Helibars

Opinions please. I'm an older fella who bought a '94 VFR last season. I'm considering installing Helibars to get a more comfortable riding position. has anyone used them on their VFR and do they help any in terms of straighten out your wrist in relation to your forearm? Thanks.

M.A.T.

 

M.A.T They are a definite upgrade. I noticed a huge difference right off the bat. Highly recommended older feller
:bug:

 

Got em on my 5th gen. Like em.

 

got a 2004 vfr Feb 2, (about a month now) am 5'7" 28 inseam. I lowered it 1.5 inches and that helped then added Helibars and now feel much more in control. Price bars but well made and fit without changing cables. I wouldn't mind if they were 3/4 inch taller but they did help my arms and wrists. By the way I am 64. If you can budget them in, get them.

 

I have a 2004 with Helibars. I bought the bike with them installed, so I can't make a comparison to stock positioning. I would say to get them. I'm also an old guy, will be 66 in July.

 

I saw somewhere on here a member mounted a set off a Kawasaki Concours ZG1000, direct bolt on but he may have had to reroute or change brake lines. They are all over fleebay. Prob pick up a good used set for $50 or less. Having owned a Connie I can tell you the stock bars were great for a more upright position. And risers are even available for the Concours bars from Handlebar Risers for your Concours!
You would definitely have to do some reworking of brake, throttle and electrical controls to add the risers on top of the concours clipons but you would be sitting pretty close to vertical I bet.

Found the thread;
http://http://vfrworld.com/forums/5th-generation-1998-2001/40751-check-out-my-super-tall-handlebars-rivaling-those-jap-police-cheap-too.html?highlight=concours

 

Get them. They are worth every penny and the install takes very little time (at least on my 6th gen). They absolutely improved wrist angle and pressure on the hands and wrists for riding. If I bought another VFR, I would order another set immediately. Of course, I am going to ride the one I have til either it, I or both of us die!

 

Had em on my 07 VFR and really found them helpful. Get a set. You will be satisfied. :thumb:

 

I bought my '07 in Sept. '08. I planned on buying Heli Bars but decided to get used to the bike first. That was four years and 16,000 miles ago. I still haven't bought the bars. I guess I got used to stock. I am 6'2" and have an arm span of 6'4". Someday I would like to try a bike with the bars to see if I'm missing something.

I'm 61

 

Thank you all very much for your input. It has been very helpful.

M.A.T.

 

Last August I got a 2001 and rode it for about six months before I installed the LSL handlebar conversion kit that I bought from Spiegler. Within the first couple of months of riding it I knew I wanted higher bars. I was in no hurry and took my time deciding between Helibars and LSL kit. They are roughly the same price and both have many, many positive reviews.

The reason I went with the LSL is because there are quite a few posts on various motorcycle forums where guys have said they like the Helibars but they just didn't provide enough rise and they wished they had gone with a handlebar conversion. And in some case they did swap out their Helis for handlebars. Conversely, I didn't find a single post (though they may be out there) where someone that had a handlebar conversion wished they had lower bars or clipons. So far I am very happy and am glad I got handlebars instead of higher clipons.

 

I had Gen-Mar's when I got my bike and they just weren't enough. Reading reviews also convinced me that I wanted to go the Spiegler route.

However, what I did was copy their style of mount with my own parts. End result is the same basic thing and it feels GREAT!

Jose

 

I tell my shrink the same thing. Same question-Same answer. Makes him happy.

 

This 98 I just recently bought has heli bars, and as I was changing the front tire I noticed the axle was damn near impossible to get out or back in. Come to notice that one fork leg is about 4mm lower than the other, which binds the axle. So I go up top and look, and whoever put the helis on raised the fork tubes a whole bunch, apparently paid no attention to how even they were, and then slid the helis all the way to the top of the tube....I guess the person REALLY wanted to sit straight up the way it looks. But in the process he completely screwed up the front ride height, and I'm not sure where it should be.

 

I tell my shrink the same thing. Same question-Same answer. Makes him happy.

 

M.A.T.:

First of all, congratulations on your purchase. Here's betting you'll only come to love it more over time. I'm 6' 2" and admittedly don't fold as well as I once did. Having been born in the 1940's* probably has something to do with the latter point. My observations are as follows:

1. Yup, helibars made a big difference for me on my 07 sixth gen.
2. I also use a Throttle Rocker, it too helps greatly.
3. I added Busy Little Shop foot peg lowering adapters; beautifully made and wonderful for the lower back and arms.

* (Geeze; I thought I'd be grown up by now!)

Enjoy!