[3TV]

I have never been real happy with the odd "ape hanger" style handlebars that come on Yamaha utility ATVs. Having had great results with Fasst Flexx bars used before on race quads and dirt bikes I decided to use the same handlebar on my Yamaha Grizzly 700. They are expensive, but do a marvelous job of isolating the rider from the side to side pitching of an ATV when ridden aggressively over very rough terrain. They are also incredibly strong, and previous sets of Flexx bars we have owned have been impervious to damage. We have one pair that I had on a dirt bike for two desert race seasons, then we moved the bars over to my son's dirt bike, and he has raced them for two more seasons. They have survived countless high speed get offs, and are still as good as new. So I calculated that the extra expense for the Flexx bars was worth it on my Grizzly 700, because of the improved control they provide in rough terrain, and because I knew they would be the last pair of handlebars I would ever have to buy for the ATV. I'm pretty certain you cannot bend them, it is impossible.

The Flexx bars come in two different heights for ATV applications, and should be used with a pair of handlebar risers to gain a proper handlebar position. I chose to use Rox risers, which come in a 3 1/2 inch and a 5 1/2 inch height, with anodized aluminum color options, black, and polished aluminum finishes. I chose the taller version of Flexx bars, and the shorter version of Rox risers. Rox also sells a new dashboard for the Grizzly, that covers up the steering stem and provides two places to mount indicator lights if you need them.

Here are a few pictures installed on my Grizzly.

I am impressed with the quality of these components. Fit and finish is perfect, with a very easy installation. The bars are much more comfortable than stock, and allow for better control in rough terrain. They also completely eliminate vibration transmitted to the riders hands. I highly recommend them.

3TV

 

[GRIZZLYWIZARD]

Great job 3TV! I have a question. How bad do the Flexx bars impede the vision of the display pod? With the pad, and without.

 

[3TV]

With the pad in place you need to lean forward a fair amount to see the display. Without the pad you can see the display from a normal seated position. I plan on only using the pad when I have seriously aggressive riding in mind. For normal every day use the handlebar pad is overkill, and I think the bars look better without it anyway. These bars could be positioned for better viewing of the display if you had 5 1/2" risers, and the low version of the Flexx ATV bars. The version that I have is absolutely perfect for an aggressive riding stance, but the 5 1/2" risers would allow for more adjustment if all you planned on doing is just cruising, and wanted to see the dash display a little better.

 

[Koko]

I went with the 3.5" as well and agree 100% you need to lean forward to see the display. A minor inconvenience that I can live with.

 

[3TV]

Hey Koko, ... do you know what stiffness the different color elastomers are? You have the blue elastomers in your bars, and I have the red ones. The bars also come with white ones and yellow ones. I know that on my YFZ I used the yellow ones. I used to have an instructions page with my old set of bars that said which color was softest vs stiffest, but this set of bars did not come with that list. I'm thinking that yellow is softest, then blue, then red, and that white is stiffest. Any idea if that is right? I'm thinking that I'll change to a softer set of elastomers with my Flexx bars, but want to put the right ones in.

 

[1Bad1000Xxc]

So why not angle the risers back a little and tilt the bars back as well. I did that on my 5" risers and Solex bars and it's more comfy that way, plus I can see the pod. Obviously these have a little more meet in the middle with those 2 support brackets but it still seems possible, unless with the shape of them out where the controls mount then won't allow the controls to roll forward enough to be positioned properly.

Nonetheless, they look great!

Buster

 

[Koko]

So why not angle the risers back a little and tilt the bars back as well. I did that on my 5" risers and Solex bars and it's more comfy that way, plus I can see the pod. Obviously these have a little more meet in the middle with those 2 support brackets but it still seems possible, unless with the shape of them out where the controls mount then won't allow the controls to roll forward enough to be positioned properly.

Nonetheless, they look great!

Buster

I fiddled with the bars quite a bit and they are perfect where they are. I tried allsort of pull back, up and around. Just never felt right. I also bought a set of 5" risers and I just didn't care for them so I sent them back and stuck with the 3.5's.


3TV my bars came with Red installed, Black, Yellow and Blue. I went with Cole Townsends from FasstCo's suggestion and was to run the blues and then mess around with the others from there. A lot of utility racers like Penland are running the blues. I think black is the stiffest, then red, yellow blue. ;;t;;

 

[GRIZZLYWIZARD]

OK final question(maybe). The 700 Grizzly handlebars are very busy with stuff on them. Looking at all of the pictures, are you going to have room to add handguards, GPS mounts and such?

 

[Koko]

Yes. I was able to add my Rox handguards and mounts. According to Cole, over at FasstCo, the ATV bars were designed with a smaller midsection from the pivot point in. Effectively give the bars a some more room for accesories. That's why you'd want an ATV bend and not the CR bend with these bars. ;;t;;

 

[GRIZZLYWIZARD]

OK so what model did you go with Koko? What about you 3TV? I will be keeping my 5" risers. And I still want to maintain the same height I currently have.

 

[Koko]

OK so what model did you go with Koko? What about you 3TV? I will be keeping my 5" risers. And I still want to maintain the same height I currently have.

Pretty sure these are the ones I got.

14° Quad Racer Part# FL-1003-14-31

 

[3TV]

Ok, on the elastomer densities.

Blue = soft
yellow = medium
red = hard
black =stiff

No mention on their web site about the white ones that came with my handlebars, but I'll be switching to the blue ones.

Fast makes four styles of handlebars for ATVs, both a short and a tall version, and one with a 12 degree sweep, and one with a 14 degree sweep. I have the tall version with the 14 degree sweep; pretty sure that is the same that Koko has.

 

[Koko]

Yes, I have the 14 degrees also. ;;t;;

That's crazy about the white ones....

 

[Mack450]

those are great, 3TV. wish i had gone with those bars.

 

[3TV]

I changed to the blue elastomers, and they do a better job of damping out the movement of the ATV at high speed over the rough stuff. The hard red elastomers that come in the bars are better suited for sport quads that are landing big jumps, and they work well in the Flexx bars on my son's dirt bike.

I figured out where the white elastomers came from. When I installed the handlebars I grabbed the bag of elastomers from previous ATV and motorcycle Flexx bars we have had, and had all of the bags of parts together. The white elastomers must have been from a set of motorcycle flexx bars, or a color Fasst used to use years ago.

 

[Koko]

Ahh! Makes sense now!

 

[SDRider]

Nice bar setup guys. I went with the Pro Tapers for now with 5 inch risers and it is a big improvement over stock. Just couldn't spring for the Flexx bars yet but definitly on my wish list. Not to get off topic but where did you get that shift knob 3TV, i have been searching for something like that.

 

[3TV]

I got the shift knob at Autozone. It cost something like $14, and has the blue LED lights that you can see in the picture. The switch that turns on the LED lights is not water proof though, so the first time I went to the car wash after putting the shift knob on the switch got wet, and the LED lights were permanently on at that point. I had put the knob on so tight that I was concerned that it might just break the knob trying to get it off again, and no way could I get the LED lights to shut off. It took about eight or nine months for the battery in the knob to finally go dead, and during that whole time you could see a blue glow coming from the garage every night. It was kind of funny, and we had a few people ask what the blue glow from our garage was from. I like the shift knob though, it looks good and has a much more positive feel to it than the whimpy rubber thing that comes on these Grizzlys. Next time I would just install it without the battery in it though. LOL.

 

[Gunny]

OK, not to seem stupid .... maybe "uninformed" is a better word with you guys ... but I was think'in of gett'in some bars ... I was think'in of "Solex" ones until I came across this thread.

Are these Fasst Flexx a better handlebar than the Solex ?? I'd like to hear from some Solex owners on this question if you would ....

And these "elastomers" .... I take it they "soak" up the vibrations one gets thru the stock handlebars ??

I haven't looked at either handlebar website so any "Tech" info from you guys would be greatly appericated.

Still looking at risers & grips too. Lots of stuff out there. Threads such as this help make some decisions easier .... Thanks !

Later ...
:headbang:

 

[Gunny]

Holy Crap .... I just looked at the Fasst Flexx handlebars .... do they really cost THAT much ?? .... Guess I won't be buying those bad boys !


Later ...
:headbang: