Baron Nostalgia Handlebars

[DC]

Lane splittling is illegal here too.  Some idiots still do it anyway and end up getting blocked off and/or reported to the police.

Crotch rockets and Harleys are the usual culprits.

[John Hopkins]

We have idiots over here too, those sort of stunts come under careless or even reckless driving and would be enforced by law..I own a crutch rocket, one of the fastest bikes in the world but when I take it out I have to drive more carefully than I do on my Drifter because my R1 Dynamite is one of the bikes the police watch out for, for that reason I don't ride it as often as my other bikes..

I honestly don't think I could pass the current driving test on my drifter.

John.

[49Reo]

One see lots of thoughtless actions taking place on those bikes; the wife and I were on a long road trip on the Harley one time, heavy traffic, not like you were talking GB, but heavy enough. Here come two crotch rockets towards us, one guy pulling stunts like getting the bike up on the front wheel and rolling to a stop at the red light then dropping back down. Only takes a split second for the bike to dump him in front of another vehicle and he would score a major owie. At least they were wearing helmets.

[greenbarn]

Lane splitting is legal and an accepted part of British driving, we call it filtering, the thinking goes like this, a car driver is stopped in traffic or slowed to about 20 mph, he sees a bike behind him and moves over to make room for him to pass, He doesn't lose his place in the traffic so he will still get where he is going at the same time and it allows the traffic flow to speed up slightly..we are allowed to overtake slower traffic, including police cars, at a reasonable speed, this is generally accepted as up to 15mph faster than the slower traffic but not exceeding the current speed limit, we are allowed to cross broken lines but not continuous lines..Car drivers are not allowed to swerve in front of us or block us or open doors but they are not obliged to move over.

That seems like a more reasonable practice than I'm familiar with on this side of the pond, now that you explain it like that.  It would help that the car drivers are keen on this and expecting you to pass them.  Thanks, John, for explaining that.

On the opposite end of the spectrum, I was once stuck in traffic (in a cage) in Columbus OH (pop 1,000,000 including "surrounding areas").  We were in stop and go traffic on the interstate, about 4 lanes wide.  Saw 2 crotch rockets come flying up through traffic splitting lanes.  They were going at least 60-70 mph.  Both young male riders, both had young girls on the back.  I don't think there was a helmet among the 4 of them, short sleeve shirts on all of them, and the girls both were wearing shorts.   Now, THAT'S just plain dumb.

[John Hopkins]

Back to the handlebars, I just took a tape measure to my bike, the bars are 33" from tip to tip but the levers are 38" from tip to tip and the mirrors are 34" from tip to tip.

John.

[John Hopkins]

Lane splitting is legal and an accepted part of British driving, we call it filtering, the thinking goes like this, a car driver is stopped in traffic or slowed to about 20 mph, he sees a bike behind him and moves over to make room for him to pass, He doesn't lose his place in the traffic so he will still get where he is going at the same time and it allows the traffic flow to speed up slightly..we are allowed to overtake slower traffic, including police cars, at a reasonable speed, this is generally accepted as up to 15mph faster than the slower traffic but not exceeding the current speed limit, we are allowed to cross broken lines but not continuous lines..Car drivers are not allowed to swerve in front of us or block us or open doors but they are not obliged to move over.

John.

[Troll]

There is a reason lane splitting is illegal in most parts of the world, and a really stupid thing to do in all. Why put your blind trust and your life in a person or persons you have never seen before, with the belief they will not do something either stupid or malicious?

[greenbarn]

I never thought that looked like a good idea.  I've seen too many people swerve over to see what was ahead, or even open their car door and get out to check something in the trunk!

[49Reo]

There is one clear advantage to wide handlebars and that is when lane splitting (filtering) on the highway if the bars fit through the gap the rest of the bike will follow, however if you hear a clunk clunk sound as you overtake slower cars that is your bar ends hitting wing mirrors...

Please don't ask me how I know..

John.

When my older brother lived in Los Angeles he used to split lanes on his Yamaha Seca; had quite a few close calls.

[CDNRatMan]

    better to hear the clunk clunk sound then the bike coming to a very suddun stop and the human body continues to move forward at any rate of speed.......

[John Hopkins]

There is one clear advantage to wide handlebars and that is when lane splitting (filtering) on the highway if the bars fit through the gap the rest of the bike will follow, however if you hear a clunk clunk sound as you overtake slower cars that is your bar ends hitting wing mirrors...

Please don't ask me how I know..

John.

[CDNRatMan]

    Sorry Troll but you are too quiet sometimes so need to shake the tree every so often to make sure you are around.....

Lurch any time no big rush snow up to my a.....so no rush

[Lurch]

Lurch any chance of a picture of this set up and then just with the stock bars held or laid on top to see the difference between the bars......yes a visual person is me......before Troll say's it......

I'll try on the w'end. Kinda flat-stick this week trying to get shit finished before Christmas.

[Lurch]

Looks nice.....what's the difference in hand positioning?  Further out?  More pullback?  Raised height?

A bit closer, significantly wider and lower.
I find it helps keep my shoulders relaxed.
It makes for a very 'old school' seating position. However I thought it might end up making me even more of a wind sock on the bike, but thankfully it hasnt panned out that way.

[Troll]

You guys keep dragging me into things...you are a bad influence! He is pretty visual, however!

[CDNRatMan]

 Lurch any chance of a picture of this set up and then just with the stock bars held or laid on top to see the difference between the bars......yes a visual person is me......before Troll say's it......

[pcarrell]

Looks nice.....what's the difference in hand positioning?  Further out?  More pullback?  Raised height?

[Lurch]

Looks good.  Have you taken her for a spin with the new bars?

Yup - took it to work today.
Certainly helps keep the shoulders relaxed. The extra leverage on the bars it interesting however. But all in all, I do like them.

[greenbarn]

Well, that's a slick look.  I like it.

[Cotton Mouth]

Looks good.  Have you taken her for a spin with the new bars?

[Lurch]

So I ended up ordering a set of these.
Other than having to re-route the throttle cables to behind the triple clamp and drilling a new locating hole at the throttle end of the bars - fitting was a dream.

[Lurch]

Quick one.
Anyone have an idea of what work is involved in changing to Baron Nostalgia Handlebars?
They're 36" wide, so I'll take a guess that the throttle cables will be an issue? What if I shortened them a bit? (reach isnt an issue for me).