Topic: help deciding bars

[westondc]

I'm on the fence over wether to go with european or superbike bars. comfort is the main factor which i wont really know unless i try both, looks are second. so.. i like the look of the bars on this bike. can anyone tell me if they are supers or euros?

[andy750]

Ah its one of those things where due to body height, arm length etc its all very subjective. You just need to pick a style you think you might like and try and see. I have tried superbike bars (no good for me), euro bars(good for me), stock bars, tomesselli bars (great!) etc...you can get bars for $20 so trial and error is not so expensive.

good luck
Andy

[Deltarider]

They are Genuine Honda bars for the European market. Best compromise for handling and comfortable riding position.

[westondc]

They are Genuine Honda bars for the European market. Best compromise for handling and comfortable riding position.

so I'm assuming the euro bars i picked-up at the bike shop yesterday aren't exactly like the Genuine Honda bars for the European market? the euro bars i have seem to have more pullback and angle down more than the ones on the bike in the picture. i wasn't digging the style of the supers, they looked too straight like they would stickout a bit like drag bars... but i didn't get to see what they looked like on the bike. the guy at the shop said i could exchange them for the superbike bars if i don't like the euros, but how can i really tell if i dont mount them both first? i really don't want to go though all the work mounting them and running the wiring through just to end up not happy with the bars. ahhhh decisions, decisions....

by the way I'm about 5'9 and when i ride i dont like the straight up riding position of my stock bars, just a bit more forward lean would be nice.

[754]

I say away from SISSY Bars,

 and the ones that are either All male (in leathers) with no bikes outside, or all female type of bars...

[westondc]

I say away from SISSY Bars,

 and the ones that are either All male (in leathers) with no bikes outside, or all female type of bars...

haha, nice. I'm a fan of the local bike bar The Silver Spoke Saloon, welcoming to the vintage Honda rider and others alike.

[MCRider]

They are Genuine Honda bars for the European market. Best compromise for handling and comfortable riding position.

so I'm assuming the euro bars i picked-up at the bike shop yesterday aren't exactly like the Genuine Honda bars for the European market? the euro bars i have seem to have more pullback and angle down more than the ones on the bike in the picture. i wasn't digging the style of the supers, they looked too straight like they would stickout a bit like drag bars... but i didn't get to see what they looked like on the bike. the guy at the shop said i could exchange them for the superbike bars if i don't like the euros, but how can i really tell if i dont mount them both first? i really don't want to go though all the work mounting them and running the wiring through just to end up not happy with the bars. ahhhh decisions, decisions....

by the way I'm about 5'9 and when i ride i dont like the straight up riding position of my stock bars, just a bit more forward lean would be nice.

Realize that SuperBike bars and Euro Bars are broad categories and specifics will vary from one manufacturer to another. But basically, SB bars are wider and straighter and EB have a bit more curve back to them and are generally narrower.  Both have a net rise of about 2", but the EBs could be lower depending on how you mount them as they curve more.

If you were racing in a production class or pretending to, you'd want the SB bars. SuperBike used to be a racing class. Some SB bars may be nearly flat. Again per manufacturer.

If you want a more relaxed posture but still sporty, you'll like the EBs.

[westondc]

If you want a more relaxed posture but still sporty, you'll like the EBs.

sounds good to me

[Deltarider]

Honda ment us to sit like this (see below), be it that normally one's back is somewhat more curved.

In a Honda CB550 & Suzuki GT550 test (Bike Magazine 1974) we read:

"Honda appear to be designing machines specificially for the European market rather than merely insulting taste with that sit-up-and-beg riding position that the Yanks love so much."