This was a very interesting article for me because it is exactly what I have been preparing to do to my recently acquired 1971 CB500 (less all of the engine mods). That is exactly what I have been picturing in my mind for this project. I want it to be something I can ride on a weekend trip should I decide to do so and as much as I like the full cafe treatment, I am just not going to be comfortable with clubmans or clip-ons. I am going to sport up the ergonomics and concentrate on getting the suspension working well.
As for the handlebar on the "Express"- I have looked closely at the bars on my 1978 BMW R100S and I am guessing that they are the same bar. They are a Magura bar. I have always called them an "S" bar but they may be called something else. Anyway, they are the stock bar for a BMW R90S and R100S. There is another version that is more similar to a drag bar but with more sweep that came on the R100RS. I bought a superbike bar for my CB500 and plan to cut it down to the same width as the Magura bars on my BMW. Looking back, I don't know why I didn't just buy a set of the Maguras. They are fantastic bars.
