DR indicates one size does not fit all motorcycles + rider when put together.

The installation of the Contour required a bar clamp conversion. For that we used a ProTaper Universal Solid Mount Bar Clamp Adapter. The conversion clamp results in 3/4" of additional rise. ($36.00)

I was previously using universal risers on the stock bar so the height is just about the same when all is done. However, the stock height was 3.1 inches. The height of the contour bar is 3.6 inches + the adapter 0.75 inches = 4.35 inches. So overall, this set up is increasing bar height by 1.25 inches.


Installation is easy. I had to dremel away two placement nipples on the switch boxes. My Trackside hand guards obviously no longer fit.

After getting the bar installed, I decided to replace the grips and found that the throttle side grip was glued to the throttle tube such that there was no freaking way to get it off!

The OEM replacement part is a grip glued to the throttle tube as well. I purchased an aftermarket Motion Pro tube off eBay for around $10. See the part number for this tube in the photo.

Viola!