I went from the high USA style bars on my 82 LS to the low euro bars. Since I am over 6 feet tall, the
extra reach to the bars and less mechanical leverage didn't bother me at all, and I actually welcomed
not having my hands way back in a "sit up and beg" type of posture. But, depending on how tall you are,
they may be hard on your back. My wife says that I have "ape arms", so reaching the grips is no challenge
for me and doesn't require any stretching. The LS models in particular look best with the low euro bars, I think.
I gave my high USA bars to Kling Tut to use on his machine, but somewhere I think that I have some comparison
pictures.
Some drawbacks, though:
1. I really like the look of bar end mirrors (Napolean) and bought them, but with the cowling on the LS, I cannot get the
controls and throttle grip far enough towards the middle to enable the bar end mirror on the right to grip the inside of
the handlebar tube and not the throttle tube. Well, after riding around the BMWMOA rally last year with saddlebags
I couldn't see much else in the mirrors, so I'll possibly have to add the mirrors-on-stalk kind to get a better rear view.
2. You WILL have to replace the upper brake hose (At least on the LS, which has dual brake lines going into a Y junction
behind the headlight, and a short line from there to the master cylinder. Also on the LS, at least - you'll need to replace
the clutch cable. The choke and throttle cables might be able to be routed/relocated so you don't have to replace them.
On the LS, these cables consist of a shorter upper cable that goes into a cylindrical "splitter", where (2) separate cables come
out the back and go to each carb. I replaced the upper cables on mine (though am also replacing the lower ones just cause they
are getting worn/frayed.
-mike
