Hello folks. How are you doing on this rainy and cold day? Having a hot corn or samosas? What can beat that. 
So, here I am. In this post i would like to take you guys for a ride with me on installing summer mount upp's handle bar end lights on Dominar 400.
First, let me tell you what made me buy this add-on ( Is it even correct, Whatever)
. Long back I saw a post from Praveen suggesting the best mods(better) a bike can have. Out of all the items, these bar end lights caught my eye. I was really impressed and decided to fit them on my then old Karimza R 2011 model. However, the weekend battery recharge circuit and the bike's look itself has suggested me otherwise. I temporarily held the idea of buying one until i bought a new bike.
In Feb 17 after buying Bajaj's D400 and mutual understandings
, decided to buy the bar end lights. They seemed just right for the bike that is having full LED headlights and turn lights. I was gifted these beautiful lights by my dearest friend on my Birthday for which i was really happy and excited.
When Praveen posted the details it was priced around 2k. Since then, the price was hiked and it currently costs you 3k. The seller takes orders through whatsapp ( Yes, Whatsapp) and sends the product. No COD is entertained , neither is half first half after delivery. All the amount should be payed at once through multiple channels including Online transfer, Paytm. I was little skeptical initially but payed the amount through Paytm and asked the seller to send it ASAP( as i cant hide my excitement as well as trust issues).
While having lunch at my home the next day, a DTDC delivery guy knocked the door and delivered the product.
Amazing!! Under 24 hours the product was sent from Mumbai to Chennai. There disappears my trust issues. I sent a note of thanks to the seller and he reciprocated.
I teamed up with local mechanic to get it fitted to the bike. He said it's not a big deal. There is a local metal work shop near by where the holes could be drilled through the handle bar to pull out the wires and all could be done under a time of 6 hours. I was happy and relaxed.
Workshop technicians would not touch your bike meaning they would not un-mount the handle bar for you. The mechanic has to un-mount and carry it to the workshop. Handle bar was removed and we both( Mechanic and me) went to the work shop to get holes drilled.Primary inspection revealed that, immediately after the length of the stock handle bar weights screw, there is another mass( referred to as 'Abyss' from now on- you will know why) that obstructs the wire to pass freely . Just another metal piece. Not a problem, so as i thought. It turned out to be one helluva problem.
Neither us nor technicians knew how far the 'Abyss' was extended inside the bar. And hell no one knew what material it was made of( Iron, stainless steel etc etc). The workshop has equipment and drills suitable only for iron. Though the handle bar is made of iron , not this part. Irrespective of above unknowns, upon mine and mechanic's pressure they agreed to drill a hole with existing drills and equipment.
The first few centimeters, up to which the default handle bars were threaded, it was easy. A smooth drill to make it wider. Then comes the evil. The drill machine rotating the drill at a rate of 5000 RPM was slowly sent into the abyss. It didn't buzz. It just doesn't go inside. More pressure on the drill by the operator to get the through. In vain. It just doesn't buzz. Pushing it better made the drill come out of it's lock and stop rotating. What the hell? The operator observed that the 'abyss' is rotating inside the handle bar with the drill bit, effectively making it 'non-drillable'. . Mechanic suggested a solution. Make a hole on the handle bar over the 'abyss' and weld them together so that it wouldn't rotate. Solid plan, eh?
The drill machined roared into life. For lubrication, they added water. It was getting closer to the abyss inch by inch. Progress at last. yay!! It would have gone merely a 2-3 mm then stopped. No further movement. However hard the operator try it wouldn't go inside and drill. The abyss should be screaming from inside 'You shall not pass'( Gandalf style). .The operator gave up. He said he cant do it. But we were not to take no as an answer. We again convinced them to drill again. With great push from us they started to drill. Mechanic and the work shop know each other. This might as well helped us to convince them.
Same procedure. Same result. I was disappointed. All my excitement worn off. It's been almost 4 hours since they started working with no considerable progress. We weren't sure what material it is made up of, still. However, a mixture of rubber and steel came out of the drill hole. Sadly, not much to deduce. It is now clear it is not iron. Alas!!
Finally, we resigned to the fact that 'The abyss' cannot be drilled. I ran out of options. Mechanic ran out of options. Then came a solution. Why won't the handle bar be duplicated?
What? How? Why? Really? So many questions running in my mind. Is it worth it? Will it be of original strength? How many days it's gonna take? Lot of questions. But, having no other options i agreed to it. To make a duplicate handle bar to fit Summer mount upp's handle bar end lights. .With the rapport between workshop men and mechanic, they agreed to deliver the handle bar by next day afternoon. We removed the original handle bar and handed over to them.
Next day, at 2 PM I visited my mechanic and asked about the status. He said the bar is ready and we can collect it right away . . Good news!! We went to the workshop and collected the piece. It was bluish white in color as against to black. I compared the length and angle of new one to old one. Everything looks fine. However, the duplicate handle bar weighed little less than original. It might be because of those two 'abyss' pieces( each on either side) in the handle. 
Went to a hardware shop to buy a black spray and few other required things. Returned back to mechanic's garage and sprayed the bar. The final fitting didn't had any twists and went away smoothly. The new handle bar was fitted under an hour with the light connections. End bars to glow white when low beam is turned on and yellow when indicators are switched on.
After looking the bar lights, I felt it is worth it. The lights are of high quality and emit perfect lights. My mechanic was much more impressed than me. In fact i was asked couple of times on roads, if Dominar comes with those lights by other bikers
There ends this story of installing bar end lights on my Dominar. If you are having the same beast and planning to install the lights, please give a thought about as it needs good amount of time and money. Nevertheless, as i pointed out, it will be worth it.
Cost:
Lights: 3000
Duplicate handle bar: 1200
Spray and stuff: 150
Mechanic charges: 500
Total: 4850
Looks heavy.
So, here I am. In this post i would like to take you guys for a ride with me on installing summer mount upp's handle bar end lights on Dominar 400.
First, let me tell you what made me buy this add-on ( Is it even correct, Whatever)
. Long back I saw a post from Praveen suggesting the best mods(better) a bike can have. Out of all the items, these bar end lights caught my eye. I was really impressed and decided to fit them on my then old Karimza R 2011 model. However, the weekend battery recharge circuit and the bike's look itself has suggested me otherwise. I temporarily held the idea of buying one until i bought a new bike.In Feb 17 after buying Bajaj's D400 and mutual understandings
, decided to buy the bar end lights. They seemed just right for the bike that is having full LED headlights and turn lights. I was gifted these beautiful lights by my dearest friend on my Birthday for which i was really happy and excited.When Praveen posted the details it was priced around 2k. Since then, the price was hiked and it currently costs you 3k. The seller takes orders through whatsapp ( Yes, Whatsapp) and sends the product. No COD is entertained , neither is half first half after delivery. All the amount should be payed at once through multiple channels including Online transfer, Paytm. I was little skeptical initially but payed the amount through Paytm and asked the seller to send it ASAP( as i cant hide my excitement as well as trust issues).
While having lunch at my home the next day, a DTDC delivery guy knocked the door and delivered the product.
Amazing!! Under 24 hours the product was sent from Mumbai to Chennai. There disappears my trust issues. I sent a note of thanks to the seller and he reciprocated. I teamed up with local mechanic to get it fitted to the bike. He said it's not a big deal. There is a local metal work shop near by where the holes could be drilled through the handle bar to pull out the wires and all could be done under a time of 6 hours. I was happy and relaxed.
Workshop technicians would not touch your bike meaning they would not un-mount the handle bar for you. The mechanic has to un-mount and carry it to the workshop. Handle bar was removed and we both( Mechanic and me) went to the work shop to get holes drilled.Primary inspection revealed that, immediately after the length of the stock handle bar weights screw, there is another mass( referred to as 'Abyss' from now on- you will know why) that obstructs the wire to pass freely . Just another metal piece. Not a problem, so as i thought. It turned out to be one helluva problem.
Neither us nor technicians knew how far the 'Abyss' was extended inside the bar. And hell no one knew what material it was made of( Iron, stainless steel etc etc). The workshop has equipment and drills suitable only for iron. Though the handle bar is made of iron , not this part. Irrespective of above unknowns, upon mine and mechanic's pressure they agreed to drill a hole with existing drills and equipment.
The first few centimeters, up to which the default handle bars were threaded, it was easy. A smooth drill to make it wider. Then comes the evil. The drill machine rotating the drill at a rate of 5000 RPM was slowly sent into the abyss. It didn't buzz. It just doesn't go inside. More pressure on the drill by the operator to get the through. In vain. It just doesn't buzz. Pushing it better made the drill come out of it's lock and stop rotating. What the hell? The operator observed that the 'abyss' is rotating inside the handle bar with the drill bit, effectively making it 'non-drillable'.
. Mechanic suggested a solution. Make a hole on the handle bar over the 'abyss' and weld them together so that it wouldn't rotate. Solid plan, eh?The drill machined roared into life. For lubrication, they added water. It was getting closer to the abyss inch by inch. Progress at last. yay!! It would have gone merely a 2-3 mm then stopped. No further movement. However hard the operator try it wouldn't go inside and drill. The abyss should be screaming from inside 'You shall not pass'( Gandalf style).
.The operator gave up. He said he cant do it. But we were not to take no as an answer. We again convinced them to drill again. With great push from us they started to drill. Mechanic and the work shop know each other. This might as well helped us to convince them.Same procedure. Same result. I was disappointed. All my excitement worn off. It's been almost 4 hours since they started working with no considerable progress. We weren't sure what material it is made up of, still. However, a mixture of rubber and steel came out of the drill hole. Sadly, not much to deduce. It is now clear it is not iron. Alas!!
Finally, we resigned to the fact that 'The abyss' cannot be drilled. I ran out of options. Mechanic ran out of options. Then came a solution. Why won't the handle bar be duplicated?
What? How? Why? Really? So many questions running in my mind. Is it worth it? Will it be of original strength? How many days it's gonna take? Lot of questions. But, having no other options i agreed to it. To make a duplicate handle bar to fit Summer mount upp's handle bar end lights.
.With the rapport between workshop men and mechanic, they agreed to deliver the handle bar by next day afternoon. We removed the original handle bar and handed over to them.Next day, at 2 PM I visited my mechanic and asked about the status. He said the bar is ready and we can collect it right away .
. Good news!! We went to the workshop and collected the piece. It was bluish white in color as against to black. I compared the length and angle of new one to old one. Everything looks fine. However, the duplicate handle bar weighed little less than original. It might be because of those two 'abyss' pieces( each on either side) in the handle. Went to a hardware shop to buy a black spray and few other required things. Returned back to mechanic's garage and sprayed the bar. The final fitting didn't had any twists and went away smoothly. The new handle bar was fitted under an hour with the light connections.
End bars to glow white when low beam is turned on and yellow when indicators are switched on.After looking the bar lights, I felt it is worth it. The lights are of high quality and emit perfect lights. My mechanic was much more impressed than me. In fact i was asked couple of times on roads, if Dominar comes with those lights by other bikers
There ends this story of installing bar end lights on my Dominar. If you are having the same beast and planning to install the lights, please give a thought about as it needs good amount of time and money. Nevertheless, as i pointed out, it will be worth it.
Cost:
Lights: 3000
Duplicate handle bar: 1200
Spray and stuff: 150
Mechanic charges: 500
Total: 4850
Looks heavy.
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