Topic: Adventures In Honda CB500 Handlebars (wrist pain issues - help needed!)

[MoTo-BunnY]

(sorry for the huge post but I have researched the heck out of this topic before asking for help and its pretty critical for me to make the right choice 'cause wrist pain is killing my riding)

OK..  .so I have having a bit of a challenge to find the right style and fit of handlebars for me. I hated the stock CB500 bars (plus mine were bent) so I finally got around to swapping them out to some 1983 Honda CB550SC Nighthawk (#53100-ME4-000) bars I got from a friend for free . . .



It took forever to drill them out properly and fit them (and the cables/hoses even all were long enough albeit JUST) and they looked way cool on my scoot (not TOO ape hanger or whatever but still kinda chopper-ish). HOWEVER, they hurt my wrists LIKE all-HELL!

I kept adjusting them and riding, hoping I would get used to them but it just ain't happening. Basically, its the pullback - the stock CB500 bars had less and thus, hurt less but weren't comfortable either. I have ridden my mountain bike for years and never had a problem (they have nearly straight bars), even after riding all day on and off road, etc. so it has to be the pull back angle on these cycle bars that I just can't do.



Soooo.. . I have been hitting the boards here, reading all the handlebars posts etc and have figured out I need either 'dragbars' . . . .


(I like this style the best of the drag bars I have seen - very Vincent-esque)

 or the 1975 - 1976 CB400F bars (#53100-377-000). . . . (big bonus here as they are pre-drilled - that was SUCH a pain in the arse on the NightHawk bars)






I don't care for the superbike bars 



and similar as they seem to still have too much pullback, me thinks. Appearance wise, I really like what are on the old Vincents . . .



Soooo..  . mainly I am wondering about the CB400F bars. They are spendy but available and pre-drilled (verrrry nice). However, its hard to tell from pictures how much pullback they have and I can't find their stats anywhere. Do the CB400F bars have less pullback than stock (American market) CB500 bars or just less rise? The rise is not a problem. .. . just the pullback. I think the stock CB500 bars have like 5"+ pullback so it has to be less than that on any new bars, like 3" or so.

I love the dragbars in the above pict - they are cheap BUT I would have to drill them (BIG pain but I don't want external wiring) and I'm concerned they might hit the tank (though I don't have the stock master cylinder so I probably have more clearance). I also like their styling a lot.

Anyways .. .  . any thoughts, opinions, pics, measurements, etc. would be GREATLY appreciated as the nasty wrist pain is really cramping my rides and my scoot is my daily driver!

(by the way, yes I also have gel gloves, grips, brand new - routed correctly cables, tried various hand positions, etc. etc. - its BOTH wrists, all the time.  . ..aaaaargh!)

[mrbreeze]

I got the Euro bars and love em'!! Others here steered me that way and I found what I like ........Hope you find the ones you like Bunny!!

[MoTo-BunnY]

Are the 'Eurobars' the same as the CB400F bars? (I recall reading that the Euro market CB500/750 got the CB400F style bars while the US got the 'mini-apes'. . .lol)

[mrbreeze]

I'm not sure what the 400's are runnin' but all I'm saying is I like the eurobars (Mike's XS .....Yami 650). They are cozy with me!!!!

[kpier883]

I think mine is the Flanders F34 like the one for the ST1100.  Monday I did a 535 mile day and didn't have any arm problems.  Previously, with pullback style I was uncomfortable after an hour or less. 

The only problem I had was the grips were not comfortable.  I need to find something with more padding.  Wearing gloves helped, but it could have been better.

I did have to drill this bar for wires and it was a pain.  Quality of the Flanders bar seems to be excellent.  Cost was higher than the ones made overseas, but sometimes you get what you pay for.

[Dougy Dougy Dune Buggy]

1976 400 Four Super Sport bars, they have 1.5" of rise, they are what i use on my 500 Four
i think they're called euro bars sometimes also...picture super bike bars
DWYJ

[MoTo-BunnY]

1976 400 Four Super Sport bars, they have 1.5" of rise, they are what i use on my 500 Four
i think they're called euro bars sometimes also...picture super bike bars
DWYJ

Any idea on how much pullback they have, like do the CB400F bars have less pullback than the stock CB500 bars did? (i.e. "straighter" - less angle coming back at you)

[bryanj]

All UK bars have less Pull back than the US ones due to the fact that we ride like Loonies over here and there are no straight roads!

[Jay B]

I've got the drag bars you pictured on both my 350f and 550. They fit me really nicely. As far as drilling I, and several others here have slotted the bottom halves of the switch pods and just ran the wires outside. In fact, my '77 550k came that way. You have to pull the locating pin out, which gives adjustability to the lever angle. Unless you have a pristine set of controls, that's the way I'd go.

[Dougy Dougy Dune Buggy]

The 400 bars have the same holes as my 500 ones and the controls all fit like factory stock, there wasn't any problem at all running any wires or mounting of controls....i'm all about the easier the better, and factory fit & finish to boot!! YeeHaw
DWYJ

[kpier883]

Here is a link to the F34 I mentioned.

http://www.sideroadcycles.com/ImportedMotorcycles/ImportHandlebars/ImportStreet/78more2Street.html

I am not affiliated with these guys.  Just a happy customer.  And again, these don't have the holes.  Maybe if you call them they could drill it for you.

[mlinder]

I went from clubmans to drag bars recently.
Doesn't look as cool, but feels much better.

[MoTo-BunnY]

Thanks for the tips, all!  I have been really wracking my brain on whether or not to get the drag bars or the CB400F. I think I might have to just get BOTH types and see which I prefer, in hand.   

Its just one of those things really hard to decide from just pictures! Its soooo important though as its your "user interface" just like the keyboard and mouse is with your computer. .  .lol.

I really like the dragbars but was concerned with the cables hitting the tank at full lock or whatever, until I found these on feeBay:



Adjustable risers!  (and not too spendy, either at around $20)  I didn't want to go with those really tall "dogbone" types so I'll get these in case I need a bit of clearance with the dragbars but can still keep it kinda low.