OK- Don't like my dragbar...

[snapper]

OK folks I have come to the conclusion that I do not like my dragbars.  With driving into Boston everyday the position gets to me.  My neck starts to ache and I need to crack my back and blah blah blah....  Also the vibrations are pissing me off.  I think I am just a bit to short for the bar.  

I am not a fan of the oem bars either.  So I am looking for advice on bars to get.  What kind of bars are on the new SV650?  They are a bit lower than our oem bars.  Also who went with MX bars?  I don't want to spend a bundle but I don't want to go to $10 route either (I am afraid of more vibrations).  

I want to do this really soooooon because my ride is getting very uncomfortable.  Sitting in traffic is hell!

Thanks bunches!!!
:mrgreen:

[Jared]

Try the Superbike bar...
It has a little more pull back and rise than the drag bar.

And for 12-15$ it's a light risk $$$ wise...

[snapper]

My fear with that one is the vibration.... are you using it?

[mrslush50]

aluminum dirtbike bars are the only way to go.  they look cool too.

[snapper]

I was thinking that... not to mention they are readily available.  :mrgreen:

[Jared]

I used them on the last GS I had...well the last 2 ( I buy-fix-sell..). So No I haven't used them for more than 3- 4 days of riding each (I always test the bikes for a few days before I sell them) and I have a short commute....

I didn't find it to numb my hands or feel  very buzzy tho...My first Bike was an 89 Gs500e... now that bike made my hands numb ( clip-ons ).

I'm putting together another GS right now...This one may stay mine for awhile as a "Toy" ( I ride a ZX11...).

Good luck with your search for bars...

[70 Cam Guy]

My drag bars are a little tough on longer rides but I'm getting my seat position and leg pressure better so its not as bad.  I don't feel any vibes with my Flanders bars.  Do you wear gloves when you ride?  I have some mid grade Alpinestars that may or may not absorb some of the vibrations

[The Buddha]

The aluminum dirtbike bars have 2-3 issues when it comes to a GS. They are wide...very wide, their angle is almost the same as the drag bars so if you have pain in your thumb and inside wrist (base of the thumb) it wont cure it. I am going to get a guy to make some SM copies out of the same type material as the dirt bike bars, will know this weekend. Vibrations seem to be the least if you have 30 to 45 degree angle to the section between the clamps. No bar offers that. The most comfy position is with your hands right at the level of the triple clamp with your knuckles tipped 15 degrees down...like the 89 clip on's. Yea I know many false starts later I am working on it. My target $$$ ~1/2 of the SM bars.
Thanks.
Srinath.

[snapper]

Hmmm... Yeah I have pain tehre too.. specially when sitting in traffic... clutch in- clutch out-clutch in-clutch out.
I was going to see if the dirt bike bars bend toward the rider any..if not then its not any different.  Just a higher stretch.  

I am guessing my neck and back hurt from the bend over... the hands from the stretch.  Clipons at least are angled better... but my neck would still hurt.. so I don't want to go with the SM bars.  

[The Buddha]

I have tried a bunch of things for handle bars on this and many other bikes...For a cruiser the dirt bike bars will work quite well. They dont come to the rider much, and they also dont rise much...So if you thought the stock bars rise too much and are too narrow or they come to the rider too much when you turn them towards the rider a little then the dirt bars work good. However the SM's might not be right either in your case like you point out. The real reason I believe in making them to nearly emulate the 89 position is that any bike I put the 89's on seem to lose 80% of its vibration. I dont think its due to the fact that the 89's were better motors. Heck they may be the worst...The position has more to do with it. The overall weight is going to go on your hands and wrist more, but that does not seem to hurt really cos its a more natural position than the uncomfortable twist of the stock or drag bars. In effect what looks comfy is not, and what looks painful turns out to be quite comfy.
Cool.
Srinath.

[snapper]

I see... but that just makes it that much harder to decide!  Well.. maybe I just have to go through trial and error.  Having never ridden a bike with clipons before I can't really talk-can I?


Thanks!

[pantablo]

The SM bars are better than drag bars because of the better wrist angle. first thing I noticed between the two. SM bars also are about same as 89 clip on position, just above the top triple.

But would be an expensive experiment...

[tricked500]

at least you found out now that you dont like them

If you sell them I would like to buy them



Tricked500

_________________________
KEEP IT ON ONE WHEEL

[snapper]

I will hang on to them for a bit (didn't hang on to the stock ones long enough so it seems) but I wasn't riding into the city everyday.

Pantablo- Whats your neck position like?  I think I have gotten very good at not leaning on my hands....

[pantablo]

Hard to describe. Feels pretty natural but I like the sportbike position.

[snapper]

Why are they trying to hold you back man?

:lol:   :lol:

[pantablo]

If they were they'd only need one of them...LOL...

They were push starting me (actually only Good_Guy was) on the ortega ride...dont ask.

[snapper]

LOL--- sorry I couldn't resist.... even though if they were trying to stop you their feet would be in a different location!   :lol:

[snapper]

On my way home tonight I stopped at my closest dealer.  I went around and felt up the clipons (snicker).  I can see how that angle is better for the wrist.  Also as I drove home (while I sat in fricken traffic) I paid attention to what was bothering me most.  Its the wrist pain.  So I guess I would put that as my #1 problem to deal with.

Pantablo- I will look at your web site pics- but would say that the SM bars are closer than the straight across of the drag bar?   And if so can you estimate how much?  Also do your hands end up being below the triple clamp? (is that whats its called?)   Hows the vibrations?  Would I be able to add barend weights on the end to reduce vibes?  Also I have napoleon style mirrors- will they still work?

If it makes the pain go away I don't mind spending the $$.  It would be a good investment!  I save more than that in a month by using my bike to commute into the city.

Thanks!!!

[pantablo]

Pantablo- I will look at your web site pics- but would say that the SM bars are closer than the straight across of the drag bar?   And if so can you estimate how much?  Also do your hands end up being below the triple clamp? (is that whats its called?)   Hows the vibrations?  Would I be able to add barend weights on the end to reduce vibes?  Also I have napoleon style mirrors- will they still work?

You can see from this view above (sitting up straight, on seat, taking picture) how the bars relate to the handlebar mounting point for comparison to yours (front to back). I think the drag bars have your hands much farther forward and at an odd angle. These S-M bars feel very comfortable in that regard.





This blurry shot kind of shows the relationship of bars to triple (up and down). maybe not...the bars sit flat on the triple, at the height of the clamp extending horizontally outward, neither dipping down or up from the triple mounting point itself.

Right now I have stock bar ends in place (my newer bars dont have the welded insert so you might have to get aftermarket or new stock barends if yours is older) and you can see how I rigged up my bar end mirror leaving in place the bar end. I have used the bike with bar end mirrors  that replace the bar end weights and haven't noticed any bad vibrations but truth be told I didnt have the stock bars on long so hard to say really. Your napoleons will work as I also had a pair of these on at one time.

Hope this helps.