Handlebars

Dneel81 · 10-20-2010, 09:29 PM

Howdy all,

Who has tried to fit a new style/set of handlebars to your bike? I've ordered one set and they definately won't work. The bike is a 1995 Shadow VT1100. The bars on it now are the stock set, kinda ape-hangerish...not super high, but same bent back style. I thought I wanted drag bars but I would have to lean forward a ton to use the ones I bought. Anyone have any ideas as to fitment? Just get on the bike and find a comfy position and have someone measure the dimensions (width, height, backspacing)? That's where I'm headed next. Appreciate any suggestions!

Thanks

-Dave

Cie · 10-20-2010, 09:48 PM

Dneel81,

Don't mean to ask a dumb qx, but why did you buy bars that were not made to fit your bike? I mean, most manuf. list what their stuff fits or is made for.

I'd go back to the drawing board ... go to a reputable parts manuf. (I like CruiserCustomizing.com for their selection, customer reviews, and customer service policy), and find the fitment chart for your bike.

http://motorcycle-accessories.cruise...d=7&search2=Go

I don't know Shadows, other than they are very nice looking bikes and I know a lot of gals that ride 'em and love 'em, so I hope this search is easy for ya.

If the reach with new bars is too much, go ahead and measure yourself for pullback risers (and make sure they are made for your bike!). Best way I measure is, sit in the saddle with front tire in a chock (or someone holding the bars for you), feet on the pegs or floorboard. Put hands on grips, sitting as you would ride. After that, close your eyes, grab for the bars where it's comfortable. Open your eyes. If your hands are closer to you, that distance tells you how long/deep risers you need. After that, it's just a matter of taste in style and fit to your bike.

Good luck.

Goliath616 · 10-20-2010, 11:17 PM

did you try to just re-position the stock bars? I know that when I tilted my bars up it made a world of difference, stock my hands were almost on my knees, now they are higher up....

with the top of the risers off (if you have the kind that holds the bars in between a cap and the base) set the bars in them and see if you can find a comfortable position, if you find one, pop the cap back on the risers and tighten....

Dneel81 · 10-21-2010, 02:43 AM

The bars were a fit for my bike just not for me.

FLBandit · 10-22-2010, 07:18 AM

I've swapped them around on previous bikes quite a bit. Most places that sell bars have a guide that shows where their measurements are taken. I just sit on my bike and figure out what I want based on the pattern compared to my bars. (Taller, farther back etc.) Don't forget you can generally get risers as well.

iamjustifyd · 10-23-2010, 09:28 AM

http://www.sideroadcycles.com/Import...ckBarsOne.html

I like this site. It tells you the measurements of your stock bars and you can play around from there and see what measurement you might be looking for. Good luck in finding something. Which drag bars did you get? I was thinking about getting some myself.

Cie · 10-23-2010, 09:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dneel81

The bars were a fit for my bike just not for me.

Ahhh .... that makes more sense ...
First I rolled the bars up, then back. Each time I had to move my cables around to keep them from being snugged too much. Ended up getting pullback risers.

Dneel81 · 10-24-2010, 05:52 PM

Justifyd,

Thank you for the link. I will get my wife to help measure where I want the new bars to be. I originally got the bikemaster drag bar (about $65 on cruisercustoms.com) but then I found I needed risers. The set I wanted (good quality, shipping from the US not Hong Kong) were another $60. So I sent the bars back and figured for that much money I could tolerate the stock bars, take some measurements and when I get the money, get some good Flanders bars or those Fatty bars with the built in risers welded as one piece for about $150. Someday I'll tackle that again. My stock bars are fine for now I guess. I just like the lower profile of the dragbar look. Thanks fellas.

-Dave

10-20-2010, 09:29 PM	#1
Dneel81 Verified Join Date: Aug 2010 Posts: 57	Handlebars Howdy all, Who has tried to fit a new style/set of handlebars to your bike? I've ordered one set and they definately won't work. The bike is a 1995 Shadow VT1100. The bars on it now are the stock set, kinda ape-hangerish...not super high, but same bent back style. I thought I wanted drag bars but I would have to lean forward a ton to use the ones I bought. Anyone have any ideas as to fitment? Just get on the bike and find a comfy position and have someone measure the dimensions (width, height, backspacing)? That's where I'm headed next. Appreciate any suggestions! Thanks -Dave

10-20-2010, 09:48 PM	#2
Cie I know you are ... but what am I? Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: State of Confusion, USA Posts: 653	Dneel81, Don't mean to ask a dumb qx, but why did you buy bars that were not made to fit your bike? I mean, most manuf. list what their stuff fits or is made for. I'd go back to the drawing board ... go to a reputable parts manuf. (I like CruiserCustomizing.com for their selection, customer reviews, and customer service policy), and find the fitment chart for your bike. http://motorcycle-accessories.cruise...d=7&search2=Go I don't know Shadows, other than they are very nice looking bikes and I know a lot of gals that ride 'em and love 'em, so I hope this search is easy for ya. If the reach with new bars is too much, go ahead and measure yourself for pullback risers (and make sure they are made for your bike!). Best way I measure is, sit in the saddle with front tire in a chock (or someone holding the bars for you), feet on the pegs or floorboard. Put hands on grips, sitting as you would ride. After that, close your eyes, grab for the bars where it's comfortable. Open your eyes. If your hands are closer to you, that distance tells you how long/deep risers you need. After that, it's just a matter of taste in style and fit to your bike. Good luck. __________________ Courage is fear ... prayed up.

10-20-2010, 11:17 PM	#3
Goliath616 Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Over here Posts: 4,200	did you try to just re-position the stock bars? I know that when I tilted my bars up it made a world of difference, stock my hands were almost on my knees, now they are higher up.... with the top of the risers off (if you have the kind that holds the bars in between a cap and the base) set the bars in them and see if you can find a comfortable position, if you find one, pop the cap back on the risers and tighten.... __________________ '08 Yamaha Road Star To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

10-23-2010, 09:28 AM	#6
iamjustifyd Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: New Orleans Posts: 4,351	http://www.sideroadcycles.com/Import...ckBarsOne.html I like this site. It tells you the measurements of your stock bars and you can play around from there and see what measurement you might be looking for. Good luck in finding something. Which drag bars did you get? I was thinking about getting some myself. __________________ Sherry 2005 Honda Spirit 750 DC To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

Thread Tools	Search this Thread
Show Printable Version Email this Page	Search this Thread: Advanced Search

10-21-2010, 02:43 AM	#4
Dneel81 Verified Join Date: Aug 2010 Posts: 57	The bars were a fit for my bike just not for me.

10-22-2010, 07:18 AM	#5
FLBandit Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Central FL Posts: 254	I've swapped them around on previous bikes quite a bit. Most places that sell bars have a guide that shows where their measurements are taken. I just sit on my bike and figure out what I want based on the pattern compared to my bars. (Taller, farther back etc.) Don't forget you can generally get risers as well.

10-24-2010, 05:52 PM	#8
Dneel81 Verified Join Date: Aug 2010 Posts: 57	Justifyd, Thank you for the link. I will get my wife to help measure where I want the new bars to be. I originally got the bikemaster drag bar (about $65 on cruisercustoms.com) but then I found I needed risers. The set I wanted (good quality, shipping from the US not Hong Kong) were another $60. So I sent the bars back and figured for that much money I could tolerate the stock bars, take some measurements and when I get the money, get some good Flanders bars or those Fatty bars with the built in risers welded as one piece for about $150. Someday I'll tackle that again. My stock bars are fine for now I guess. I just like the lower profile of the dragbar look. Thanks fellas. -Dave