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General Category >> Rubber Side Down! >> Handlebar decision help!
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Message started by Tomski on 03/07/10 at 07:52:27

Title: Handlebar decision help!
Post by Tomski on 03/07/10 at 07:52:27

Hey guys (and girls) I'm finishing up my Savage bobber and the handlebars are the immediate problem I'm having. There are literally hundreds of brands, styles, and sizes to choose from and without feeling them in person I cannot make a decision based on my specific needs.

Maybe someone here can help me out. I'm pretty sure these are the stock handlebars as they have the notches (holes) cut in the ends for the little tabs on the hand controls (anyone still following me here?) Well since I'm a rather large guy and I like rather small bikes I have to make my upper body not feel so cramped by these bars. I tried just turning them forward at the mounting base and that turned out bad, its barely rideable. The bars come in too far at the ends (pullback) for that. I need minimal pullback but with about 8" or so of rise so I could get a more chopper look without actual APES. The bike would look better overall like this, I wouldn't look like a bear riding a tricycle, and I wouldn't FEEL like a bear riding a tricycle.

That brings me to my current top pick for a set of bars:

http://www.sideroadcycles.com/ImportedMotorcycles/ImportHandlebars/ImportSuperSt/ImportW_Bars.html

The shorter bars I think would work but I need some input!

EDIT

I know that the bars I want are going to be uncomfortable for more than 20 minutes riding at a time. This bike is built only for looks really and a short commuter so I don't mind the pain (its a hardtail! LOL) in sacrifice for the "look" on this one.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v617/skarpenz/IMG_2652.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v617/skarpenz/IMG_2653.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v617/skarpenz/IMG_2655.jpg

Title: Re: Handlebar decision help!
Post by verslagen1 on 03/07/10 at 08:34:44

I think you'll want less pull back
And I know you can pay less, $30 to 50 for a set.
I'm a big guy as well 6' 240#
The pull back of the drag bars is about right
and the height of the buck horns is good.
And unless you want to buy new cables don't go any higher.
Search for mini apes for suggestions
I ended up with a 6" rise Z bar

Title: Re: Handlebar decision help!
Post by Tomski on 03/07/10 at 08:40:31

We are nearly identical in build then. I will want to go no higher than 8.5" anyway, the bike will be unridable again. Drag bars (flat) are too low for my long legs. Where did you get your Z-bars from? I wouldn't be opposed to a set.

Title: Re: Handlebar decision help!
Post by Phelonius on 03/07/10 at 08:52:41

I am 6'5" and used a set of super bars on home made risers.
The S40risers made the bars so high that the cables would not reach. the lower savage risers that come with the buckhorns were to short for me. I made my own from one inch square aluminum bar stock. I lathed the upper ends to fit the crown part of the S 40 pieces, then tapered that end. I drilled the full length and used long stainless allen bolts to fasten them to the stock mounts in the triple trees. I cut them to the length that suited me best. They have served me well for three years.

Phelonius

Title: Re: Handlebar decision help!
Post by verslagen1 on 03/07/10 at 09:08:32

Couldn't find the ones I got, but here's a link to one like it at the same store...
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/CHROME-Z-BARS-HANDLEBARS-HARLEY-CHOPPER-BOBBER-SPRINGER_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQhashZitem20afd4749dQQitemZ140388889757QQptZMotorcyclesQ5fPartsQ5fAccessories#ht_500wt_819

And phelonius is right about the risers, you can make your own.
A couple of 3/4" sockets and long bolts to match work great too.
Just replace the bolts in the risers with a good quality 3/8 bolts and slip the sockets in between the riser and chrome cover.

Makes it easy to get that final adjustment for comfort.

Title: Re: Handlebar decision help!
Post by diamond jim on 03/08/10 at 08:19:17

Tomski, I've had three different sets of bars on my bike. They have all been either drag bars with little or no rise and a broostick drag bar. I've gone though the mini ape phase a few times like many others on here but could never quite pull the trigger on the mod. But in checking out how they would feel, I hung a bar from one of the rafters in the garage, pulled the bike under it and played around with the bar/hand height and bar position relative to the risers (forward, centered and back). You might want to try that. Find what feels comfortable, then measure the height, pullback, etc and look for bars that match the dimensions.

Also, I imagine your hands will be more forward than what they currently are with the buckhorns. Personally, I prefer my footpegs to be direclty below the grips or as close to this as is achievable. This alignment has always been my favorite cruiser setup. It allows my rump and inside of my thighs to be supported by the seat. Otherwise, if all the weight in on the rump, soreness sets in much quicker. This may or may not mean the addition of footpeg forward controls for you. Just some thoughts.