My Atttempt at Higher Bars

[bigdog]

For me, motorcycles are like shoes: Fit is the most important thing, especially as we get older, followed closely by function
My unique challenge comes from my 5'8" 160 pound frame, but with T-rex arms (seriously, I can barely reach the change in my pants pockets) and relatively long torso.
I have learned in my 45 years of riding that I love taller bars with some pull back, and then I simply lean out and over when I hit the faster stuff when I really need to feel the front end. I ride at a spirited pace and live in Western Colorado

Old school Sports Tourers have been a problem: ST1100/1300, FJR, etc. I have tried them before and always sold them. I used to turn naked bikes into sport Tourers, but along came ADV bikes and viola! bikes that fit me pretty well, although they tend to be kinda top heavy and either too tall, or way too fricken tall, especially the over 1000cc category which I like because I travel a lot and love power.
I have cured that with a 2024 Tiger 900 GT PRO. It has all the great touring things like cruise, heated Grips (and seats), and OK windprotection. The 2024 gained about 13 ponies, is much smoother and that triple engine is a treat. But Gearing is a little short out west for big days, and weather protection is not ideal, so I decided to one more time try a dedicated sports touring bike: Picked up a 2016 FJR1300ES with some nice addons when I back east (SC, riding just ahead of Helene, and hitting some great roads before getting on the interstate to beat the storm) and rode it back to Colorado.
Great trip, bike did fine, but even with the most recent Helibars set-up it caused me great pain in my upper back and across my shoulders. I was leaning over too far and then lifting my head to see.
I was gonna sell it, but have decided to give it one more try. I really want a big comfy bike in addition to the Tiger

Here we go:
*I removed the stock bars from the HeliBar "Bridge" that came on the bike
*My bike came with the Helibar Brake hose extension, but not the clutch
*I Purchased 1 1/8th bars risers from Amazon ($25) with adjustable height, and attached these to the Helibridge using thru bolts (hex head) and lock washers and nuts.
*I purchased the ATV bend RMATV Tusk Fat bars ($47)
*I Used a 2" set of Rox risers I had lying around and I went to work.
I removed the triple tree, cut a bunch of zip ties, worked stuff as free as possible, including detaching a screw holding the Clutch hose. I relocated all the wires and clutch hose on left side under the Triple tree. On the right I think I only needed to put the wiring under it, not the brake hose (it has an extension) and the throttle cables my work in their original position as well.)
I removed the dash cover, gaining access to the left side wiring, and trimmed a bit off so the wires had more give. (you’ll see this if you start pulling the left side wires, they are bit bound up )
Preliminary results look really good in terms of fit for me:
I gained about 3 inches up and 3 inches back
The pictures are not perfect because I have not tightened everything up yet, but full bars turns lock to lock show no binding

If I want a bit more height and pull back, I could purchased the clutch hose extension, and go with 3.5 rox risers and shown in this post https://www.fjrowners.com/threads/photos-of-abm-tube-handlebar-conversion-with-extension.157384/

If you already have the Helibar set up this is a pretty low cost way to get w higher and more pull back bars. If not you can go with an ABM set, as seen in the link above. His is pretty slick in all black, but frankly I am OK with the looks, as long as it works. (I’d do the all black ABM if starting from scratch, and they come with bars and risers, etc)

 

[Whooshka]

"*My bike came with the Helibar Brake hose extension, but not the clutch".

The Helibar did not come with a clutch line extension, only one for the brake line. Just an FYI in case you thought you were missing it.

 

[Onebohemian]

For me, motorcycles are like shoes: Fit is the most important thing, especially as we get older, followed closely by function. . . .

Impressive work. Good on you for figuring this out. I completely agree that handlebar position is thr most important piece of the puzzle for finding comfort in the arms, back, and even one's crotch (so rider is not as prone to slide down toward tank on the poorly angled factory and aftermarket seats). Congrats!

 

[SkooterG]

Impressive work. Good on you for figuring this out. I completely agree that handlebar position is thr most important piece of the puzzle for finding comfort in the arms, back, and even one's crotch (so rider is not as prone to slide down toward tank on the poorly angled factory and aftermarket seats). Congrats!

If the aftermarket seat is made correctly there will be no sliding forward towards the tank.

 

[Whooshka]

"I gained about 3 inches up and 3 inches back"

I think you've underestimated. The Helibar alone is 1 up and 3 back. Add that Rox riser and those tubular bars and I'd say you're more like 4 up and 5-6 back.

 

[bigdog]

"I gained about 3 inches up and 3 inches back"

I think you've underestimated. The Helibar alone is 1 up and 3 back. Add that Rox riser and those tubular bars and I'd say you're more like 4 up and 5-6 back.

I think you are correct. I was counting from original helibar position

I’m really upright now, no sliding toward tan

 

[92XJXJWHEELER]

For me, motorcycles are like shoes: Fit is the most important thing, especially as we get older, followed closely by function
My unique challenge comes from my 5'8" 160 pound frame, but with T-rex arms (seriously, I can barely reach the change in my pants pockets) and relatively long torso.
I have learned in my 45 years of riding that I love taller bars with some pull back, and then I simply lean out and over when I hit the faster stuff when I really need to feel the front end. I ride at a spirited pace and live in Western Colorado

Old school Sports Tourers have been a problem: ST1100/1300, FJR, etc. I have tried them before and always sold them. I used to turn naked bikes into sport Tourers, but along came ADV bikes and viola! bikes that fit me pretty well, although they tend to be kinda top heavy and either too tall, or way too fricken tall, especially the over 1000cc category which I like because I travel a lot and love power.
I have cured that with a 2024 Tiger 900 GT PRO. It has all the great touring things like cruise, heated Grips (and seats), and OK windprotection. The 2024 gained about 13 ponies, is much smoother and that triple engine is a treat. But Gearing is a little short out west for big days, and weather protection is not ideal, so I decided to one more time try a dedicated sports touring bike: Picked up a 2016 FJR1300ES with some nice addons when I back east (SC, riding just ahead of Helene, and hitting some great roads before getting on the interstate to beat the storm) and rode it back to Colorado.
Great trip, bike did fine, but even with the most recent Helibars set-up it caused me great pain in my upper back and across my shoulders. I was leaning over too far and then lifting my head to see.
I was gonna sell it, but have decided to give it one more try. I really want a big comfy bike in addition to the Tiger

Here we go:
*I removed the stock bars from the HeliBar "Bridge" that came on the bike
*My bike came with the Helibar Brake hose extension, but not the clutch
*I Purchased 1 1/8th bars risers from Amazon ($25) with adjustable height, and attached these to the Helibridge using thru bolts (hex head) and lock washers and nuts.
*I purchased the ATV bend RMATV Tusk Fat bars ($47)
*I Used a 2" set of Rox risers I had lying around and I went to work.
I removed the triple tree, cut a bunch of zip ties, worked stuff as free as possible, including detaching a screw holding the Clutch hose. I relocated all the wires and clutch hose on left side under the Triple tree. On the right I think I only needed to put the wiring under it, not the brake hose (it has an extension) and the throttle cables my work in their original position as well.)
I removed the dash cover, gaining access to the left side wiring, and trimmed a bit off so the wires had more give. (you’ll see this if you start pulling the left side wires, they are bit bound up )
Preliminary results look really good in terms of fit for me:
I gained about 3 inches up and 3 inches back
The pictures are not perfect because I have not tightened everything up yet, but full bars turns lock to lock show no binding

If I want a bit more height and pull back, I could purchased the clutch hose extension, and go with 3.5 rox risers and shown in this post https://www.fjrowners.com/threads/photos-of-abm-tube-handlebar-conversion-with-extension.157384/

If you already have the Helibar set up this is a pretty low cost way to get w higher and more pull back bars. If not you can go with an ABM set, as seen in the link above. His is pretty slick in all black, but frankly I am OK with the looks, as long as it works. (I’d do the all black ABM if starting from scratch, and they come with bars and risers, etc) View attachment 8284View attachment 8285View attachment 8286View attachment 8287View attachment 8288View attachment 8289View attachment 8290

 

[92XJXJWHEELER]

This works pretty good for me .LSL Plate and bars.Came to with this set up except with taller ROX Risers. My other bike for last 16 years is an Electra glide(Now that's a comfortable long distance ride) Real simple set up.Ive never road an FJR with stock type bars so no comparison but as someone with smallish frame and inseam, I'm pretty comfortable and happy with the attitude in the Twisties.

 

[Whooshka]

Some are getting dangerously close to this

 

[92XJXJWHEELER]

Some are getting dangerously close to this

View attachment 8338

 

[92XJXJWHEELER]

 

[JoelTheMole]

Looks are way behind it working well for you IMO, so if it does the job you need it to do, fantastic!

These are some generic 10-11" 7/8" handlebars I got off one of those cheap imported sites, I think they cost $30 or so. They were a bit too tall for me, but having worked IT for years I have a big thing for ergonomically correct wrist angles after seeing how many nerve and tendon issues are caused by holding your knuckles close to flat long term causes so many people, and these bars were angled perfectly.



I think the way they angle downward looks deceptive in pics, as people seem to think they are a lot higher than they actually are. As I said those bars were a bit too tall for my usage as I am often riding at high speeds for long periods, and I often don't use a windscreen, but at slow speeds they were great. This is the same bars sitting on top of the clamps, so about an inch taller than they were when installed on the bike. For reference I am 6'0 and have a long torso for my height.


Bar height definitely has a lot to do with not just anatomy but also usage. If I had always used a windscreen or didn't spend much time above 75mph, I might have stuck with the tall bars, even though the wiring routing had to be a bit wonky. Regularly doing 80-90mph for hours at a time with the tall bars and no windscreen got a bit exhausting, although it was great ab workout.

I have since switched to stock Virago 250 handlebars, the hand placement is in the neighborhood of where a helibar bridge setup places them, but with FAR more ergonomic wrist angles, and a little more forward lean is a good compromise for my usage.


I ended up with a used ABM top plate bar conversion, but you could also do a tube bar conversion with some pretty basic stuff pretty cheap and not have to mess with drilling out the ignition for a top plate swap.