Need some handlebar opinions

[Doo-Daa]

Got a 78E, with full fairing and bag, mostly stock (HD Dyna mufflers). I know, but the stockers had rotted out from sitting
9 years under a tarp in the corner of the garage and the mud daubbers had made a home in them.

But here's the deal. The original owner (PO) has only put 12,880 miles on the clock, (before I got the bike) and he's 6'7" real lanky sob. He's had the dealer rotate the bars forward for him in '78, to be more comfortable.

I've put them back into the stock location, and rotated the lever controls back to where they're supposed to be. But at 5'10", my wrists are killing me after about 30 minutes of riding. I feel the reason is that I'm leaning forward onto the bars, and at the angle of the grips, my hands are just going to sleep.

Looking for some input into bars that others have had that reach back a bit more. Sources, ideas, pros and cons of changing out to a different bar.

Thanks for your input.

Doo-Daa

(Remember - Leave no-one behind, Honor the fallen, and for those of you south of here - Batten down yer hatches, and come up here where we can watch for tornados instewad.)

[skids]

Re: Need some handlebar opinions

The Special-type bars were hell on my wrists. I thought the "pull-back" would help the riding position, but the wheel barrow shaped angles were tough on me. The stock bars are good IMHO

Originally posted by Doo-Daa
Got a 78E,

Looking for some input into bars that others have had that reach back a bit more. Sources, ideas, pros and cons of changing out to a different bar.

[DeanR]

Goldwing bars have worked for me.

[TopCatGr58]

Hey Doo-Daa,

Aside from the wrist bending Buckhorn style of the OEM specials, there are several other pull back styles that aren't quite so angled. I got a set from an early model GL1100, and they are quite comfortable. Go to a bike or parts shop and try them on, holding them and see how they feel. Along with getting pull back bars, you may want/need some setbacks which will put them further back, closer to you!? You may need to get longer control cables for the further back location, then again, you may get away with just routing them differently, like behind the triple tree instead of THRU them!?
T.C.

[jacker]

I also put GL1100 bars on my '79 special. They look and feel great and I didn't even have to lengthen ny cables or hoses. Also, you can get a set for really cheap on Ebay.

[JWSanders]

Me Too!

Picked up a brand new set of GL1100 bars on Ebay for 15.00, including shipping!

They completely have changed the feel of the bike for me...no more feeling like I'm driving a tiller.

[Doo-Daa]

Ok, you guys have at least got me looking for a set of bars from a GL1100.

But most of you are talking Specials. I know that the rake is different between Standards and Specials, is that something that is going to cause a concern?

Anyone with a Standard with GL Bars, and a picture??

TopCat, I'm assuming that what you're calling pullbacks, I'd call risers????? If so, then I'm a bit confussed. On the "E", the lowwer half of the riser is cast into the upper triple tree, so I don't understand how they would mount. Where am I getting confussed?

Doo-Daa

[John]

Doo-daa

The pull backs are the style of bars on the special. They are also called buckhorns. I happen to like mine. I have a set of MNS bars on the bike, and they are tilted down towards me. I don't seem to get the wrist pain/fatique that others seem to get.

[LoserShoes]

Not real sure what you'r looking for, but I bought a set of stock bars for my 80g, I'm about 5' 11, and can't imagine anything more comfortable. The wrist angles are so natural the bars just seem to dissappear. And I can adjust the angle so that I'm just leaning forward enough that there is bit of weight on the wrists for positive steering, but not enough to be fatigueing.

I believe these are also called super bike bars.

Bike originally had a set of Special bars, and they were terrible.

Steve

[DiverRay]

Doo-Daa;
I've got a '79 standard, and it has the stock bars, with "setbacks". I'm 5'11", and I can and do ride all day. The "setbacks" mount on top of the stock bar mount point, and position the handlebar base up 1" and back 1". It is just the right amount. The PO on your bike may have changed the bars from stock, and not just rotated them.
Try going to a local parts shop, and see if they have a few different sets of handlebars. start with the ones that feel good on the shelf, and then take those out too the bike, and see what pair seems to fit best. If you can find the "setbacks", they do help!
Ray

[Doo-Daa]

Diverray,

If I understand you right, what you're calling a "setback" is a bracket(?) that bolts into the stock bar location, and moves the bars back and above the steering head nut on the tripple tree?


I'm postive that the PO (original owner, I have the bank loan paperwork) only had the bars rotated forward and the hand controls re-aligned. (I've got every receipt, from the bill of sale to today on this bike). Oh, and by the way, in August of 1978, that cost $5.60 + .22 tax.

I'll go out and search the parts fiche to see if I can find this part.

For John, Ray, & Losershoes, are you guys using stock grips?

[rover]

Here is my solution, XJ bars[IMG]img.photobucket.com/albums/v457/rovjer/?sc=1#[/IMG] hope this works

[rover]

did not work. Well, I got some XJ bars from a member, cut off the mounting stud from the spline adapters, drilled the splines thru w/ 5/15 drill, and then filed a bit on the small hole, bolted on the splines, and mounted the bars. They are very adjustable.

[John]

Grips

I am using the large black foam grips with the chrome ends. I like them a lot. There was a set on the bike when I bought it in 91, and I have put three sets on since.

[Doo-Daa]

Ok,

Maybe it's not enough beer, but I think I'm starting to understand. On my Intruder, I have bars called "buckhorn" bars. So when I've heard the term 'buckhorns, that's what I relate too.

What I think I'm starting to understand is that "pull backs" are a type of buckhorns that are squeezed in, and "pulled back" toward the rider, with maybe a bit more rise to accomodate that.

If I'm totally off, let me know.

I'm watching a set of Gl1100 bars.
I know I've let up a bit on my beer, due to the cost of gas. But this could be the reason to buy another 30 pack, and sit out Monday.

Unfortnatualy with only three bike shops in Amarillo, I'm stuck with what limited bars any shop is carrying to try and see a fitment. One shop is HD (which I know stands for High Dollar), Then we have a Yamaha shop, and a Honda shop.

Thanks -

Doo-Daa