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Handlebars & grips recomendation

  • Thread starter Thread starter chiphead
  • Start date Start date
C

chiphead

Guest
Spent a couple of hours on the 1100 last night. Rode out to the beach at Hampton. Excellent ride but after 70 miles it felt like I had an ice pick stuck between my upper shoulders. My bike has hbars that used to be referred to as "sportsman" bars back in the day. I've always used this style of bars but I think because of my advancing years it's time to go with a more slightly swept back and a bit more upright design. Below is a old pic of the bike. It's the best one I have that gives you some idea of the bars. I don't want the buckhorn sit up straight bars but am looking for something in between what I have and the buckhorns. Any recommendations on bars and a comfortable set of grips and where to find them would be appreciated. I've always like the foam style grips. Thanks.
0207004.jpg
 
The stock bars were appx. 6" to 7" rise, back in the day " I " thought too tall. Today I wish I had a set of original bars for my GS1100 E, just to see if I still think they are too tall. What I have now is appx. 4" rise & they're OK & like you I like the "Grab On" (foam) grips. Remember, Handlebars & grips will always be a personal opinion.
 
I just ordered the daytona bars ( $18 bike bandit) to replace my 650g stock bars. From what I can tell, they should be just about inbetween what you have currently, and the stock sweep-back. I hoping it will move me forward, just enough to not be sit and beg. Once I get them on, I'll report back.

I need new grips too, I am going to the local for those.
 
Ive got the Grab-On foam grips which I really like and they have lasted a long time.

I also would like to try the orig E bars again. Ive got K & N superbike bars that are nice on the highway with a wind blast to hold me up (feet on the rear pegs) but in town Im a bit too bent over. The new 1250 Bandit has some nice bars.
 
I can't comment on the bars, but it sounds like you have some leads. For grips, I use Pro Grips on every street bike I have. They are a "gel" type grip, not as big as the foam ones, but very gummy and soft. They provide lots of grip, absorb a significant amount of vibration and last a long time (for me anyways). Cheap, too, less than $20 at the local dealer.


Mark
 
I have been using GS bars from a smaller bike, GS450 bars on a GS750, just put the GS750 bars on a GS1000.
Slightly narrower, slightly lower, very comfortable for me.
The resulting riding position is leaning forward a little bit more than stock bars.
 
Maro,
I just sent you a PM. Could you give us your opinion on the daytona bars?
Thanks.
 
I have Daytona bars on my '82 850G. A couple inches higher than the Superbike bars shown in the photo - not drasticly higher. Might not be high enough based on your comments.
 
Nessism said:
I have Daytona bars on my '82 850G. A couple inches higher than the Superbike bars shown in the photo - not drasticly higher. Might not be high enough based on your comments.
Click to expand...
Thanks Nessism. I measured the bars on my bike today and it "seems" i have a 5" pull back and a 3.5" rise, although I admit I'm a bit shaky on the measurements. I'm thinking I need more. I need to find a dealer in my area that stocks a decent selection of bars and take them out to the bike and hold them up.
 
i have those grips like in the pic but i am missing the throttle side end cap anyone know if they sell em seperatly?
 
I just got a set of OURY block pattern grips, and although I haven't gotten to ride on them yet, I really like the feel of them. They feel really sticky but have a good bit of cushion to them as well. They were only 10$ from dennis kirk but they are only a 5" grip which is tad short for the stock controls on my 78. I'll update my opinion on them by the end of the week.
 
Handlebars

Handlebars

The more I read from you guys, the less I know!

I've been looking to replace the bars on my 'new' '85 GS550LF. It has some dirt-bike bars on it (long story) and I've been looking for some original L style bars. Another thread suggested they were very uncomfortable to ride. I know nothing about bars or grips -- interchangeability, rise, whatever. I'm looking for a relatively old-fashioned upright position. I also wanted to restore the L-style cruiser look, but comfort and utility are most important.

Does anyone care to educate this newbie on handlebars and grips?

Thanks,
Eric
 
+1 for the Oury grips. Big fat MX looking blocks dampen a lot of vibration, are sticky as ell, and lasted me a long time on my 82 Kat. I wish they were about 7 inches long....
 
eric said:
Does anyone care to educate this newbie on handlebars and grips?
Thanks,
Eric
Click to expand...

Stick with 7/8" bars so if (when) you wreck they will bend and absorb alot of your forward energy when they fold. Also you won't have to change the other fittings which can get expensive.

Go to any large bike store and they should have a large supply of handle bars to get the feel you want. Several websites have dimensions for determining the sizes available for what you think you want? Good grips will cost you more than the bars for sure. You don't want to ship stuff back and forth as that gets expensive nowadays.

Make sure you have enough slack in your cables (all of them) to fit a longer sweptback handle bar without kinking or you will be buying all new custom cables too.

Factory bars usually are middle of the road one size fits all which obviously won't be comfy for both extremes of tall and short people only average people. Did you know that 1/2 the people in the world are below average? Even lifting the angle up and down makes a big difference in the effect on your elbows over a longer ride. Most people seem to prefer the big soft grips. I still use the factory thin original ones with padded gloves.

I like a more upward position with my Vetter windscreen so have slightly swept back bars to allow me a more vertical spine. I can still hunch over for the twisties anytime I want but that is short term - when going any distance comfort is king.
 
Thanks for the info. What websites do you recommend for scoping out bar options?
Mine is a commuter bike, but my commute is 15 miles of nice back country roads. Kinda upright is fine for me. No need to be athletic.
Eric
 
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