Handlebars

[mack]

Not sure if the bars on this E are stock or not. If they are I won't be riding this one much. With my back I can't sit bending forward that long and the first good bump would send me to the couch for about six weeks.
Are there any options between the standard and the buckhorn bars. Something with multi adjustable points would be good for me to find the sweat spot. I'll have a pacifico on this as well. I don't think a set risers would work unless they have a set back option.

[MaximPhil]

Hi Mack,
First post a picture of what you have. The experts will soon tell you if it is original or not. Many have non original bars. i think mine are off an old Goldwing.....and work great for me. I think the Buckhorn style was on the Specials not the 78E
Phil

[DeanR]

Goldwing here as well Mack. Early 80s Aspencade maybe. Gonna try a set of standards though or maybe Honda ST bars to do just the opposite of what you have in mind.

of course that assumes that the XS will actually leave the garage next year!

[Yard Dogg]

There are the square type handlebars that came on the XJ models and a few 81 XS models. They are adjustable in 3 dimensions, unfortunately you would have to change your triple tree as well and your gauges may not fit the new triple tree, especially if they are for an XJ. I'm not sure about the 81' models triple tree.

[DGXSER]

Those only came on the XJ, none of the 81 models came with the adjustable bars.

I got a set at the local bike shop, they were close in dimensions to the Goldwing bars. Liked them alot.

[mack]

pictures





This is what came off the bike. I would have posted these first but had to rush out the door to take the kids x-mas shopping for mommy. I hate malls in general but this time of year is brutal.

[natemoen]

Those look pretty close to the standard's bars but they look a little shorter.

[mack]

Hi Dean, this is the one I plan on riding to the North rally in Bancroft next June. It doesn't look like much right now but I'm doing everything to it, inside and out. When I split the cases it had a lot of water damage inside the motor so I'm spending time right now on the journals and seal surfaces trying to clean and polish the rust out. Pistons and jugs are toast but I've got a line on replacements. Really scrounging now for the crank bearings with no success yet but I still have some time befor I have to put it all back together. Still waiting on some seals and other bearings. X-mas rush has slowed everything.
Dean, you coming up to the rally in Bancroft, I have some really good routes picked out that are similar to the one I gave you through the Dyno estates last summer.

[Yard Dogg]

Mack, I'll buy those bars if you're done with them. They'd be perfect for my 750 cafe.

[fredintoon]

Hi Mack,
what works for me is bars from a Honda CB750.
You could try barbacks on those rusthorns but those cost $100+ a pair where used bars at a swapmeet sell for ~$25 for nice chromed ones.
That's what I'd advise anyone who's not sure about what bars they'd like.
Go to a swapmeet. I haven't been to one yet that didn't have a table with a raft of different bars for sale. Pick the one that feels right.
Take a plastic caliper with you. The inch diameter Harley bars are easy to spot but the 22mm diameter BMW bars can't be told by eye from the 7/8" (22.2mm) bars you need. That 0.2mm difference ain't helpful on fit-up.

[crazy steve]

This is what came off the bike. I would have posted these first but had to rush out the door to take the kids x-mas shopping for mommy. I hate malls in general but this time of year is brutal.

Much less rise and pullback compared to OEM US bars. Closer to the 'euro' bars fitted elsewhere, but those also have the foot pegs relocated....

[Eveready1100]

Look much more like dirt bike bars.

Here's a pic of original bars off the Euro / Oceanic models

[IMG][/IMG]

The top ones are off the Standards, The black ones underneath are the 3 piece bars off the 5K7 / RH Sport models.

Much more rise than those things in Mack's photos, and much tighter bends than the US spec Standard bars.

[mack]

Dog

These are pretty rusty but if you want them PM me and you can have them for shipping cost. Looks like if I can find the OEM standard bars I might be OK. I wished there were other XS's in my area so I could sit on one and try the feel. Should have done that last year at the rally but I didn't have the E back then.

[Yard Dogg]

These are pretty rusty but if you want them PM me and you can have them for shipping cost. Looks like if I can find the OEM standard bars I might be OK. I wished there were other XS's in my area so I could sit on one and try the feel. Should have done that last year at the rally but I didn't have the E back then.

I'd have a set of standard bars for you if my neighbor didn't bend the ones I had. Same neighbor that had the coils for my 750. Glad he moved.

[Cobia]

Mack,

Just take those down to your local bike shop and find one with more rise and that come back further to suit you're riding position. Just be aware that you may have to replace your main brake line and re-route your clutch and/or throttle cable to compensate for the increased distance.
DAMHIK