Heli bars and steering feel ?

Can anyone give me a clear answer how much HELI BARS affect the front end feed back and steering responce of the VFR800 "07". I do like the way it feels now, (even though I have raised the stock bars 3/4") I don,t want to loose the great imput I am getting. I went through a search and found all kinds of different thinking. I want to get in on the group buy but don't want to regret spending the still hefty coin. Thanks in advance:smile:

 

I never had stock set up only the heli and I think feel is great / no feed back problems at all.

I will note the VFR loves more on the front end, so I will try a set of clip ons this summer.
but I have no issues w/ heli and love them on long rides.

 

After running the heli's for 8k miles, I put the stock bars back on and I like those better. It really comes down to personal preference.

 

How did you raise the stock bars?

 

Heli bars

I would not go back, I think they are a bit wider and I like them quite a bit.

 

I have over 5K miles w/helis, and I'd have to say input and feel are equal to stock. The helis are just more comfortable (for me) on long rides.

 

Just raised em up, you dont need genmar but if I kept it that way I would order them just to be "right"....... THANKS for all the imput so far!

 

Not an issue

ILovHeros:

I got my red '07 in August, put the Heli Bars on in September and am delighted with them.

1. I detect no difference in bike handling; turn in, stability, mid corner tracking, or anything else. Granted, if I were Valentino Rossi, I might be more sensitive to minor changes, but I don't feel any.

Note, I'm a 60-year old who rides at moderate to "sporty" levels of agressiveness. Your answer may vary if you ride flat out, like it's MotoGP and you're trying to catch Rossi.

2. The comfort change was dramatic and immediate. I come from a more upright bike, a naked SV650. I immediately noticed that my right wrist would be slightly sore after rides as short as 1/2 hour on the Interceptor and remain sore for a day or two. My left was fine; I guess the combination of weight on the wrist and throttle manipulation was just enough to push my right wrist over the edge. THIS IS COMPLETELY GONE with the Heli Bars.

Bottom line: My experience is that if you want the Heli Bars to increase comfort I don't think you'll encounter any adverse effects bike handling.

Best of luck,
Bob S.

 

anyone got a stock setup they want to get rid of on the cheap, I would like to try a stock bar for 6th gen?

 

Maybe I'm not reading it (HB website) correctly but it looks like they don't make 5G Helibars anymore. (I still see them on e-bay) Is that right? I am considering them or the Convertibars.

 

My local dealer has a black gen 6 ('05 or '06?) with heli bars and a Sargent seat. I have an '08 that is stock. I test rode the used bike with heli bars and my bike back to back. I put them side by side. I test rode it for at least 30 minutes.

I noticed that the heli bars made slow riding in the parking lot feel more clumsy, less crisp. It felt like the bars were more difficult to turn near the end or at their stops. I didn't feel any difference at road speeds. I carefully checked the heli bike for cable binding and didn't find any, the handle bars turned freely lock to lock when on the center stand.

It didn't seem like a concern to me since it handled normally on the street.

Ron

 

I've got Helis on my 6th gen right now, I've also got the stock bars to go back to whenever I want. I've tried both. I run the Helis because the little bit of feedback I lose is worth the practicality/ long distance comfort of the Helis. If you do any long distance riding and have the coin, I say buy them. They do not make the bike feel weird or wrong or anything like that. The extra width actually gives you a bit more leverage in the twisties in my experience. As for the parking lot speeds thing, I agree...it does make it a bit more awkward. Anyway, Helis and VFR's were meant for each other. Throw in a Corbin or Sargent and you can't beat it.

 

Thanks all. I ordered Heli's last nite throu the GBuy.

 

Heli Bars

I have had Heli Bars on two different bikes and love them. I wouldn't own a sport bike or a sport/touring bike without them.

 

I often reach back and tweak the rear suspension (ABS external preload) to slightly change the steering feel to what ever mood I'm in that day. Some day's I like it twitchy, some days I like it more stable. I think you'll be able to change the feel to some degree after you put the bars on so no real need to worry.