LSL Handlebar kits: any experiences?

Anyone used the LSL kits and care to comment on the quality and the adjustability?

LSL Superbike Handlebar Kits

They seem like they're pretty nice, and I'm considering using them on my '86 to try to get a more comfortable arrangement for the grips (I have a bunch of long down-hill stretches in my daily ride to/from work that kills my wrists, and looking to move things back/up a bit, and get some better angles at the same time).

It looks like the '86 will fit a fair number of bars without needing to modify anything, and with a bunch of adjustment for how far back to angle them in the clamps.

Plus switching to the std 22mm bars will help with accessory mounting, I'm hoping (GPS, Bar-end helmet locks, heavier bar end weights, etc.).

They seem to be about it for available riser kits for this old of a bike.

I also have this thread started for ergo stuff for the bike in general:
http://vfrworld.com/forums/first-second-generation-1983-1989/16546-ergo-improvements-86-a.html

Thanks!

 

I have the LSL kit on my '99 and love it. Better in my opinion than the Heli Bars I had before - a bit higher rise, so less reach for us shorter in the arms guys. Not sure how this would compare with your '86, but I can say the build quality is excellent. Someone was looking for comments on this issue a while back and asked for some pics, but I can't find that thread. If that person is out there and reads this, I have a few pics now I can share. Just have no idea how to post them on this forum...DOH!!!

 

Yes! Post pics! (I'm the one that asked originally)

I think you'll want to upload them to photobucket or similar, then you can use the 'insert image' button when composing (little picture of a mountain)

 

I've got the LSL Mig lights and the build quality is great! Still need to install them in my race fairing, but the quality is great. I've seen the handlebars and they look great too. Bolt right up.

 

OK - I've attached some pics of the kit on my '99. The bars shown are the stock ones that came with the kit. The reach is quite comfortable. Not too experienced on uploading photos, so I hope this works!!

 

Don't see any pics...

 

Scoe meant to link these images:





More are here: sdcoe - Photobucket - Video and Image Hosting

Now, my next question is: Aluminum or Steel bars? and how heavy of weights? The stockers are aluminum clip-ons, but pretty meaty. But the stock bar-end weights are pretty light (nothing like the 3" long steel monsters on a friend's ST1100).

Seems like the aluminum bars would vibrate more, unless the extra material helps to dampen it out (14mm ID instead of 18mm ID for same OD). For some shapes, I know it takes more aluminum (by weight) to get the same strength as steel. With the 20mm bars, this works out to 3x the material (so the same weight, but WAY stiffer bars for bending with the aluminum, but stiffer also tends to mean better transmission of vibrations...)

Anyone ride much dirt and compared steel vs. aluminum bars there with a buzzy 250cc 2-stroke?

 

Thanks for finding the pics Woody. No idea how you did it, but obviously you are the better man with this computer stuff. I see LSL now has a setup using a heavier aluminum bar that tapers down at the ends - kinda like the bars used on most motocross bikes now. These would have better vibraton dampening qualities I think.

 

scoe, not that hard to get the links right, but I kinda do 'puter stuff for a living (I write code, but can't fix computers).

anyway, you need a link to an image, not a page, and then you can do the link like you did (easier to show than explain).

****

Back to the bars. How's the vibration in your setup? I figure they didn't do much to the engine to make it vibrate less over the years, and I'm really curious how it compares to stock for vibration.

Thanks!

 

Hey Woody - I'll have to work on my picture posting techniques!! Anyway, on the vibration issue I can't honestly say I've noticed any particular problem. I have fairly small bar end weights on the bike, but vibration does not seem to be an issue. You could put a bar snake in the bars (if you use hollow bars) if it bothered you or maybe go to the LSL's new setup that uses the Pro-Taper type of aluminum bar. They work well for damping out vibration on big single cyclinder dirt bikes, so should work great on a VFR too.