I have stock bars (I think) on a 1992 GS, and find that my preferred riding position has my ring finger and pinky on the bar-end weight. There is a rubber handgrip with a flange, which looks like it should try to keep my hand further up the bars... but the way I ride, the flange presses into my palm between my middle and ring finger.
I'm not sure what the deal is: I'm not a big guy, and don't have broad shoulders. But riding where my hands are "supposed" to go seems to feel like a bit cramped. I ride very upright (especially with the 35 liter backpack filled with groceries :oops: ) Suggestions? And no, I don't want a cruiser :nono:
I have the same problem, but I just decided to live with it and ride holding the weights. You could look into a V-strom bar - they're higher, wider, and swung back farther, but still look decent.
Do you, or did you, do a lot of dirt bike riding? I know that after a weekend of riding my YZ 125 around, the handlebars on the GS seem very narrow. I don't really have any suggestions for wider bars, but I'd bet you'd probably bet used to the feel of the bars if you hold them normally. If you go to a local dealer, they could probably give you some advice on wider bars. I think some drag bars can be wider, but that would also put you in less of an upright riding position.
Hope that helps,
John L.
simple solution. Dirt Bike Handlebars. Way less pullback than stock, but still easy on the wrists.
On the plus side, narrow bars force you to use counter-steering to good effect.
I am a pooor poooor salesman... I have a set of wide bars. I made 2 just as an experiment... I will retain 1 and the other could go to someone tht needs one. But they are flat... 0 rise, about 30-32 degree pull back. And 1+ inch wider... on each side than it has to be. I can measure up and tell you exactly. They just feel wide, and th eother ones dont feel narrow exactly... So these must be much wider...
Cool.
Srinath.