Handlebar--long vs short

[TwoSmokeDS]

I've a Honda NT700, which is a light weight sport touring. I didn't like to be in the lean forward posture; so I added a Helibar riser that put the handlebar back 2.5 inches and up 3.5 inches. The riser allows me to sit upright. Since adding the riser, I've dropped the bike several times. Do you think a longer handlebar would help controlling the bike? If so, who sells handlebars?

[TwoSmokeDS]

How difficult is it to bend a handlebar from scratch?

[toma nova]

Have you posed this question on a Deauville-specific forum (probably Europe based since it's been out there for years)?

The amount of up and back seems like a lot - for VStroms, the typical is about 1" up and/or back. Your leverage will certainly change with 2-3", maybe for the worse.

Bars are cheap, it's probably a lot harder to bend them symetrically then to buy / return / buy again until you find the right fit. Cycle Gear, your local shop, any motorcross supplier has tons of them.

HTH, Tom

[t hughes]

the question is not what bend and such, but how much slcak in cables and hoses to controls. literally thousands of choices of handle bars available. I used a motorcycle larry riser plate for my fjr, i have enough slack for this and no more. good luck...

[TwoSmokeDS]

Yes! I have already added longer cables and brake line.

Yes! 2.5" up and 3.5" back is extreme. I now sit Goldwing-style. I don't really need to raise the bar; I just need to set it back about 3".

I've realize that whenever I drop the bike, my handlebar is turned full left or right. I think the trouble is that at full turn position, the handlebar requires a lot of force to turn back to center. I always drop when I can't turn the bar back to center fast enough.

[Maverick]

Do you have a pic? I'm having a hard time picturing what you're doing. It may be just a matter of rotating the bars forward a little. would make you lean forward but would probably give you a better grip to turn the front back to center.

[DFW_Warrior]

Originally Posted by texasnh

How difficult is it to bend a handlebar from scratch?

Very.

[KenH]

Steel bars are cheap. Scrapyards are full of them

Grips should be about even with the stem front too back. Reasonable height does not seem to make a difference in feel, but moving the grips forward or back from the stem really masses with the low speed handling. Also, the wrist angle makes a lot of difference in low speed handling. A too-bent wrist makes applying pull or push to the bars difficult.

[DFW_Warrior]

Originally Posted by KenH

Steel bars are cheap. Scrapyards are full of them

Grips should be about even with the stem front too back. Reasonable height does not seem to make a difference in feel, but moving the grips forward or back from the stem really masses with the low speed handling. Also, the wrist angle makes a lot of difference in low speed handling. A too-bent wrist makes applying pull or push to the bars difficult.

That's what I was worried about when he went with such an extreme set back on the riser extensions. From my past experience, the closer inline you put your grips with the steering stem, the better you can control your motorbike.

So for most people comfort is a double-edged sword to a certain extent. People want an extreme rise and setback, but want the steering input from having a stock setup.

[TwoSmokeDS]

Originally Posted by Maverick

Do you have a pic? I'm having a hard time picturing what you're doing. It may be just a matter of rotating the bars forward a little. would make you lean forward but would probably give you a better grip to turn the front back to center.

I just rotated the bar as far backward as possible. So the handle is now lower and further back. I seem to get better leverage from this position. Let me try this for a while.