6th Gen Handlebar Ergonomics

Hey, everyone!

While trying to bring my bike out of mothballs due to COVID parts delivery issues (8 weeks for clutch parts delivery... UGH), I decided to look at what I could do to eliminate some of my ride positioning issues.

My comfort zone, grip wise, on the bike is more straight than the stock bend on the handlebars. However, to get the handlebars to sit in the position that my grip is most natural, makes the clutch lever and brake lever hit the bodywork when I go full turn, and I cannot get all the way to the hard stops on the triple tree.

I'm trying to eliminate some of the hand numbness that I get when riding for long distances.

Has anyone else experienced this, and if so, what did you do to combat this?

 

I also adjusted to the max turn without hitting. I did raise the bars a bit & it helped with ergos.
Installed slip on grip covers and it gives a larger diameter & a bit of cushion. Rear set lowering adapters
was a great mod as was the rear view mirror adapters, can see past shoulders now.

 

The OEM clutch and brake levers are quite longish. Have you considered after market levers which you can get considerably shorter? That would allow you to make the adjustment you spoke of without the levers hitting the plastics I would think.

 

I've tried a couple of things... shorty levers do give a little more adjustability. I also have old style Helibars which help, but dont have the same amount of impact as the newer style. I have just bought a set of used GENMAR risers to see how they compare to the Heli's... probably won't try the install until winter to do a good comparison of both, i will post up results and likely sell whichever item is less desirable to me.

 

My problem is where the levers hit the inner cowl when I have the handlebars turned to the proper position for my grip width. They impact the cowl at about the pivot point for the clutch and brake.

I'm almost considering trying to find a way to put a "bend" in the bars, so that way I can get the proper grip position, and not sacrifice turning angles.

 

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Honda-VFR-...978077?hash=item340f7a61dd:g:Ui8AAOSwtpBeiI0P

 

https://spieglerusa.com/catalog/category/view/id/60

 

I thought this company went out of business. I was wrong. I think it was covid related (shutdown) . I have these bars, very cool, very trick, expensive with all the longer lines. They work very well and are infinitely adjustable within the hitting of the fairing and tank.
Convertibars.com is the website. I'm up about 3 inches and back about 1 1/2 inches. I stopped me from getting rid of the VFR. Arthritis in my neck was getting bad on those 300 mile days.

 

Try the crampbuster, I think they are 10 bucks at Cycle gear. I just picked up a 2002 VFR on Monday and went for my first ride Friday night for gas. I had to get a battery and new front tire and change fluids. Only 7500 miles, a barn find. Well it's a 11 mile roundtrip and thinking this is not going to work, how am I going to sell this to the wife. All my other bikes I got a crampbuster and made a huge difference. I took the one of my St1300 and went riding Saturday with my uncle. 80 miles later I am fine. A little cold but wrists were great. I went Sunday, little warmer and it was better yet. I put foam grip puppies on the st1300 and the 2 Vstroms and Nt700v I had along with the Crampbuster. Works for me, 10 bucks is worth a try. On another note did you do anything with the rectifier?