Just curious to get some opinions from you fine folks. I know it's all personal and what feels best to the individual rider, but I was wondering what the most popular/comfortable arm angle is in regards to handlebar positioning, especially on 100+ mile rides. For instance, do you find it more comfortable with the bars positioned so your elbows are bent at an angle? Fully extended arms, but not quite locked? Way above your head airing out your armpits with ape hangers? I'm just trying to figure out a good combo, and haven't had a chance to get a good distance ride in lately. Right now, I have the Star Bars on stock risers, with the bars rotated down in the risers so at full lock they just clear the tank, and the arms are comfortable (almost extended, but not locked) with the PCS seat, but they're bent and less comfortable with the Corbin dual touring seat on. I have some drag bars and 4" risers to put on, and am trying to figure if it's going to accomplish anything. I have a feeling I won't know until I spend the time to try it...Dammit.

So...opinions? What setup works for you? I'm 6'2", 37" (monkey) arms.

TIA (thanks in advance),

RK

You answered you own question.

Everyone's body is different (than Heaven ) so that what works for one person may not work for someone else.

Doc

I have ridden a lot of bikes (when I work on someones bike I tend to test ride it...)

I was surprised how much I liked tall apes. They are a lot more comfortable than I thought they would be.

I prefer wide drag bars, arms about 3/4 extended. I like the control I feel with that type of setup. But shoulders get tired after about two to three hours unless its a straight road.

GRAM

GRAM wrote:
I have ridden a lot of bikes (when I work on someones bike I tend to test ride it...)

I was surprised how much I liked tall apes. They are a lot more comfortable than I thought they would be.

I prefer wide drag bars, arms about 3/4 extended. I like the control I feel with that type of setup. But shoulders get tired after about two to three hours unless its a straight road.

GRAM

I believe that control issue has a lot to do with it in my case. It just feels weird to be pulling the bars so close to my body in the tight turns. That's why I got the drag bars...keep them a little further away from me. Other bikes I've ridden haven't had the setup where the bars come so close to the body.

The drag bars I have are 33 5/8" wide. I held them up to the bike, and it just looks so funny...almost like putting baby bars on a big ol' bike. But I know a lot of people run them and they look fine. I guess my internal visualization circuit is on the fritz...

Thanks for the input!

RK

When I switched my handle bars out I put my bike in my stand to hold it upright and got my wife to hold a tape meaasure, I put my feet on the floorbaords and held my hands where it was the most comfortable and had my wife measure the pullback, width and rise from my current risers and then looked for the handlebars that were that size. Found the Nostagia bars from Barons to be just right ( 4" rise, 13" pullback and 32" width) and after installing them all my lower back pain went away and my shoulders weren't as sore after a 300+ mile ride. I am still looking into Barons straight pull back risers to get the grips a little closer to me to eliminate the shoulder ache but I am pretty happy.
Hope that helps
Steven

Roadkill1962 wrote:
The drag bars I have are 33 5/8" wide. I held them up to the bike, and it just looks so funny...almost like putting baby bars on a big ol' bike. But I know a lot of people run them and they look fine. I guess my internal visualization circuit is on the fritz...

That's the size of mine ... give or take a bit.

Your "internal visualiztion circuit" is probably correct. I don't know if they would go with the style that you have. Drag bars look OK on a bar hopper style rather than a cruiser style.

Now that winter is coming you have time for testing. Oh yea, I forgot you don't have a customizing season.

Doc

DocShadow wrote:

Now that winter is coming you have time for testing. Oh yea, I forgot you don't have a customizing season.

Doc

Sure I do, Doc...it's 365 days long. I just can't leave the damn thing alone. "Make it my own"...curse you, Yamaha! But it's a trip that apparently has no end, and I'm cool with that. Wish my checkbook & my wife were, though...

I agree with you on the style issue...drag bars look perfect on your & Gram's bike. Mine is stripped down right now too, though...no bags, shield...just bike. Should stay that way for at least a day or two.

RK

Hi RK, thought I'd just throw in my 2 cents,, My bars are the twin T type with 35" tip to tip, I'm 2 inches shorter than you but they are very comfortable to me, although I find myself holding the grips in close rather than near the ends ..I assume they came from yamaha, as most all the other mods on my scoot did..Had a cb750 years ago with 12" ape-hangers on it and it was really comfortable on the freeway..you just sorta hang from them.. They felt a little mushy on a winding road tho..

smhowse-smart man...I wish I had done something logical like that. Part of my problem is I can't decide which seat I like best. My Corbins move me too far forward, the PCS and stockers let me sit back...all of which affects the bar type & positioning.

Flashback--so, yours are the T-bar drag bars...the all-in-one risers/bar combo? They look good. I may have to satisfy my darned curiousity and spend some hours putting on the drag bars & risers, even if it is only to take them right off again. At least I'll know...

Thanks for the input!

RK

RK, I really like my Tee-bar. But, it is certainly personal choice. But I can tell you, rode 3700 miles in 9 days last month, and 4500 miles in 11 days the year prior on the set up I'm using now. And I'm a 37/38 in a dress shirt too. Stock seat though. Mine's like 6" rise, 6" pullback and with grips it's like 34" end to end (if tape is pulled straight, bars actually have a slight arch to them). Mine are J&P part# 500-802. They came off my Shadow, but fit the Roadie perfectly (100mm center). Just a thought, hope it helps. BB