Why are passenger handles such a b!#@h to find?

The guy I bought my Vfr from can't track down the rear handles, something about them being at his ex wife's house or whatever. I'm drawing a blank on eBay unless I want carbon fiber look handles. And having no luck in the classifieds. On the bike I just sold, a ZRX, I had two sets. I'm hoping someone here is enjoying a similar surplus and can sell me theirs. Or maybe just an eBay suggestion? I've tried Vfr rear handles, Vfr grab handles, Vfr passenger handles, and Vfr passenger grips to no avail. Any clues?

I have a set somwhere, but (no joke) I havent been able to find them in a few years. Unless I sent them to someone....I just dont know.  elusive buggers, huh?

eBay right now, but getting pricey:    http://www.ebay.com/...ssories&vxp=mtr

I just saw a set somewhere...check the classifieds eiher here or over at VFRW.

-Jake

EDIT: Nevermind, they've sold already. Only wanted $20 for them, too. Be paitent and ready to move and when some pop up and you'll be good to go.

Those are the one's that I bought for my '99!

It's amazing to me how people lose track of things like this.  I bought my 6th gen with 637 miles on it.  During the short time he owned it, the PO lost the owner's manual and the painted block off plates that are used when you remove the grab handles.

I took the grab handles and passenger pegs off for a while.  They were wrapped up, put in a box, labeled on the outside, and stored on a shelf in my basement.  Took me 5 minutes to do.  Took less than 5 minutes to find them when I wanted to reinstall them.

I guess the handles aren't available from Honda?  Or, they're just too pricey?

Judging from the old saying printed on t-shirts of hogs: "if you can read this, the b!#@h fell off" I will hypothesize that it is because they're for the b... ?!? :tongue: :laughing6-hehe: sorry, couldn't help it...

I, myself, had trouble finding some, but I did and I like them. Keep an eye on fleabay and other sites where people may post them. You can also post a WTB add everywhere and see what pops up. Have you thought about wrecks?
Good luck!

C

Still available just pricey. I part time at a shop and even at employee price they are spendy! thought about the carbon ones on eBay but they dont have the little bungee hooks and seriously, carbon grab handles?

Fortunately I just got a set of take offs from eBay and they arrived today so a few bolts and I'm ready to go! Now I just need my new, not broken seat to arrive and we are ready for some two-up speed touring!

Spread your net wider - we have VFRs in UK  - and Europe - you know!.
Go see eBay UK here.

What was neat with the 3rd gen was, the handles fold into/under the seat after you take off the bolts to the subframe. That way they stayed with the bike and never get lost. Suprised when I found out my 4th gen did not have that feature......Although I did make it a point to put them away in a palce I would always remember......

Beck
95 VFR

When I purchased my 5th generation in February the original owner also was unable to find (or too lazy to look for) the passenger grab handles. Of course he promised to call me if/when finds them, but after waiting 8 months  I've pretty much given up on him keeping this promise.

In my experience it's also somewhat rare to find a pair of grab handles for a 5th generation advertised for sale, and even when a pair surfaces the asking price has tended to be (at least to me) rather high. As a result lately I've been considering the purchase a product similar in fuction from the aftermarket source for improving my, and my pillion passengers' sense of security. Below are links to some of the options I've found.

http://motosweeney.c...les/prod_7.html

http://www.motorcycl...&WT.MC_ID=10010

http://www.2wheelrid...m/lh_order.html

http://bikerbuddyinc.com/

Here's another option.

http://www.flyncycle...PS_p/lugpil.htm

Check with some motorcycle salvage yards.

Rollin

If you are installing the Givi/OEM Honda hardbags, you'll need to OEM handles. Found Mason City Honda in the Bargain Finder forum, and ordered mine not too long after the Japanese earthquake and tsunami. There was a shortage for a while, but not sure if the supply chain is improved now.

http://www.masoncityhonda.com/

I checked RonAyers -  They were going for roughly $76 each.

Part numbers 77340-MBG-000 left ----- 77330- MBG-000 Right
http://www.ronayers....Group/REAR_COWL
-



---- (Note to self, dont lose these suckers...)



MasonCity - $80 right/$83 left ..

Mello dude, thanks for the ronayers.com links.  $160 is a bit on the pricey side, but it's cheaper than the carbon fiber ones on Ebay and OEM is better than silly carbon fiber aftermarket anyway.  

Of course, since I never have passengers, I guess I should just put the solo cowl back on instead.

Check out PowerSportsCompany.com out of Beaver Dam, Wis. $75.01 (right), $77.60 (left). $14 (usually) for shipping. Great service to me for five years. Never failed to have the parts I need for my '01.

Check out VFRD Klasifieds. http://www.vfrdiscus...-gen-grab-bars/ for $50 + shipping.
He said those for 5th Gen but I dont know what if they are different from generations.

Heheheh I actually offered them to him before putting them up in the classifieds but he had already found a pair. He was, after all, the reason I bought them :smile:

Sometimes can't find anything. Sometimes can't decide coz too manything to choose.... Hehe

They're out there. I bought a set for my bike, you just gotta be patient if you're looking for used ones. Of course I had to buy new fasteners for them though :ph34r:

Why is the left one more expensive?

Have you seen this? http://www.vfrdiscus...neration-items/

Are you still looking?
I have two I never use, and am not really sure why I should hold onto them...
They are both in great condition, one of them though is missing the metal sleeve inside one of the bolt holes, which should be an easy thing to find or buy I would think.

Found them on BikeBandit (sp?) for roughly $88 each plus the cost of the bolts.  Had the same problem with the '99 I bought late last year.  Another perhaps goofy question - what about the screws that attach the rear seat cover?  My '98 had awesome oversized flat heads which I could attach bungees to, the '99 has conventional phillips head screws which are useless (as attachment points).  Nowhere to be found...help?

ps  I lucked out and bought the pair from Dave N. in the VFRD classifieds...

Just keep looking on here and the other VFR pages. I found a set for mine on here a week after I bought it, but I really had to jump on them as they go FAST. Wish Honda had just kept the 3rd/4th-gen system where they folded under the seat, that was smart engineering for sure.

DL98VFR:  Bolt RR Cowl Hook,  PN 90116-mbg-000.  $12 ea from Service Honda.  Jeff J

[image: View Post]DL98VFR, on 26 March 2012 - 04:44 PM, said:

Found them on BikeBandit (sp?) for roughly $88 each plus the cost of the bolts.  Had the same problem with the '99 I bought late last year.  Another perhaps goofy question - what about the screws that attach the rear seat cover?  My '98 had awesome oversized flat heads which I could attach bungees to, the '99 has conventional phillips head screws which are useless (as attachment points).  Nowhere to be found...help?

ps  I lucked out and bought the pair from Dave N. in the VFRD classifieds...
I'd guess that the PO had replaced them to make it look more aerodynamic. All of the 5th gen had the same setup with regard to the handles, the seat cover and the associated hardware.

[image: View Post]Viffer88, on 25 October 2011 - 05:41 PM, said:

If you are installing the Givi/OEM Honda hardbags, you'll need to OEM handles. Found Mason City Honda in the Bargain Finder forum, and ordered mine not too long after the Japanese earthquake and tsunami. There was a shortage for a while, but not sure if the supply chain is improved now.

http://www.masoncityhonda.com/

Could you elaborate? I was about to order the Givi rack thinking that it would replace the handles anyway... or is this only applicable to the Honda bags?

Oh, and same here.. PO lost 'em and just had the cowl on back there. Can't believe they're so expensive.

Could you elaborate? I was about to order the Givi rack thinking that it would replace the handles anyway... or is this only applicable to the Honda bags?...

The GiVi monorack for the 56th Gen has side handles built in and you cannot fit the OE grab handles as well. My Wingrack also prevents fitting of the handles, but does not provide a substitute.

See my 2000 FiY so fitted:-

Attached Images

• [image: DSC05088 - seat crop.JPG]
• [image: Givi rack fitted 016 crop2 small.jpg]

I want to buy a set of passenger grab rails for 5th gen. Waiting for your offers.

I have a set for sale, as well as a yellow seat cowl from my 2000VFR. Email me if interested -- jay@ewrbikes.com

What I hearing is, if i decide to sell me VFR,
Keep the grab handles and hardware to sell separately. :laugh:

Hmm, maybe centerstand too. :rolleyes:

What I hearing is, if i decide to sell me VFR,
Keep the grab handles and hardware to sell separately. :laugh:

Hmm, maybe centerstand too. :rolleyes:

and maybe the owners manual, tool bags too while your at it.....i hate ppl sell bikes that way :pissed:

I have a set of grab handles in great condition off a 2000 VFR. Email me at CypressKB@hotmail.com or TEXT 407-595-0502 if interested in buying them.

Not so hard to find now. Go go Partzilla. :beer:

http://www.partzilla...COWL/parts.html

Not so hard to find now. Go go Partzilla. :beer:

http://www.partzilla...COWL/parts.html

Since 1990, all VFRS's left the Handa factory in Japan with rear passenger handles and rear cowls. It's always puzzling why these bikes lose them along the way through the years, but it certainly would have helped a lot if only Honda would learn not to let go of a good idea when they had one. The 3rd gen VFR had handles that can be unbolted and folded under the seat when not in use, so there is less chance of owners losing them....but like usual, Honda dumped the design after only one model generation.....Blehhh... :wacko: :mad: .

The handles for my 4th gen is in my bike stuff drawer in my garage these days, but I wouldn't mind it if it was always ready to use under my seat like third gens have them....

And on the other hand my passenger handles are on the bike all the time and my rear seat cowl sits unused in the garage. I used it once and lost a Frankenbolt. But my question from earlier remains unanswered.....why does the left handle cost more?

Because most people are right-handed, it gets cheaper because it's mass produced...

C

PS sorry, couldn't help it.

I have a set of handles from an '01. The right handle is rashed, the left is good. Here are a couple of pics. Make me an offer.

Attached Images

• [image: BorkedHandles1.JPG]
• [image: BorkedHandles7.JPG]

Does anyone have a part number for the little metal sleeve in the grab handles? or know where I could get one, there is one of them missing from one of my grab handles,I have to buy frankenbolts and washers as well as the bike came with just small bolts fitted where the frankenbolts should be.

I am reading a lot of stories about the givi 257fz rack failing,and the bolts breaking at the crossmember where the frankenbolts usually fit,wondering with a givi 55l top box with any kind of load in it would be too much for the rack? maybe I'm just reading too much crap online :unsure:

I had a Givi tubular rack and it failed just to the rear of the Frankenbolts. Was fortunate that it didn't fail while on a busy expressway but it still goofed up the tail light lens and did some cosmetic damage to the tail piece. Same bike just had that failure of the tubular crosspiece. I didn't attribute that failure to the Givi rack because the rack failed a couple of years ago. But this bike has not been ridden much the past two years. I miss the utility of the rack being there and actually considered reinforcing the rack and welding it back together but have taken the path of least resistance and just ride the other bike with full time Wingrack and luggage as necessary!

I know this is an old thread but if there's any UK/Euro-based guys need grab handles, I have a set off a 5th Gen I removed years ago.

Does anyone have a part number for the little metal sleeve in the grab handles? or know where I could get one, there is one of them missing from one of my grab handles,I have to buy frankenbolts and washers as well as the bike came with just small bolts fitted where the frankenbolts should be.

There isn't one, unfortunately.  I didn't even know they were removable!

Ciao,

They must just work themselves loose over the years, I will have a look to see if I can find one or something very similar somewhere.

I am reading a lot of stories about the givi 257fz rack failing,and the bolts breaking at the crossmember where the frankenbolts usually fit,wondering with a givi 55l top box with any kind of load in it would be too much for the rack? maybe I'm just reading too much crap online :unsure:

I too was concerned about failure issues with the Givi 257FZ Rack. In fact, I think I brought it up a couple of times in past posts and even considered going the route of the SHAD Rack. It wasn't until I pulled the trigger on a 257FZ rack that I discovered there are support brackets included with the rack (Part #17). I am now confident that the rack will at least hold up to whatever I put into my Givi B33 Monokey Top Case.

As a side note, in response to the original question of this post from years ago. I purchased my grab handles off eBay for $50 for a pair. I had to be very very patient, but ultimately landed some flawless ones.

I've been riding around with my E55 top case on the Givi 257FZ rack for a couple years now and have had no issues with the rack at all.  I have installed the brackets that Corkey mentioned which I can only assume is there to provide strength to the joint with the frakenbolts as it goes from the footrest bracket to the end of the cross tube where the frankenbolts thread through the fairing.  I have loaded it up a few times without seeing any stress cracks on the frame, cross tube, or rack itself.

They must just work themselves loose over the years, I will have a look to see if I can find one or something very similar somewhere.

Mine are so loose that they'll often fall out when the handle's removed.  I use a zip tie to keep track of them while the handle's off.  I've had some decent luck at the local hardware store as they have steel collars that can be purchased individually.  If I can't find the exact size (unlikely),  I get one slightly larger.  With a little time at the grinder I can get a decent fit. 

If any body wants some I made spacers that act as grab rails. I'll sell them for my cost plus $10 to VFRD. I use them with my SW-Motech racks and then I cut a small notch out of my cowl and run luggage with the cowl. Looks sweet. I had just a few sets made when I had mine made.

For anyone interested, I am not the one selling, but I just saw this pair of 5th Gen Passenger Grab Handles listed on eBay for a Buy It Now price of $35 + $15 shipping.

http://ebay.us/Zh7Rf9