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Not really sure it's "appearance", but a question about handlebars

  • Thread starter Thread starter Sojourner
  • Start date Start date
S

Sojourner

Guest
I am going under the assumption that the bars that came on my bike are stock. I like them for the most part, but there's a bit of a wrist issue on longer rides due mainly to the angle of the spread. I've done some looking at replacements, but the pictures of unmounted bars and sparse specs don't really help me much.

I'd like the bars to come farther up above the stem maybe an inch or two over stock (I'm 6'3"). I like the width of the stock bars well enough at the thumb/forefinger measurement, but not so at the ends (puts my wrists in a funny angle). I'm not really sure what this angle is referred to, and I haven't seen a lot of bars listed with an angle measurement anyway. I'm not sure if the best way to alleviate the wrist strain would be for the ends to point a bit more downward (towards the street) or for the ends to come in a bit more on the horizontal plane (towards the rider).

I know tastes in bars vary, but can you think of a few styles that might help? I've seen a few listed as buckhorns and nighthawks that look somewhat promising. I have this sneaking suspicious though that I'm just going to have to order three sets of different bars and just ship back the two I don't like. The reason I'm looking for the feedback is that I'd rather not have to send back all three since I was way off the mark.

Thanks
 
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Most good websites selling handlebars have photos with measurements of the rise, width and angles. Even some eBay sellers provide this.

Bars are pretty cheap, so I guess it wouldn't hurt to try a few. I ended up with Renthal ultra-low bars on my GS550. They cost $60, but they are thick-walled, damp vibration pretty well, and are a good fit for me (6'2").
 
Ya, but aren't those angles referring to the angle of the spread from the clamp/stem/mount to the controls? I'm talking about the angle from the bend immediately before the controls to the ends of the bars. In other words aren't they referring to the first bends' angle (from the tank up) and not the second bends' (the part you slide the throttle on)?

Think of it like Nero or some other Roman cesar deciding if a gladiator was going to live or die. The stock bars feel like your hand is extended and your thumb is pointing left/right. I'm looking for a set of bars where you are giving more of a thumbs up (which should make the fictional gladiator referenced feel relieved). Not a straight thumbs up like 9 o'cl and 3 o'clock since I think that would complicate steering. Just more of a 10 o'clock and 2 o'clock feel. My stock bars hit me at more of a 11 o'clock and 1 o'clock.
 
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You niught be looking for "L" bars.

Considering the question you asked in another thread, they might be a good fit for you.

.
 
So the bars from the L models? Was there a difference between L and E bars? I hadn't really considered it, but it might just work. I never had this problem with my old '82 GS1100L but that was so long ago now. Maybe it's just bothering me now that I'm older?

Anyone have any experience with "Nighthawk" style bars? Just a tad concerned that with the 7" rise we're talking almost mini-apes.
http://www.jcwhitney.com/handlebars/p2017095.jcwx?skuId=426391&filterid=c14751j1

Maybe the LTD?
http://www.jcwhitney.com/handlebars/p2017095.jcwx?skuId=426390&filterid=c14751j1
 
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