Genmar vs Helibars vs LSL (anyone have some second hand helibars for sale?)

Hey all,

I find when riding the usual pain in my wrists that seems to come with the handlebar height on these bikes, but find it especially painful as I'm around 6'4" and ~295lb. I've been looking around at the different options and they all seem to be quite expensive, esp for an Australian. I'm thinking for me the Helibars are the way to go, as I don't think the Genamr risers are going to lift the bars quite high enough, and I do want to do some medium length riding (100-200kms) without having to worry about the pain. Can anyone tell me how much of a difference there is between the LSL bars and the Helibars? They seem to be about the same price (+$10, not including shipping) but I prefer the more stock looking Helibars.

On a related note, does anyone have a second hand set for sale (or the 84 VF1000 bars), or know where I can get them cheaper than the $US279rrp they seem to be?

Regards

-Dave-

 

Hi MasqUAP,

I bought my bike with helibars and took them off to put the Spiegler LSL kit on it. The LSL is much better and more comfortable for me.

I have a 02 vfr. If the Helibars will fit you can have them ;o)
Just shoot me a P/N and ill get you some pix ;o)

Take care

 

I have been searching and reading up on the handlebar options for the VFR.

You state that the LSL bar conversion is better than the Heli-bars. How long have you riden with either bar? Is the primary difference due to less weight on your arms/wrists?

On a related note, how easy or difficult was it to replace the heli-vars with the LSL kit? From what I can find out, the LSL is a straight forward bolt on replacement. Is that teh reality?

Thanks.

 

I got my VFr with helibars on her. Rode around for a few month and then changed to the LSL bar.
For me I sit more upright and have less weight on my arms been riding for a few month with that set up now and
have to say it is sweet for me (5.8")

It is more or less just a bolt on replacement on my 6th Gen. I had to reroute the brake and clutch lines but that was it.
Oh yeah and I had to drill 2 holes in the bar to mount the trottle assembly and the switchassembly on the clutchside.
2-3 hours of installation.

Hope that helps a bit.

 

Thanks for the feedback.

Based on the current prices I can find, the LSL conversion is only $10.00 more than the Heli-Bars, and they sure look like more bang for my buck.

 

Being able to swap out standard 7/8th handlebars is a big plus.

 

Yes good point.

If you are not happy with the bar you get from Spiegler you could swap em out to whatever you prefer.

One quick note I had to get the bar ends as well from Spiegler because the US has a different inner diameter and I couldn't get the US ones to fit.

 

Thanks for the heads up.

I'll let you know how it goes.

 

Heli is not for you! there's very minor changes from stock. I went with 84Vf1000F bars and they work really really well! They set me back about $60. off ebay and needed no mods to be installed.

 

That's a sweet seat, what brand is it?

 

84vf1000f bars huh......have you had any problems? I read a thread once about a guy using bars from a speed triple but it was alot more than $60. Got any pics from the different angels you care to share?

 

After not being able to find a complete set of the '84 handlebars (lots of lefts, does everyone drop it on the right for some reason?) I went with the Helibars. They're much better for me than the stockers and do take a lot of pressure off my wrists. I think I paid around $AU270 delivered off EBay and were easy enough to fit (other than I had to grind the brake / clutch line metal tabs off while they were on the bike as I CBF removing them again), and don't look terribly different from stock. Only issue I really had was at full lock with the angle I have them my hands do foul on the fairings, but only just. Overall am happy with them, it's still a little too much weight on my wrists (but I'm 6'4" and 130kg, so that's my fault not the bikes ) and after a ~200km (~125mi) round trip I was still feeling pretty good.

 

glad you found a solution that works for you, when i bought my bike it had the lsl's already installed and were very comfortable. problem i had is that at 6'2" when i went to crouch it made my arms go in a very uncomfortable position. my commute is 400km's/week @110km/h so i'd rather crouch. interesting side note: i picked up 35km's/tank with the factory bars back on.

 

Hi MasqUAP,
Glad the mods worked. Do you find yourself sitting out in the breeze more with the Helis? I have been considering a more comfy bar. But find at 6'1 and with a stock screen the wind gets right under my helmet at 110km/h. So ive been considering bars and a screen. You've done one mod of the two mods any diff?

 

Hey Mark,

The short answer is no, but that doesn't mean a whole lot I am getting buffeted a fair bit with the helis on, but rather than copping it in the neck it's now hitting my chest. As for which is better, TBH with big winds the 'with Helis' solution is a bit more irritating (as I'm quite broad shouldered so it smacks me around a little more) but 99% of the time I'm not really noticing a difference.

If i was to replace the screen with a new, higher one it'd hit me more around the helmet which is much more aerodynamic than my chest and probably would be a good move overall.

Regards

-Dave-

 

FYI the slightly increased comfort I have in the riding position does offset the discomfort of the higher level of buffeting IMO. I still find the bike a little uncomfortable to ride (as with any bike with similar riding position as I'm 6'4" and 130kg) but I find I can sit up a little more and when puttering along it's much more comfortable sitting upright and reaching for just one grip.

 

Hey vfrBenny,
I followed you lead and picked up a set of 84 vf1000 bars from ebay for $45. I have noticed the tabs that keep the bars from rotating foward on my current bars are different from the pin/hole method on the vf1000 bars. Did use the pins and drill holes in your triple tree, or something else.

Looking forward to getting these installed. They look like they'll be perfect. Thanks for the suggestion!

 

Sorry to resurrect an old thread, but I wanted to add this comparison of my bike with helibars and another bike using LSL bars. If these pics have similar viewing angles, then it appears that the LSL bars come up higher than the Helibars.

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