Riding position

Does raising the handle bars the 1/4 inch or so they give you, really make that much of a difference?
And how does it change the way the bike handles?
Thanks for any input you guys may have.
Bill

 

I'm thinking no psychically, but mentally it might. I've seen the heli bars and they're more like 1'' higher from what I can tell, even then I'm thinking thats not much, but hey for some it's probably worth trying

 

I have Helibars. They raise the bars about about 1" but also pull them back about 1". It is surprising how much difference it makes to the load on the wrists and back. There is some change in the handling feel which you notice immediately after the change but you quickly adjust. One thing, if you are taller than about 5' 8" you will probably notice some extra wind pressure at higher speeds, I am 5' 11' and found it a bit of a bother so I put a Zero Gravity Sport Touring Screen on. It is now very comfortable. I just need a decent seat.

 

A surprising difference, to me at least -- but we are all shaped different. I use the Gen-Mar risers. You wouldn't think it from looking at the bars. But it does improve comfort noticably on longer drives. As for handling, I don't notice any change in regular riding. I am sure at a track day, or more spirited day riding there might be a slight difference. But, by using the risers rather than something liek the Heli-bars, I can pretty quickly switch between the two. About 15 minutes to go back and forth; just one pinch bolt on each fork leg. Just losen bolt, remove/add riser, tighten bolt - I have the torque spec written on the box I keep the risers in so I don't have to look it up each time, I am either putting them in the box or taking them out, so the spec is right there either way. The Heli-Bars are going to give you even more comfort, but not be as quick to go back and forth. But if you aren't going to do that anyway, that isn't a concern.

 

My previous bike was a TDM 900 (I'm not sure if it is available in the States but here in Greece is one of the most popular bikes).

The seating position on that one was completely upright, with high comfortable handlebars. When I switched to the VFR 800 three months ago, the difference was scary! It is my first bike with clip-ons and at first I thought "Shit, I'm sitting upside down with my ass in the air!"

Immediately I ordered a set of Heli Bars which a received a couple of weeks ago and haven't installed yet. But what happened meanwhile? I got used to the VFR riding position, to the point that now it feels completely natural, as if this was the position I was riding all these years!

Now that I start to learn how to corner a bike with clip-ons (and I really enjoy it!) I can appreciate the lean-over position. Since 90% of the time I am riding the bike less than 1 hour at a time (I don't do a lot of travelling) it does not affect by wrists.

At the moment I am completely happy with the stock bars. Probably I will install the Heli Bars at the next bike service just to see the difference, but if I detect any compromise in the handling or wind protection I will consider switching back to the stock bars.