The member photo gallery is now integrated and live!!  All user albums and pictures have been ported from old gallery.


To register send an e-mail to admin@bmwr65.org and provide your location and desired user name.

Author Topic: Taller bars?  (Read 3059 times)

Offline RG68RG

  • Newbie
  • *
  • Posts: 25
  • I Love YaBB 2!
Taller bars?
« on: September 13, 2018, 09:25:14 PM »
what I have discovered on a longish ride today is that i'm leaning over on my arms the entire time. Has anyone put taller 22mm bars on theirs without changing cables?

Online Bob_Roller

  • Global Moderator
  • Mt. Olympus Resident
  • *****
  • Posts: 9120
  • -7 hours GMT
Re: Taller bars?
« Reply #1 on: September 13, 2018, 09:47:02 PM »
Cables, brake lines and wiring harnesses usually need to be changed / altered to make the taller bars work .
'81 R65
'82 R65 LS
'84 R65 LS
'87 Moto Guzzi V65 Lario
'02 R1150R
Riding all year long since 1993 .
I'll give up my R65, when they pry my cold dead hands from the handlebars !!!!!

Offline RG68RG

  • Newbie
  • *
  • Posts: 25
  • I Love YaBB 2!
Re: Taller bars?
« Reply #2 on: September 14, 2018, 09:31:26 AM »
You know... I'm wondering why the bars seem so far forward? I'm  a hair under 6' tall and have to lean forward so much. If I could just bring them back a few inches that would work. Problem is the whole bar comes up with the risers.

Offline Matt Chapter

  • Lives at Base of Mt. Olympus
  • ***
  • Posts: 576
  • <insert witty remark here>
Re: Taller bars?
« Reply #3 on: September 18, 2018, 09:19:44 AM »
If the concern is weight / pain in your wrists, you could get a six pack and apply it! ;D

(Use your core muscles to keep yourself upright, or ride faster so the wind keeps you up.)
'04 R1150 RT ~41000 miles
'86 R65 / '84 motor ~72000 miles. SS lines, Spiegler rotor, Progressive monoshock, Keihan silencers, a piece of Pichler fairing.
'76 CB400F ~26000 miles. non-runner!

Offline Justin B.

  • Administrator
  • Mt. Olympus Resident
  • *****
  • Posts: 5983
  • I love my Beemers
Re: Taller bars?
« Reply #4 on: September 18, 2018, 11:30:58 AM »
You could get some bar-backs as long as they didn't interfere with tank...
Justin B.

2004 BMW R1150RT
1981 R100RT - Summer bike, NEKKID!!!

Offline RG68RG

  • Newbie
  • *
  • Posts: 25
  • I Love YaBB 2!
Re: Taller bars?
« Reply #5 on: September 18, 2018, 02:20:49 PM »
Quote
You could get some bar-backs as long as they didn't interfere with tank...
Bar Backs? I assume you are referring to the bolt on adapters that set the bar a few inches up/or back? I saw some 6061 aluminum ones on Amazon. would rather have bar stock.

Offline Justin B.

  • Administrator
  • Mt. Olympus Resident
  • *****
  • Posts: 5983
  • I love my Beemers
Re: Taller bars?
« Reply #6 on: September 19, 2018, 12:36:05 PM »
Well, you have to decide what you want to do.  Assuming you currently have the "low" bars probably the "cleanest" thing would be to put on "US" bars and change out cables.
Justin B.

2004 BMW R1150RT
1981 R100RT - Summer bike, NEKKID!!!

Offline Burt

  • Lives in Foothills of Mt. Olympus
  • **
  • Posts: 277
  • I Love YaBB 2!
Re: Taller bars?
« Reply #7 on: September 20, 2018, 08:05:45 PM »
I have just posted some info on Tony's 860 build thread about K series handlebars.  There appear to be two separate lengths of cables as a general rule for K series so I guess it would be the same for R series.  Essentially the (R100)RT cables are the longer ones. 

If you have a browse through the catalogues of Motobins or Motorworks you should be able to work it out.  Realoem should give you the cable lengths for the different models. 

Just be aware that if you do go for longer/higher bars then depending on how the front brakes lines are routed you may have to change to longer brakes lines. 
« Last Edit: September 20, 2018, 08:06:07 PM by Dave_Reynolds »
Black 1984 R65 - the Wombat

Offline Tony Smith

  • Mt. Olympus Resident
  • ****
  • Posts: 2331
  • Graduate, Wallace and Gromit School of Engineering
Re: Taller bars?
« Reply #8 on: September 29, 2018, 05:00:21 PM »
Motobins carry the superb "Ven Hill' brand cables, they are available in longer lengths and re both superior to and much cheaper than OWM BMW cables.

I am having difficulty working out what the problem is, I am just over 6 ft and the stock bars are perfectly comfortable for hours in the saddle.

Perhaps a set of US bars?
1978 R100RS| 1981 R100RS (JPS) | 1984 R65 | 1992 KLE500 | 2002 R1150GSA |

Offline RG68RG

  • Newbie
  • *
  • Posts: 25
  • I Love YaBB 2!
Re: Taller bars?
« Reply #9 on: September 29, 2018, 05:40:58 PM »
Quote
Motobins carry the superb "Ven Hill' brand cables, they are available in longer lengths and re both superior to and much cheaper than OWM BMW cables.

I am having difficulty working out what the problem is, I am just over 6 ft and the stock bars are perfectly comfortable for hours in the saddle.

Perhaps a set of US bars?
Perhaps it's my bad back.. Leaning forward at all has become very uncomfortable in the last several years. Although I hate "ape hangers" with a passion.. it's looking like something in between them and the stock bars would probably help.