Is a Sports Kit the same as a Continental Kit?

Posted: Wed Jul 28, 2010 8:45 pm

Had someone tell me that the handle bars on my bike weren't from a Sport Kit because they weren't black and have to much rise, my bars are chrome. I got the parts off a 1982 CB750F which had rear sets, Hondaline fairing and these bars. So is there a difference between a Sport Kit and a Continental Kit?

Posted: Thu Jul 29, 2010 1:16 am

Nope. Sport kit bars are chrome (at least as far as I have ever seen on here.)

Posted: Thu Jul 29, 2010 1:43 am

Yes, the continental kit is what Honda called the kit used to convert US bikes to Euro style.

Posted: Thu Jul 29, 2010 9:07 am

stoutblock wrote:

Yes, the continental kit is what Honda called the kit used to convert US bikes to Euro style.

So would that kit include the 'clip-on' handlebars we got, or some type of (lower-rise) superbike-type bar? I don't see how you could fit the proper euro bars on the shorter US forks and not impact handling? Always wondered about that Wink

cheers
ian

Posted: Thu Jul 29, 2010 11:02 am

U.S. Sport kits came with "superbike" style bars.

750 and 900 sport bars were chrome.

I'm guessing the 1100 Continental kit had black bars.

Canadian and European bikes have different, longer fork tubes that were used for "clip-on" style bars.

You need to examine the bend of your bars and compare to see what you have, they may not be the factory sport bars . Post a pic and someone will be able to identify them.

I know when I bought my sport kit (after "Motorcyclist" article appeared), I left my bars off and used one of the "Superbike" signature bars that were out and popular at the time (K+N?). They were popular at the time. So not everyone used the factory bars with the kit.

Posted: Thu Jul 29, 2010 3:44 pm

f4fast wrote:

I know when I bought my sport kit (after "Motorcyclist" article appeared), I left my bars off and used one of the "Superbike" signature bars that were out and popular at the time (K+N?). They were popular at the time. So not everyone used the factory bars with the kit.

I did the same thing. Kit bars seemed a little too high and had to much rearward angle for my taste. The "superbike" bar I bought (and still have on my bike) has a black chrome finish.

Posted: Thu Jul 29, 2010 6:08 pm

Here is a pic of the bars on the bike.

Posted: Fri Jul 30, 2010 3:52 am

bikeboy wrote:

stoutblock wrote:

Yes, the continental kit is what Honda called the kit used to convert US bikes to Euro style.

So would that kit include the 'clip-on' handlebars we got, or some type of (lower-rise) superbike-type bar? I don't see how you could fit the proper euro bars on the shorter US forks and not impact handling? Always wondered about that Wink

cheers
ian

Not all the euro bikes had clip on bars. The older ones had a bar just like the contental kit. The factory clip ons do require taller fork tubes.

Posted: Fri Jul 30, 2010 7:05 am

stoutblock wrote:

Not all the euro bikes had clip on bars.

well there you go. I didn't know that. thanks martin Wink

Do you know off-hand where the upgrade started? I know the FAs had the clip-ons, but I also shared a house with a guy back in the day that bought an FZ with them fitted. (He got really pissed off when I went in 3 weeks later and bought the 'new' FA model Rolling Eyes

) This was the case in Oz at least.

cheers
ian

Posted: Fri Jul 30, 2010 11:33 am

seventyss wrote:

Here is a pic of the bars on the bike.

Those bars look just like my "sport bars"

Approx 3.5 inch rise and 27.5 width (uncut)

My guess is that those are the proper "sport kit" bars for that bike.

Posted: Fri Jul 30, 2010 11:38 am

Thanks the help guys.

Posted: Fri Jul 30, 2010 3:55 pm

bikeboy wrote:

Do you know off-hand where the upgrade started?

Not so much a year, but a distinction on capacity : All European 750's had top yokes with clamps while all 900's had plain top yokes, "Mickey mouse" ear cluster and clip ons