So I finished my swap from buckhorn bars to drag bars and I have to say I am not sold on them. My biggest problem I have is I can not see what is behind me with my stock mirrors. Is this normal? I am not sure if these drag bars are the stock suzuki bars or aftermarket. What is the length of the stock drag bars? I have all of my controls mounted as far down the bars as I can. HELP

Mines 27". They're stock and wish it would have came with the Buckhorn ones instead. I like the look of them better and they look more comfortable to me.

I am glad to see someone else likes the buckhorns.  That is what I have on my bike and I really like them.  I admit to not having tried the drag bars, so I really don't have anything to compare them too.  But I have read about folks whose hands go to sleep and hurt when they are riding, I have not experienced any of that.

I would like to ride some bikes with different bars, just to see what they feel like.  But for me now, I like what I have.

Mike

No Mohawk, I am not.  I have only had my bike for about 6 months and though I have looked around some for those connections, I haven't had alot of time to really look and just have not run across anything that jumped out at me.  I am interested in some of those things, though.  

A couple of the Christian Camps here in NC had some rides a couple of years ago, but I think the managers at the camps have changed and changed interests (they do not ride anymore) so the rides sort of got dropped.  

Are you in any of those groups?  Do you recommend one?  Where are you?

Mike

preachermike -  I live in central Georgia. No I am not currently a part of either of those groups either but I am considering Bikers for Christ (BFC). The reason is because it is a Motorcycle Ministry and not a Motorcycle Club. No offense to anyone reading this that might be in CMA but our local chapter is a club. The people involved in it are not interested in telling people about Jesus and what he can do for them using their motorcycle as a in. I have several friends that were in CMA and they were not happy with it because of that. BFC is set up very differently. It has no bi-laws. It has no positions with titles that can cause big egos. It is a ministry. You have to have a letter of recomindation from the pastor of your local church stating that they think you would be committed to doing it as a ministry to get in and then the ministry is to function as a minstry of your local church, including following your local church bi-laws. BFC focus is on serving Christ, CMA focus is on a Christian Motorcycle club. Sorry for the long answer. I guess the short answer is - for me BFC is what I am looking for, but just like my other comment on the bars, to each his own.

For what its worth - I hate the stock buckhorns in fact it may be the worst handlebar design ever I have encountered.
However on a savage for drag bars you need atleast 30 in wide, atleast 15 degree bends, atleast 4 inch rise and atleast 1 inch pull back in the riser.
I would trade a taller rise for a narrower bar in fact but if the rise/pullback isn't atleast 4in/1in it will be miserable.
I make handle bars for lots of bikes, GS500's, SV650's as well as swap out bars on several others with some mish mosh of parts, like GS500 stock bars work great on maxim 700's, Virago 750 risers and 750 bars work well on 1100 virago's, 89 clip on's off a GS500 work great on all 89-00 and on 01+ you need to banana the handle tubes etc etc etc.
I guess I have a very sensitive wrist and arm that sprains and injures easy, as evidenced by a current torn ligament in my right wrist ... but, the savage has been the hardest bike I ahve ever seen to fit a decent handle bar on ever, period.
4-6 inch rise, 1 inch pull back in the riser.
30-36 wide 15 degree end bends.
In fact I'd make them if I can ever buy/figure/get/make the bits I need to get the darn thing put together 1/2 decent.
Cool.
Srinath.

photojoe FSO wrote on 02/25/09 at 07:31:02:


Keep in mind that race bikes have clip-ons.... and they turn,... a lot.
Shorter bars take a bit more leverage to turn, but are more stable at high speed, where wind buffeting can cause arms to be tugged around.  I especially notice better stability with drags, when the big rigs are around.

srinath wrote on 02/25/09 at 10:19:46:


Aside from keeping my wrists straight and being a little wide, my bars are pretty much exactly what you described.  

And they look badass  



Wind's a little bit more noticeable, but not too much unless Im wearing something big.