Adjustable handlebars for R12R

[Toby6938]

Due to neck arthritis I was looking for a more upright riding position than that from Wunderlich touring bars + barbacks. I found Rob at tharengineering.com who already made adjustable bars for sport bikes and was happy to design and make some for my R12R. I've adjusted mine a little taller, narrower and closer than than the prior bars. It's made a huge difference in rider comfort and a little finer control with narrower grips. I already had a longer brake cable but whether it's necessary I'm not sure. But risers are necessary with the current design. I had to drill the holes for the left grip screw. Rob machined thredded ends to accomodate the BMW barends. If anybody is interested I can e-mail pictures (communicating with i-phone and don't think the site will recv pics) or look at the thar eng. site as he's going to put up pictures I took.

[dbrick]

I'm interested, Toby. My email is dbrick at cruzio dot com. Thanks!

[philm35]

I just ordered mine. Been riding with Wunderlich Touring Wellness bars for a few years, but I've found them to be too wide and they put my wrists at an odd angle. Looking forward to having the TharBars' full adjustability.

[dbrick]

Me too. Just before my prior post, I injured my right middle finger. It's been in a splint since, and I've been off the bike.

I drove down to Santa Barbara to see my son in May, and stopped by Rob Thar's place in Santa Maria on the way back to meet him and see the stuff. The idea of the right width, the right pull back, and the right drop makes me drool. The splint should come off in August, and the bars will go on when I can ride again.

[davesbmw]

Just wondering what you used to extend the wiring to the bars when you put the taller bars on?
Dave

[objectuser]

I should have googled before I PM'd the OP:

[dbrick]

Just wondering what you used to extend the wiring to the bars when you put the taller bars on?

For me it won't be taller. It will be narrower (grips closer together), with more pullback (grips rotated inward) and perhaps a little drop (grips pointed down). The several inches reduction in width should more than compensate for small increase necessitated by the pullback/drop changes; I think the wiring and the hydraulic lines will not have to be lengthened.

[objectuser]

As promised, images from Toby6938. Thanks for sending them!

[philm35]

It's not pretty, but I hope it will be far more comfortable on long rides.

--Phil

[dbrick]

Toby has neck issues and likes how they feel. Mine will be lower.

[dbrick]

Bars arrived, and I spent the afternoon in the garage.

The question "Will I really notice a difference?" was answered clearly. After several hours - remember that each aspect (height, pullback, drop, width) affects the others - I came upon a configuration where my instant response was "This is bliss."

I couldn't complete the installation, as Rob had cut the handle ends longer than I'd specified. He's a stand-up guy, and will re-do them with shipping at his expense. This back-and-forth is OK, as actually working with the bars on the bike demonstrated that my specs for width were too conservative: I wanted narrower, and even narrower than I'd spec'd is doable.

So Monday they'll go back, and he'll make the grip ends shorter. In the meantime, I'll poke around to see about a longer brake hydraulic line (master cylinder to junction block); it'll need an additional inch or two. The stock clutch line may work, the wiring will be OK. I'll have pics later.