handlebars

[jkhomes]

For a winter project I was going to install some F800ST bars like Mr. PMS did on this post. viewtopic.php?f=20&t=23274 Seems like a lot of tweaking might be involved, but I could probably still use Koako Throttle Locks.

Then I saw the Rizoma's that Keiran posted in this pic. http://img163.imageshack.us/img163/6888 ... esized.jpg

I have not found the Rizoma's online yet (anyone have a link?), but I did see some Wunderlich touring bars that looked interesting. http://www.wunderlichamerica.com/motorc ... 61653.html

Any thoughts, experience, advice? So far everyone that has changed likes the change, I am just not sure which direction to go...

[BLAIR1200R]

I have not found the Rizoma's online yet (anyone have a link?)....

I've not purchased from these folks in a long time, but here's a US supplier --> http://www.motostrano.com/riha.html

Assume you are you going for narrower bar? Can I ask why? I'm coming off of a CBR1000RR with clip-ons, so I'm concerned that the wide stock R1200R bars are going to be a bit weird. That said, when I test rode one, I had no issues and it felt odd, but nice.

[SF_Hooligan]

I have not found the Rizoma's online yet (anyone have a link?)....

I've not purchased from these folks in a long time, but here's a US supplier --> http://www.motostrano.com/riha.html

Assume you are you going for narrower bar? Can I ask why? I'm coming off of a CBR1000RR with clip-ons, so I'm concerned that the wide stock R1200R bars are going to be a bit weird. That said, when I test rode one, I had no issues and it felt odd, but nice.

I live in San Francisco, not far from Motostrano. They have an interesting rep. I've never ended up buying anything from 'em. Used to work down there and would ride by every day, but every time I called to check on something before heading over, whoever I talked to was kind of a jerk and they usually didn't have the item in stock anyway. I emailed about some Rizoma stuff a couple weeks ago and never heard back.

I don't know anything about these guys other than they come up in results sometimes when I'm searching for pats, but PJ's Parts in Kentucky has a lot of Rizoma stuff on their site.

I'm just coming of a VFR with Helibars, and the wide bars were a bit disconcerting for all of about 30 seconds. I thought they would bug me - in fact, the running joke in our household is that the first thing I say when I'm checking out a bike is "That's cool, but it needs lower bars and a louder pipe." The bike is just so damn rideable - I've put about 1,300 miles on my bike in the 3 or 4 weeks since I got it, and I can't find any issues with the riding position (for me). It feels like a big dirtbike to me, and I love it!

[VanDan]

I purchased Rizoma bar end mirrors from PJ's and the service is top notch!

Updated me via email every step ie: processing/shipping

Would not hesitate to purchase from them again.

[BLAIR1200R]

SF_Hooligan, good feedback. My experience might have been that they just had the mirrors I wanted in stock, so I never really had to deal with them. Thanks for the info on PJs.. good to hear VanDan had a good experience as well.
I typically go in the same direction as you... lowering bars and adding slip-ons, but as you said, the bar position on the R1200R just felt right to me. Although, I don't have a screen, so I'm wondering if I'm going to feel a bit like a sail in gale force winds with my arms spread wide and all...

A bit off topic, but if I follow my usual pattern of "customization", I'll probably replace the mirror too and I like the Rizoma product quality, so... will post if I end up there ...

[SF_Hooligan]

SF_Hooligan, good feedback. My experience might have been that they just had the mirrors I wanted in stock, so I never really had to deal with them. Thanks for the info on PJs.. good to hear VanDan had a good experience as well.
I typically go in the same direction as you... lowering bars and adding slip-ons, but as you said, the bar position on the R1200R just felt right to me. Although, I don't have a screen, so I'm wondering if I'm going to feel a bit like a sail in gale force winds with my arms spread wide and all...

A bit off topic, but if I follow my usual pattern of "customization", I'll probably replace the mirror too and I like the Rizoma product quality, so... will post if I end up there ...

I do feel a bit like that on the freeway, above 80-ish. That's probably ok - I used to get a lot of tickets in the olden days, and would prefer not to get back in that habit. It's doesn't really bug me much when I wear leather. I rode in one of my "tour-y" textile jackets in some high winds over the weekend, and that kind of sucked, but I prefer the leather anyway.

I thought about getting some Rizoma barend mirrors, but ended up adding a Kaoko throttle lock to that's sort of out, at least without using some ridiculous adapters. Some of the other ones do look pretty sweet - love to see what you end up with if you go that route.

[kallakaki]

Just wanted to share my experiences on the topic of handlebars. I've used the fatbar in this pic on a number of bikes, and I cannot think of my r1200r without it. It makes the bike so much more "handlier". It's easy to handle from the beginning, but with this bar it turns when I start to think about turning.
It makes me quite wide, but the small wind deflector makes riding at 140 km/h a piece of cake.

[celticus]

Are there any problems using this bar with the hand heaters?

Mark

[kallakaki]

Are there any problems using this bar with the hand heaters?

Mark

No. And all the cables were long enough and the bar ends are not close to the tank either.

[celticus]

Sorry if you have already answered these questions but, How wide are these handle bars? How much if any wider than the stock R1200R bars?
These are the Rizomas? The regular 22mm or the 29s? Are these tapered bars?
Do the bars have holes or slots in them for the heater wires?

Mark

[kallakaki]

Hi Mark

No, I haven't been asked before.
The handlebar is tapered and is 80 cm wide and I believe that it is from Magura (X-line perhaps). The risers/wideners are from Yamaha, if I remember correctly.
The hand protectors are from Acerbis (Multiplo).
I don't know the width of the original handlebar, sorry.
The heater wires has never been inside the handlebar. Not on my Swedish '08 anyway. Are yours inside? Ah, yes your hole-question; no there were no holes/slots for the wiring. I had to drill a hole for the tap in the gas control thingy.

[celticus]

Thanks, That is a nice look and (Ride improvement?) I'd like to do the same on mine.

Mark

[jkhomes]

My goal is to get lower for a little more aggressive riding position. Make my R1200R into something more like a sport tourer than a cruiser. At this point I think I am going to try the F800ST handlebars. It appears they are lowerer and narrower. I really like the look of the Rizoma's, but I am not sure they will get me what I am looking for.

[BigEasy]

I purchased Rizoma bar end mirrors from PJ's and the service is top notch!

Updated me via email every step ie: processing/shipping

Would not hesitate to purchase from them again.

++++ a bunch. PJ and Paige are awesome folks.

[celticus]

Does anyone know ( I know I can google it ) right off the top of their heads how much wider the handle bars on a R1200GS are compared to the bars on an R1200R?

Mark

[Tarmac]

Just wanted to share my experiences on the topic of handlebars. I've used the fatbar in this pic on a number of bikes, and I cannot think of my r1200r without it. It makes the bike so much more "handlier". It's easy to handle from the beginning, but with this bar it turns when I start to think about turning.
It makes me quite wide, but the small wind deflector makes riding at 140 km/h a piece of cake.

Love the look. What bars and hand guards are they?

[kallakaki]

Love the look. What bars and hand guards are they?

Thanks! Look a bit further up in the thread and you'll see that I mention Magura and Acerbis...

[jkhomes]

I have ordered the ST handlebars from my BMW dealer, with Vario risers and steering stops from Wunderlich. I ended up going this route to avoid compatibility issues and having to drill the Rizomas for for the heated grips, although I really like the look of the Rizomas. I will start a new thread with a details description and pics once I start the work.

The tall Cal Sci windscreen will likely be too tall, so I may have re-opened a can of worms on the windshield issue. I am hoping my old BMW tall screen will work with the Don C tilt block, or if not, I may see if Don E. has something in his stable of the largest collection of 1200R windscreens known in captivity...

[objectuser]

Ah, yes your hole-question; no there were no holes/slots for the wiring. I had to drill a hole for the tap in the gas control thingy.

I'd be interested in more details on this. I'd like to use some tapered dual suport bars on my R1200R (Tag Metals T2 bars). Is the hole there to fix the throttle in place, or does something go through it? If you happened to have some pictures, that would be awesome.

Thanks for any more details.

[kallakaki]

Ah, yes your hole-question; no there were no holes/slots for the wiring. I had to drill a hole for the tap in the gas control thingy.

I'd be interested in more details on this. I'd like to use some tapered dual suport bars on my R1200R (Tag Metals T2 bars). Is the hole there to fix the throttle in place, or does something go through it? If you happened to have some pictures, that would be awesome.

Thanks for any more details.

Sorry, I have no pics from my assembly process. But it's just to keep the throttle thingy in place.