Rockster bars on a Roadster

[GypsyRR]

Are the Rockster bars and Roadster bars interchangeable without modifications? Would I be able to keep my heated grips? And, other than being slightly more forward, what other ergonomic changes would there be? And - would my roadster still handle the same?

[r1150rider]

I looked into this a while back, before I sold my 'R. It is apparently a direct swap, and the ergo's would be slightly improved (in my opinion) with a slightly more forward lean for the torso. It's not an inexpensive proposition, given the cost of BMW parts, but if you watch the "boneyard" you may find a deal on a pair. It shouldn't really have much effect on handling, other than perhaps making the steering feel a little bit "quicker". You'd adjust easily, I think.

[cadhopper]

I have an 05 Rockster with heated grips and will be changing out my bars very soon for a more relax ride as I'm getting older and after two lower back surgeries it causes to much strain on the disks during longer rides. If your interested in the original Rockster bars let me know. It's much simpler going from Roadster to Rockster bars because you don't have to worry about cable lengths and they should be a direct replacement.

[GypsyRR]

yes, I think I will be interested in the bars you have. Let me know when you are ready. Are you going to roadster bars or something different?

[cadhopper]

I bought the Wunderlich touring bars and longer cables from Santa Cruz BMW. Being as it's going to rain this weekend I will remove the Rockster bars Saturday. I'll take a picture of the bars and post it here. If you want to check my E-Bay rating my user name is Cadhoper with one P.

BTW; it's nice to see a woman who rides and fishes. You have some very nice photos in your profile.

[riceburner]

You'll need long arms!! The Rockster bars are really quite wide in comparison with the Roadster bars, and what with the forward lean that they encourage you really do feel stretched out, ..... until you get used to it.

That said, the extra leverage really does help on the tighter back roads at the expense of some body lean (it's harder to lean away from the vertical because you end up with your arm to the outside grip being absolutely straight.)

[Ves]

I have an 05 Rockster with heated grips and will be changing out my bars very soon for a more relax ride as I'm getting older and after two lower back surgeries it causes to much strain on the disks during longer rides. ....

Just wondering, is it your or your docotor's opinion that a more "relax ride" will be better for your back? I ask because I've had lower back problems, but I find that a situp riding position is much less comfortable than slightly leaned forward one. When leaned forward some of the weight is supported by your arms... sitting upright it's all on your back. And the situation gets worse at speed, because when you're leaned forward some of the weight balances against the wind, but sitting upright you fight the wind and again get all the weight on your back.

The most painful ride I was ever on was riding a Harley... nice "relax" riding position...

[ruddy]

Just wondering, is it your or your docotor's opinion that a more "relax ride" will be better for your back? I ask because I've had lower back problems, but I find that a situp riding position is much less comfortable than slightly leaned forward one. When leaned forward some of the weight is supported by your arms... sitting upright it's all on your back. And the situation gets worse at speed, because when you're leaned forward some of the weight balances against the wind, but sitting upright you fight the wind and again get all the weight on your back.

Here's something I found on a forum a while ago that addresses the issue you raised here:

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Master Yoda's Riding Position, MYRP is not just for Sport Tourers.

It's about learning, training up, and getting better and better at maintaining a riding position that promotes comfort and control, and decreases body damage. It applies to riding all types of bikes. My view is it probably provides the greatest benefit to touring riders since it calls for doing the things that prevent damage and fatigue from the common position most riders get into in response to the layout of those bikes.

It calls for a slight arch backward of a straight back, shoulders back.

It calls for an amount of forward lean of the torso appropriate to the control and contact position layout of the kind of bike being ridden - more forward on sportier bikes.

It calls to create that forward lean by bending at the hips, not the waist. Actually, the bend is at the hip/leg joint. Some help can come, especially initially and for the portly, from spreading the knees farther apart than usual.

It calls for continuously applying some downward pressure of the feet - to help provide support for the large back muscles that are slightly arching the back and holding it upright in its amount of forward lean.

It calls for using the muscles at the sides and backs of the thighs, more so than the front of the thighs to provide that downward pressure and back support. These are larger muscles (as are being used in the back when it's held properly too) and are the predominantly slow twitch muscles that endure better because they tire less easily.

It calls for, very often, moving the butt further aft on the seat than common so that the body center of mass is as nearly over the foot pegs as possible. This is a position of balance, and allows the big muscles of the body to hold the body up without resource to using the hands and arms as support devices.

Hands and arms free, balanced, and atop the pegs, the rider is in the best possible location and position to affect control of the bike, and to move from there to positions that provide better balance than that during maneuvers.

It takes some working with to understand. It takes some exercise to grasp what muscles to use. It takes some practice to put it together. And then it takes consistent use to become fully comfortable, an adjustment to change, and do it all the time.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I've found this to be helpful.

[cadhopper]

I have an 05 Rockster with heated grips and will be changing out my bars very soon for a more relax ride as I'm getting older and after two lower back surgeries it causes to much strain on the disks during longer rides. ....

Just wondering, is it your or your docotor's opinion that a more "relax ride" will be better for your back? I ask because I've had lower back problems, but I find that a situp riding position is much less comfortable than slightly leaned forward one. When leaned forward some of the weight is supported by your arms... sitting upright it's all on your back. And the situation gets worse at speed, because when you're leaned forward some of the weight balances against the wind, but sitting upright you fight the wind and again get all the weight on your back.

The most painful ride I was ever on was riding a Harley... nice "relax" riding position...

The most comfortable bike I ever owned was a 06 F650GS and a 05 Buell XB12Ss with a slight forward lean and they did not bother my back at all even on 500 mile days through the mountains of Virginia and West Virginia. The most uncomfortable bike for me was a 03 Roadking with a sit up and beg position which killed me after 200 miles so I sold it after 1 year (plus I got tired of polishing all the chrome) . I had a chance to sit on a R1150R with the Wunderlich bars and at 5'6" it puts me at about the same position as the F650GS did which should be good. With these bars I will actually be able to use the back part of the seat instead of feeling like I'm humping the tank and I will be less likely to roll my shoulders forward r lock my elbows trying to reach the bars.

The fact is I really miss having a dual sport and riding back trails so I will probably by a F800GS or one of the new twin cylinder F650GS's once they hit the used market.

[Airman]

I have an 05 Rockster with heated grips and will be changing out my bars very soon for a more relax ride as I'm getting older and after two lower back surgeries it causes to much strain on the disks during longer rides. ....

Just wondering, is it your or your docotor's opinion that a more "relax ride" will be better for your back? I ask because I've had lower back problems, but I find that a situp riding position is much less comfortable than slightly leaned forward one. When leaned forward some of the weight is supported by your arms... sitting upright it's all on your back. And the situation gets worse at speed, because when you're leaned forward some of the weight balances against the wind, but sitting upright you fight the wind and again get all the weight on your back.

The most painful ride I was ever on was riding a Harley... nice "relax" riding position...

The most comfortable bike I ever owned was a 06 F650GS and a 05 Buell XB12Ss with a slight forward lean and they did not bother my back at all even on 500 mile days through the mountains of Virginia and West Virginia. The most uncomfortable bike for me was a 03 Roadking with a sit up and beg position which killed me after 200 miles so I sold it after 1 year (plus I got tired of polishing all the chrome) . I had a chance to sit on a R1150R with the Wunderlich bars and at 5'6" it puts me at about the same position as the F650GS did which should be good. With these bars I will actually be able to use the back part of the seat instead of feeling like I'm humping the tank and I will be less likely to roll my shoulders forward r lock my elbows trying to reach the bars.

The fact is I really miss having a dual sport and riding back trails so I will probably by a F800GS or one of the new twin cylinder F650GS's once they hit the used market.

I have a set of the Wunderlich bars to put on as well. I removed the stock bars at 6000 miles and put on a set of Ricky's custom risers with a Renthal bar. It put my hands in approximately the same place but the bars are nearly straight. At over 24,000 I've decided this type of bar puts too much pressure on my wrists and thumbs when braking hard and I'm too far forward, (into the tank like you are). I have compared all my bars together and here's the deal; The custom bar and the stock bar put me in about the same place but changed the angle of my wrists. The Wunderlich bar is a little deeper, (taller) maybe 2" wider and the key for me; the bar ends are angled back to bring the grips more towards me and relieves the tension on my wrists and hands. I'm going to try this for a while. I've got an Iron Butt run planned for June and I want to shake down the changes I have planned before that.

[Dr. Strangelove]

Hi, Kristi,

re: the forward seated position...

does anyone use the rear pegs and slide back on the seat? doesn't this achieve much of the same advantage?
I realize the physics might be very slightly different, but for the weight of the riders, it might be pretty similar and have the advantage of the more upright positon--using the front pegs--if desired.

John

[GypsyRR]

Could an inch or two be taken off one end of the rockster bars to shorten the width without much trouble? I do remember sitting on a rockster and thinking the width was too much for me, but I know I could get use to it. But if cutting an inch or two pre-install would work, that might make a better fit and an easier solution for me.

Hi, Kristi,

re: the forward seated position...

does anyone use the rear pegs and slide back on the seat? doesn't this achieve much of the same advantage?

John

Yes, I use the rear pegs most of the time, once I'm out of city or stop/go traffic. But it still does not create the ergonomics that I'm seeking. The bars are still too high. Perhaps an S bike would be an easier fix? (and btw, what is that woman holding in your avatar picture?)

[Dr. Strangelove]

>>(and btw, what is that woman holding in your avatar picture?)<<

why, she's holding a squid.

and for the S here's a freebie

name GypsyRR

DISP: R1200S

No. one

Sig: ride prn silly grin

see if you can get your insurance company to pay for it. Have them call me and I will explain the medical need

John

[cadhopper]

Could an inch or two be taken off one end of the rockster bars to shorten the width without much trouble? I do remember sitting on a rockster and thinking the width was too much for me, but I know I could get use to it. But if cutting an inch or two pre-install would work, that might make a better fit and an easier solution for me.

Hi, Kristi,

re: the forward seated position...

does anyone use the rear pegs and slide back on the seat? doesn't this achieve much of the same advantage?

John

Yes, I use the rear pegs most of the time, once I'm out of city or stop/go traffic. But it still does not create the ergonomics that I'm seeking. The bars are still too high. Perhaps an S bike would be an easier fix? (and btw, what is that woman holding in your avatar picture?)

If the bars are for a bike with heated grips it's not as easy as just cutting them off because you would not be able to reinstall the factory heated grip or the bar weights. You might be able to remove the inserts, cut the bars then reinstall the inserts. If I remember correctly, on my F650GS the inserts were welded on so it would take more tools than the average person has laying around.

[MMH]

I have an 05 Rockster with heated grips and will be changing out my bars very soon for a more relax ride as I'm getting older and after two lower back surgeries it causes to much strain on the disks during longer rides. ....

Just wondering, is it your or your docotor's opinion that a more "relax ride" will be better for your back? I ask because I've had lower back problems, but I find that a situp riding position is much less comfortable than slightly leaned forward one. When leaned forward some of the weight is supported by your arms... sitting upright it's all on your back. And the situation gets worse at speed, because when you're leaned forward some of the weight balances against the wind, but sitting upright you fight the wind and again get all the weight on your back.

The most painful ride I was ever on was riding a Harley... nice "relax" riding position...

So, how bad is your back & how bad does say a 200 mile ride bother it?

[ruddy]

Kristi,

Here are some Rockster bars on eBay:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/BMW-R115 ... dZViewItem