Hangle bars

[Darth_1100S]

I'm sure I posted this on here yesterday but it seems to have vanished...Ah well! Has anyone re-sited their bars above the the top yoke? I know there's a kit for doing this but I'm told it's not really needed, can anyone confirm?

Also does doing this effect the steering at all? Is it like a conventional suspension set-up where if the forks are brought up thro' the yoke it quickens the steering by steepening the rake angle?

Dave

[Jason M]

Mr D

I've got the BM high bars fitted. You CAN just pull the tubes up through the yoke and fit yours above but.... the attachments yours will have will mean there would be a superfluous fitting (where a bolt currently goes into the underside of the yoke) sitting above the yoke..... and this would look mank and shite. I know Bailey has it this way but he doesn't care I think the kit was over £200 when my bike was bought but I think it's a lot cheaper now. Might e able to get a 2nd hand one or maybe grind away the extra fitting, or use it for a GPS or other girly attachment like a vanity mirror or power outlet for a hair dryer

Don't think it affects the steering though. The BM kit also supplies longer throttle cables but I'm told these aren't strictly necessary.

Jason

[Darth_1100S]

Jason thanks for the info. If I do ever decide to put the bars above the yoke then it would only be a temporary arrangement, maybe for when I'm on a long tour. It was something that occured to me about 5 days into our trip - when the wrists / shoulders were starting to complain a bit. It would be put back as standard on return because for day to day riding it doesn't bother me.

Thanks again
Dave.

[winger]

I've never ridden mine with anything other than the high bars,whats the point of haveing your head lower than your ass with a bike thats barely doing 90hp!!!!!.

Chris

[boxerpan]

I,ve never rideen mine with anything other than the low bars, the 90 hp has enough problem pulling the bike along without me putting my head above the parapet

Lloyd

[Boxadog 2000]

It makes no difference at all to the steering geometry if you pull the stanchions through the yokes, the stanchions are there just to keep everything pointing in the right direction its the telever that denotes the rake angle.

Bob

[bernsmartco]

Dave,
Various people have done this mod. I was going to but fear of invalidating warranty stopped me. I was quoted something like 450 plus fitting for the aftermarket BMW kit and for that price I was going to live with the existing lugs showing or put some stainless steel strip across as a mounting point for who knows what.
The advice I received having posted on the owner club board was not to bother with the various alternate aftermarket products that allow adjustment for reach as well as hight.
So for a simple move above the top yoke advice was - do one side at a time and check that there is not to much tension on the brake pipe on either lock since some early models don't have a pipe that long enough to do this mod. I am fairly sure that this would not cause a problem on my 2003 bike and all the other controls look as if there is sufficient slack.

[Darth_1100S]

Bern, and everyone else thanks a bunch for the info. I think I'll give it try to see what it's like

Cheers - Dave

[Mick Mac]

Dave,

I raised mine as I was getting sore wrists and numb hands when riding slowly around town.

Mine is a '99 model and I needed to get a longer upper brake hose. I decided to fit Earls braided hoses (£75 for the three front hoses) as they were a lot cheaper than G**drich.

I moved the wiring on the left to outside the fork leg, as advised by a US company who sell a fairly naff looking 'C' bracket affair.

Jason is right, the exposed lugs do look naff. However, I wasn't prepared to spend £150 for new ones! I've mounted the Oxford heated grips control unit on the left lug and will probably mount my vanity mirror on the right .

I'm really happy with the new riding position. The bars are raised by 2 1/4" and brought back by 1".

The only slight concern is that the 'belt & braces' of having a securing lug is now gone. However, in the old days bikes only had a pinch bolt ! I reckon that, as long as it's well tightened and checked periodically, it should be OK(disclaimer, disclaimer etc.).

All the best,

Mick

[Darth_1100S]

Mick thanks for that, it looks like I will have to install a longer hose tho' - it looks a bit tight under there. I'll try it first and if I need one I'll get it from HEL, I got the hoses for my lads XJR from them and they were very reasonable and quick too.....Very helpful guys.

Cheers - Dave.

[Darth_1100S]

I've just put the bars on top of the yoke, you were all right - it looks shite!! It IS more comfy to sit on the bike tho', I'll go out for a run later and try it out. The brake hose was just long enough, if I decide to leave the bars like this then I'll get a new hose to be safe.

Ta for the advice / help guys

Dave

[Darth_1100S]

Went out earlier tonight for a wee ride to try out the newly located bars.....Let me see, what adjective can I adopt for them....erm ....CRAP! Yep, that'll do nicely - they're bloody crap.

The whole feel of the bike had changed to a sort of "perched upon" kinda thing. I did about 12 miles and at no time did I feel in control or involved with the bike at all. I included a blast down the Rainford By-Pass, a nice long stretch of dual carriageway and the wind nearly took my head off - not to mention the noise. In fact there was nothing good about it at all, wasn't even any more comfy to ride. I wouldn't have thought that just moving the bars would have such an effect, it didn't feel like my bike at all. So - the bars have now been returned to their right and proper place, and there they shall stay - as Mr BMW intended!

Dave.

[carlk]

comfy eh?

perhaps you need to look at a nice pan euro

[Darth_1100S]

2 cylinders too many for my taste Carl.

Dave

[carlk]

R11xx LT armchair techno carriage sir???