Swapping handle bars

isimba

Right, I think this is in the right place.

My girlfriend has a old banger of a bike that she loves and cant really afford a new bike. No point to be honest either as all she does is cycle to and from work which is about a 15 min commute. However she wants a bike with them old vintage round handle bars for example http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/VINTAGE-GIRLS ... 3a8376255c

Now, my question is how easy would it be to swap the handle bars over from her straight bars to a pair of curved ones? What would I have to look out for? Any measurements I would need as my plan was to pick up a old battered bike from a recycling center and swap them for her.

sungod

mainly depends on the brake levers and the stem

the current levers need to fit the new bars (check diameter) and be safe to use - i.e. can you mount them in a usable position

the stem clamp diameter needs to match the new bars

if the current bike is nothing special, would be simpler to look for a working replacement and then sell the current one

desweller

Wouldn't be particularly tricky. Just check a few diameters. Certainly easier than hunting for a replacement bike; a replacement might have all kinds of things wrong with it.

isimba

So I just need the diameter of stem clamp and the bar? Doesn't sound too hard. Like Des said if I know the bike is functional it seems sensible to try and find the bars instead of gambling on a new bike.