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Posted by greenbarn
- May 28, 2014, 11:23:43 AMWell, 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.
Posted by CDNRatMan
- May 28, 2014, 10:11:10 AMQuotethink I said the same words in a pm last night.......You may end up with new bars AND risers
Posted by chief
- May 28, 2014, 09:03:33 AMI 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.
Posted by Drift1
- May 26, 2014, 21:17:45 PMI 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 .
Posted by greenbarn
- May 26, 2014, 21:03:15 PMForgot 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.??
Posted by Drift1
- May 26, 2014, 20:52:59 PMGB 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 .
Posted by CDNRatMan
- May 26, 2014, 11:46:32 AMah oh so 49 would have bars eh!.......
Posted by pcarrell
- May 26, 2014, 09:35:15 AMThey 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.
Posted by CDNRatMan
- May 26, 2014, 08:59:19 AMWell 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.....
Posted by greenbarn
- May 26, 2014, 08:25:53 AMFrom 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...
Posted by greenbarn
- May 26, 2014, 07:44:23 AMThat 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???
Posted by CDNRatMan
- May 25, 2014, 22:54:38 PMWell 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.
Posted by greenbarn
- May 25, 2014, 22:35:03 PMMy 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??