I need help selecting new handlebars and generally with my riding posture

[sam000lee]

My GS750 came with some huge wacky cruiser bars that I immediately replaced with a set of Emgo "Daytona Touring" bars when I bought it. I rode from MA to CA and back on those bars and still have them installed. Over the past few years, I've come to realize that they're probably not ideal for me and my goal for this spring is to really dial in the performance and comfort of the bike. I'm 6'1" and find the riding position not super comfortable on long rides and think there are two things going on:

1. Since I'm tall, my knees are essentially at 90 degrees or maybe even slightly less.

2. I think the bars are too low and perhaps that the "pullback angle" - if that term makes sense" - could be improved.

3. (I know I said two but I feel like this is relevant) The GS750 carb spring is really strong and causes my throttle wrist to fatigue after about an hour. I regularly do 100-300 miles days in the summer months and it makes those much less enjoyable and I genuinely becomes kind of a safety issue after a few hours.

Here are the specs for the Daytona Touring Bars:

Width: 29 1/4 in.
Rise: 4 in.
Pullback: 4 1/4 in.
Center Width: 4 in.
End Rise: 6 3/4 in.
7/8 in. Diameter Clamping Width:4 in.

Pros are that I love the stance of the bike with them and overall think they look awesome. Also, if I'm not on a highway, they do lean me over the bike more and I feel like help me ride a little more aggressively into turns, etc.

Cons are that the position I'm in on the highway feels a little awkward and that my arms are kind of out/downstretched.

The Emgo bars were $23 and I wouldn't mind spending the money to get a nice set of handlebars. What suggestions do you all have for bars that are maybe similar to the Daytona Touring bars, but a little taller and perhaps with another inch or two of pullback? If you have pictures of what your set up is, as well as which handlebars you're running that would be super helpful.

Second thing: I've been wondering whether getting a set of rear sets would make me more or less comfortable on long rides. More comfortable because my legs would be more extended and less comfortable because it would be harder to shift or apply weight on the foot pegs. Any wisdom on this?

 

[Redman]

Have bike on center stand.
Sit on it and hold hands about an inch above grips, and then about an inch back from that and another inch back from that.
Then try about 2 inches above grips, and an inch back from that and another inch back from that.
THen try 3 inches above ... and so on.
Find a good location. THen add those numbers to the specs. of your present bars .

Maybe you might find the stock bars are good.

 

[Redman]

Other things to help with fatigue from long ride:
1) Ear plugs
2) Throttle lock or cramp buster lever.
3) Stop for a short walk around, every hour or so, before get tired.
4) fairing, even a small one - but maybe that is not acceptable to you.

 

[dpep]

I was glad to see this thread started as I have been thinking about trying some different handlebars myself. I have used the Daytona bars on all my bikes for years/decades now, even the ones with a Winjammer fairing. But I am wondering if in my old age something a little wider would allow me to leverage my top heavy 850s through the turns with a bit more finesse. They are not exactly flickable sportbikes.

I would add to Dave's good suggestions that you Google "motorcycle handlebar risers" and view the variety of products that come up. Installing a set of risers would in most cases not require transferring your controls, cables, brake line, mirrors, etc. You could try the new height/angle and if you don't like it go back with little work either direction. That of course assumes you are looking for something only slightly taller that would not require new cables and brake lines to reach. Check for available slack first. I am looking to change width more than height so I won't be able to get off that easily.
...

 

[dpep]

With regard to rearsets, have you tried riding any highway distance with your feet on the passenger pegs? That would give you some feel for whether it would be an improvement. I am tall myself and will occasionally move a foot to the back peg if that leg starts to feel a little stiff/cramped. It is usually only one leg at a time and only after a long time in the saddle.on the Interstate.
...

 

[Grimly]

This site is highly useful...
http://cycle-ergo.com/

 

[Gorminrider]

one of my favourite subjects.....

I agree with Redman- if you have the stock ones put them on and give them a chance . What I think is "right" is to check the angle of your arm when you are riding...make your fore-arm horizontal and if you are crouching uncomfortably to do this, an inch or so higher is going to make a big difference. Do this while you're riding....You have more options 'around" this as you ride and especially, to steer comfortably...because there's "slack" available in your arm that doesn't exist if you are required to "stiff arm" to reach the bars...

dpeps idea is a good one. I put an inch on my Honda450S and it was a cure. the bars are "special" so a set of cowhorns wouldn't do. With risers you get everything the same but lifted and a trifle towards you too as they follow the rake of forks...

Tweaking a particular set of handlebars fore and aft Might help but it also changes your wrist angle .and ...generally speaking the "stock setup" handlebars vertical dimension follows the fork or is tilted a little abaft. Too much you will be tillering the bike like a sailboat while your arms splay from the wrists. Nogo.... but it does move them twards you even while it lowers them so you'd probably want taller bars for this to be useful.

But some bikes just don't fit. Especially as you get old. Being cramped in a foetal position (or stretched) by the frame and footpegs however much you fiddle with handlebars just can't be maintained so the armchair ergos suit us more and more....

 

[sam000lee]

Wow I've never seen that tool before, primitive but pretty cool. I hadn't really considered the risers since I don't like how they look but maybe I'll get a 2" set and give 'em a chance while I hunt for other bars. I've been asking around the local moto scene and shops to see whose got 7/8 sets I can try out. I had also been looking at pictures of other bikes of the time to see if any of them look similar to what I want.

I do also have a '77 GS550 with the stock bars which I believe may be exactly the same as the stock GS750 bars. They have a little too much pullback for my liking but aren't bad. The throttle on that bike has a MUCH easier pull so when I've wrote >100 miles I don't get the same type of wrist fatigue.

Thanks everyone for the input so far.

 

[sam000lee]

DCC/Z1 also sells a pair of "stock replica" XS650 bars that I like the look of with the following specs:

Dimensions:
Width: 29"
Rise: 6.5"
Pullback: 4"
Center: 5.25"

The problem I've been having is that there's only one "rise" measurement of 6.5 inches. The Daytona bars on the other hand have a "rise" of 4" and an "end rise" of 6.5" and I'm not sure which of those numbers compares to the 6.5" on the XS650 replica's. They certainly look taller than the Daytona Touring bars.

 

[cowboyup3371]

Other things to help with fatigue from long ride:
1) Ear plugs
2) Throttle lock or cramp buster lever.
3) Stop for a short walk around, every hour or so, before get tired.
4) fairing, even a small one - but maybe that is not acceptable to you.

These x 10.....

 

[salty_monk]

I always wanted to try a set of the Bikemaster GP Touring bars. I had Euro bars on my 1000G which are a bit lower but with more backsweep than the daytona & Daytona's on the skunk and the 1100G.
I had 1" risers under the Daytona's on both bikes in recent years.
The bike model does make a difference.

Really grippy grips (and good gloves) can make a big difference to hand fatigue (as can fatter grips). I used to use a throttle rocker or crampbuster but got out of that habit when I got the KLR - it's not powerful enough to use one without it being a pain (too much throttle movement required).

For legs I have tried lowered pegs - not good. Rearsets may help but for me moving my body more upright works more.
How new is your seat foam? Having some super cell foam added into your seat can help a lot as it doesn't compress & creates more leg space.
On my 1000 & 750 I had a bit of extra height added into the seat foam (the 1000 is a cutdown king/queen seat in the first place) the 750 I had about 1/2" added to the bottom of the foam right on the pan as well as some supercell in the top of it and another 8mm foam over the whole thing....

If you haven't tried one you should try getting an "air hawk". Not only do they isolate you from vibration and spread the weight better on a long run but they also help as they add 1/2" - 1" into the seat height when you use them. I have the Cruiser small model but I'd be tempted to try the Dual sport. They didn't exist when I got mine years ago....

https://airhawk.net/product/cruiser-small/

 

[Joe Garfield]

Maybe you can try rolling the handlebars back (towards you) while sitting on the bike on the center stand, and see if you like it better or worse. I'm just thinking that the bars you have on it don't look low, and rotating them will bring them closer to you.