help with handlebars- new bars or risers???

[chief]

not sure if you have seen this. It provides some insight into the oem bars.

http://www.vulcandrifterriders.com/handlebarsxref.html

[greenbarn]

Update:  I got my Baron Nostalgia bars in the mail and tried to compare them to my stock bars.  I do not think there is enough difference for me to notice any improvement from just changing the bars.  They are too similar to the stock bars for me to think that they will be "better" for me by themselves.  So I guess I'm back to looking at risers instead.  I think the risers and bars together might be nice, but both together about doubles the price of the project.  I included pics of the new bars taped on top of the original bars for comparison.  That's the best way I could figure out to compare them.  I took off the mirrors and perches so they would fit tight to the existing bars.  I think the nostalgia bars are a little wider, a little lower, and slightly closer to you...  but not enough to make a big enough difference by themselves.  Actually by being wider, it stretches my arms out more- the opposite of what I was trying to accomplish.

One other thing I noticed - I sit quite a bit closer to the triple tree on the 800 than on the 1500, so I'm wondering even with the same risers, I might still be a lot further away from the bars?

[nhtrikes]

Will do.

[Drift1]

NH can you post a picture of your handle bar mod for us to see ? Also one with you sitting on the bike for hand position would be very helpful . Thanks in advance as it would help out many members , I'm sure .

[nhtrikes]

GB - I just finished putting Flanders Beach Grande on my 1500 two months ago. Best mod I've done on the bike so far! Now having said that, like PC said, every rider is different. I'm 6'3" with a 6 1/2 foot wingspan so the 39" width on the Grande bars puts my arms by my lower waist just outside my shoulder width and just forward, kinda like I'm sitting in a comfortable chair watching TV, sitting straight with a 90 degree bend in knees and elbows. All the strain on my back and shoulders is gone and now I can ride for as long as my butt can hold out. It also changed the aerodynamics on the highway as well ( no windshield), for the better to my surprise. Didn't see that one coming but couldn't be happier. I did have to extend wiring and hoses and throttle cables. I hid all the wring in the handlebars so I had to extend them all about 8 inches. I went with stainless on the cables and hydraulic hoses and only had to extend them about 4 inches but kept the routing the same. I had tried to re-route the original cables and hoses behind the triple tee but it was still too tight for comfort. It was a time consuming but not a difficult job at all. Of course I had a very long cold winter to do it over so no complaints. It would be great if you could try different configurations but what how I decided was I sat on the bike and put my hands where I wanted them, then had my neighbor measure the distance my hands were from my original bars both height and pull back, that's how I chose the Beach Grande. Good luck!!!

Take care,

[CDNRatMan]

and bolt in the new ones to sit on & try

do us all a favour and lower the lift to ground level before you climb up there to sit on the bike.......

[greenbarn]

Well, I needed to order some stuff from JP Cycles - needed some stuff here soon for a project.  And they had the Memorial day sale going through Tuesday at midnight- $45 off $300, not too shabby.  So I went ahead and ordered Nostalgia bars, and both the ISO and Avon grips.  I already have the Phat risers on the 800 - I might switch them over to the 1500 to compare that to the Nostalgia bars.  I can't help but want to check out the Nostalgias...   Maybe I can just unbolt the stock bars, and lay them on the tank, and bolt in the new ones to sit on & try...  I have a feeling the risers will win out in the end.

I knew I had to send some  stuff back to JP anyway, so might as well get what I want to look at and then return what I don't want.

[CDNRatMan]

You may end up with new bars AND risers

think I said the same words in a pm last night.......

[chief]

I installed risers (Phat II) to bring the OEM bars back.  That setup requires no cable/hose changes. Getting bars that work sometimes takes trial and error, risers are more.... absolute. I'd try the risers. If that doesn't work try new bars but keep the risers. You may end up with new bars AND risers. If not you can sell the risers and recoup some of your money.

[Drift1]

I believe it was Lurch that did the Nostalgia bars on his bike ? There's a thread somewhere on the forum on these and if memory serves me right he just rerouted the cables not the wiring .

[greenbarn]

Forgot to mention, I'm not real tall, 5'8", so, like PC said, maybe the longer - and-  lower bars are for taller guys, that would make sense.

Ratman, if I had YOUR money, I'd buy one of each and pick out the one I liked, and ship YOU the REST OF THEM!!!

D1- I believe the Nostalgia's say "installs easily with stock cables etc.".   Doesn't mention re-routing, but that's a possibility...   For longer cables, what all do you need to buy?   Throttle, Brake hose?   What about the the wiring for the lights/horn/starter/etc.?? 

[Drift1]

GB it's a tough call , being either way you have to spend some hard earned money and either way your taking a chance . It's like you once said , " Wish there was some place we could just go and sit on a bike to feel these things out . "

Now I may be incorrect here , but with the bars you would have to reroute the cables , correct ? If so , me personally would also go with new longer cables , as I don't like how the cables look without doing so . Just mop of course .

[CDNRatMan]

ah oh so 49 would have bars eh!.......

[pcarrell]

They can both be true since every rider is a different size with different arm length.  I'd probably go for the risers, while someone who's knuckles have callouses on them from dragging the ground would probably go for the bars.

[CDNRatMan]

   Well if I was you I would order them all and try them and then decide which I like better and then have some spar parts for my parts bin. easy answer to your problem.....

[greenbarn]

From Scootworks:
PhatRisers II™ by Scootworks- Now also available in BLACK and Show Chrome!! - These handlebar risers were created especially for Kawasaki Vulcan 1500 Classic, 1500 Drifter, and Nomad (due to their longer steering head moments), and for 'vertically challenged' 800 Vulcan owners . Raises the bars 2.5" and pulls your grips back 3" closer to you.

Does anybody know what they are talking about "longer steering head moments"??

From Baron Nostalgia webpage:
Specially-designed bends, length and pullback relieve the stress and pain most riders suffer in the neck, shoulders and back
Thick-walled tubing reduces vibration to the riders hands
Bars provide additional leverage and a lower center of gravity that makes the bike easier to control and feel like it has lost a couple hundred pounds

Looks like Nostalgias put the bars 2" lower and 2.5" wider, while Phat's put them 2" higher and 3" closer - but of course the grip angle is different as well- which is better?  They can't both be right in their advertising...

[greenbarn]

That thought had occurred to me - Then maybe buy black risers for the 800...

But then I can't help thinking maybe all the aftermarket bars are longer for a reason, and maybe that option is better than the risers???

[CDNRatMan]

   Well not being the brightest light bulb in the pack, I might suggest that you take the time to take the risers from the 800 and put them on the 1500 and go for a nice long ride and see if the bars are then were you thought you wanted them, then it might save some money and save some heart burn trying to sort it out.......just a thought.

[greenbarn]

My 800 came with handlebar risers, I believe them to be Scootworks Phatrisers.  The riser is 4" tall and about 1" back.  (see pics below- yes the bike needs cleaned...)

I like the handle bar position a lot, and would like to make the 1500 something close to it, or better.  The 1500 appears to be original bars, no risers.  They are too far forward and down to suit me - I'm having to lean forward too far.

So my dilemma is - should I put PhatII risers on, or would I be better off putting new bars on - if I put new bars on, do I need risers too?

From what I gather, stock bars are 5" rise, 33.5" width, and 14" pullback.   SO, if I want bars to match the riser position, using the measurements on the risers,  seems like I'd need 8" rise, 33.5 width, 15" pullback.  But I realize that isn't exactly right because the risers are on an angle...

I've looked at Flanders Beach bars and  Beach Grand, Baron Nostalgia, Starbar,  and Big Jonson's,  and Burly Longhorn.   Most of them have LOWER rise than the stock bars, and all LONGER than the stock.   Anybody know if these positions are improvements over the stock, or Stock + Phatrisers??   I'm tempted to go with the Baron Nostalgia, because they talk specifically about better positions and easier handling, etc.

Rise  Width   Pullback
Stock                               5      33.5      14.5
Baron Nostalgia                  3.5    36        14.5
Baron Big Johnson's             4      38        13.5
Baron Starbar                     4      36        12.5
Flanders Beach Bars            3.5    32/35    10.5
Flanders Beach Grand          4.5    38.5      17
Burly Longhorn                   7.5    39         17.25

Any help or suggestions??