Adjustable Handlebars Redux

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dbrick
Lifer
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Adjustable Handlebars Redux

Post by dbrick »

Making your bike fit your body can be a long process.

My used R came with a standard low seat; it was too low and too hard. I bought the bike just as the BMW Comfort seats were appearing; none was available used, and I didn’t want to order a new untried seat at BMW prices. After trying both medium and tall stock seats, I settled (that’s a pun) on a medium.

Then I lowered the rider’s pegs with the Suburban Machinery kit. My legs were happier, but my left foot wasn’t: with the lower pegs, the shift lever tab was in the wrong place; the lever couldn’t be adjusted because it’d foul the sidestand. Using parts from Touratech and Ace Hardware, I fabricated a new shift lever that moved the shift tab to the right location. Shifting improved a lot.

In hopes of making the handlebar more comfortable, I added a set of 25mm risers. This made the rider’s ergonomics a little better.

By then, the stock seat was demonstrating its poor shape. Starting around the modification circle a second time, I rode up to Rich’s in Kingston WA for a custom seat made on the stock BMW seat pan. Rich’s seat was a wonderful improvement.

But the handlebars were still not right. The stock R1200R bars were too wide, and I didn’t like the grip angle - I wanted more pullback (grips pulled in more towards the bike’s centerline) and more drop (pointing down). While the stock bars can be rotated a little bit in the risers, angle change at the grips was imperceptible and the excess width remained. I longed for the just-right grip position of the Oilhead I rode before.

Rob Tharalson at Thar Engineering offers the most customizable bars I’ve seen. They’re made in three sections:

Image

With these bars, everything can be adjusted. The center section can be rotated fore-and-aft , which changes the angle at which its end clamps hold the handle sections. The handle sections can each move up and down and rotate in their clamps. The handles have threaded end fittings to receive the stock bar-end weights. I ordered a 3” bend, consonant with the ~3” rise in the stock bars; Rob can make other radii. He also makes handle sections with welded angles rather than radiused bends.

He supplies the handle dimensions and center section length you specify, to achieve the width, height, drop, and pullback you wish. However, each of the four variables interacts with the others. For example, if you adjust for more pullback, the grips will be closer to the tank and may strike it at full lock. Thus, to maintain adequate tank clearance, increased pullback may require that the bars be raised. Neither grips, nor switches, nor your fingers should contact the tank at full lock.

To ascertain how long the various bar sections should be, I spent a lot of time with the bike before ordering, visualizing where I wanted the grips. I made several cardboard test profiles. I found that increased pullback did decrease tank clearance, but was surprised to discover that the also-desired reduction in width moved the grip switches inward over a bulge in the tank to a location that actually provided more tank clearance. I worried that my visualizations might be inaccurate, and ordered the vertical handle sections a bit longer than I measured so I’d be able to raise the bars for clearance if necessary.

Installation of the new bars was not complicated. I covered the tank, removed the controls from the stock bar (there are some pretty small Torx screws in the switch housings) hanging the two hydraulic reservoirs on the windscreen frame, and removed the bar. Then I installed the new bars with only the grips mounted to test placement. The risers remained: on the R, 25mm risers are needed to provide clearance between the Thar Bar’s center section end clamps and the top face of the bike’s triple clamp.

I tried a lot of different combinations of heights and angles to find the best adjustment. After several hours of Quality Garage Time, I found the combination of placement and angles that worked for me:

Image

Sitting on the bike, the correct position was immediately apparent. The angle of the grips is changed, and the bars are both narrower and further aft.

Mounting Details. The extra vertical handle length I specified turned out to be unneeded, and the extra length was cut off. The left (heated) grip is fastened to the handlebar with two small self-tapping screws, and a flange on the grip determines the angle at which the switch pod is mounted. Because I wanted to change the switch pod angle, I asked Rob to not drill the mounting holes; with no fasteners, the left grip rotated a bit, and was retained on the bar by the end weight. After I’ve ridden enough to be certain I have the adjustment correct, I'll hold the pod where I want it, and mark and drill holes for the self-tapping screws.

Plumbing. The upper front brake line runs from the master cylinder on the right grip to a junction block at the front of the tank. The stock line was long enough for the original handlebar with the risers, but was too short to reach the new bars’ position. I thought about using a stock line from an RT, but learned that an RT line would be too long.

I measured my setup carefully, and found that a new line, with the same end fittings and angles as on the stock line, would have to be 100mm longer than stock to reach the new grip position and provide sufficient slack for steering. One must pay attention to 1) the length of the line, 2) the pattern of the banjo fittings at the ends (i.e., the angle and direction that the banjo fittings’ metal lines emerge from the banjo ring), and 3) because the stainless steel line can bend but cannot twist, the relative orientation of the two end fittings. I had the Beemershop order the new line from Spiegler, and I was lucky as to #3: Spiegler’s line came with fittings that can be rotated on the hydraulic line to achieve the correct orientation, so that both banjo rings seated easily without torque on the hydraulic line. I don’t know how other manufacturers address this issue.

In changing the brake line, of course, the front brake circuit is opened and must be bled to ensure that no air bubbles remain in the system. The original clutch line was useable after I pulled the gas tank and changed its routing; the clutch hydraulic circuit did not need to be opened. The stock electrical lines were long enough. A lot of factory zip ties were cut and replaced.

Results. The improvement in rider comfort is stunning. Interestingly, the most significant change I wanted - alteration of the grip angle - was only a small adjustment from the stock position. While I thought I wanted a little more drop, my hands and wrists and arms really liked a lot of drop. The bars certainly look different - the greater drop reminds me of bikes from the 1920s, and the bars are a bit more than 4” narrower than stock:

Image

Here’s a comparison: stock bars above, Thar Bars below, both with the 1” risers in place.

Side:

Image Image

Front:

Image Image

Rear:

Image Image

From above:

Image Image

I like to think I’m generally good-natured, but I’m really happy now.
Last edited by dbrick on Sun Dec 30, 2012 12:01 am, edited 1 time in total.
David Brick
Santa Cruz CA
2007 R1200R
priors: R50, R50, R69, R69S, R65, FJ1200, K75S, R1100RSL
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xprof
Lifer
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Re: Adjustable Handlebars Redux

Post by xprof »

David: It's beautiful! I'd love to sit on it / ride it someday to see how the new bars feel. The saddle looks nice too.
Mike in SB

2009 R1200R all black
ex1970 BMW R60/5
ex1959 BMW pre-slash R60
ex Matchless G80CS
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dbrick
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Re: Adjustable Handlebars Redux

Post by dbrick »

Thanks, Mike. I'd be delighted to have you do so. I'll be down to see Cameron (who's actually upstairs in our livingroom right now doing computer work with Mary) towards the end of January - middle of February. Will you and Elona be in town then?
David Brick
Santa Cruz CA
2007 R1200R
priors: R50, R50, R69, R69S, R65, FJ1200, K75S, R1100RSL
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xprof
Lifer
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Re: Adjustable Handlebars Redux

Post by xprof »

We'll be here; not leaving for Europe 'till March. Looking forward to seeing you, maybe a ride together!
Mike in SB

2009 R1200R all black
ex1970 BMW R60/5
ex1959 BMW pre-slash R60
ex Matchless G80CS
Oaktown
Lifer
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Re: Adjustable Handlebars Redux

Post by Oaktown »

David,

Good on ya for having the patience and dedication to get exactly what you wanted; seems like a fine solution. My second thought is about rearward vision through the mirrors. I finally ordered those mirror mount extender thingies from Sierra BMW because I decided an even wider bike was worth being able to see behind without moving my head and/or arms. I've hesitated this long due to my daily commute into SF and not wanting to increase my lane-sharing width. Although you have found your ideal riding position, I'm guessing your mirrors are virtually useless without contorting your head and/or body? Finally, what monetary expense is involved, if you don't mind my asking.

Thanks,

John
SDMAX
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Re: Adjustable Handlebars Redux

Post by SDMAX »

End of January; beginning of Feb? I'd be up from San Diego for a ride. I've already met Mike, would love to meet DBRICK.

Hope you had great holiday. I'm in Denver now with grandchildren. Poor people that live here can't ride 365.

Let me know if you get it planned. John Houts
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dbrick
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Re: Adjustable Handlebars Redux

Post by dbrick »

Hi John,

After the new bars were installed, the mirror view was only a little bit worse than before; perhaps pulling my arms in (the bar width is narrower) helps the view. Since taking the pics, I remounted the mirrors so that the stalks are perpendicular to the bike's centerline, adding a bit more lateral reach. I haven't been out yet to see how that works; they may be fine as they are. The ZTeknik brackets look good if I need them.

Be delighted to meet you in Santa Barbara; let me have your email address so we can communicate directly on the other issues. I'm the same username, the domain is cruzio dot com.
David Brick
Santa Cruz CA
2007 R1200R
priors: R50, R50, R69, R69S, R65, FJ1200, K75S, R1100RSL
Anyname
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Re: Adjustable Handlebars Redux

Post by Anyname »

Your "as adjusted" bars agree with my observation that handle bars are most comfortable when the end of the bars are pointed down and back. I rotated my stock bars back as far as they would go and it helped quite a bit.
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dbrick
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Re: Adjustable Handlebars Redux

Post by dbrick »

First good ride today - lovely white clouds and sun for the first time in several weeks. The grips' changed position is noticeable: for the first mile or so, there was a "tiller" aspect to the bars that felt as though the grips were right in my lap, but that feeling went away quickly. There's no stress or strain to reach or to hold on.
dbrick wrote:Since taking the pics, I remounted the mirrors so that the stalks are perpendicular to the bike's centerline, adding a bit more lateral reach. I haven't been out yet to see how that works; they may be fine as they are.
The mirrors are great: the view back and to the side is now better than it was with the original bars. The mirror heads are lower than before (because the grips are lower), and during the first part of the ride, I was conscious of having to drop my eyes more. By the end of the ride, I'd forgotten that they were in a different position.

While the bars seemed right in the garage, some tinkering may be useful. I raised the brake and clutch levers a little, and adjusted the shift lever down. After riding again to feel these changes, I may rotate the handle sections out a bit as well.

[edit 1-3-13]

A few degrees of rotation outward (less pullback), and they're just perfect.
David Brick
Santa Cruz CA
2007 R1200R
priors: R50, R50, R69, R69S, R65, FJ1200, K75S, R1100RSL
jmckeown
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Re: Adjustable Handlebars Redux

Post by jmckeown »

Bumping an ancient thread here, but my dad has these aftermarket bars on a 12r and would like to go back to stock.
Anyone wanna swap, or have a used stock set they'd like to sell?
OfayCat
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Re: Adjustable Handlebars Redux

Post by OfayCat »

I am new to BMW R's and my first project will be to move the handle grips up an inch and back about two inches ... What you have is wonderful information. Thanks for that. I am only 5'8" and do not have long arms ... I lean at tad too forward for longer riding comfort. I have sat on a number of BMW machines and I believe they are all designed for people who are at least 6' tall .... am I right about that?
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