Topic: Help me decide: 400F or Super Bike bars?

[Scott S]

 I'll be adding 400F rear sets to my CB500 this Winter. I plan on changing out the stock bars but I can't decide between the 400F or the Super Bike bars.

 400F:
 Pro: Factory Honda stuff. Can hide the cables. Look cool
 Con: Seem a little narrow.

 Super Bike:
 Pro: Slightly wider with a tad more rise and pull back than the 400F bars. Look Cool.
 Con: External wires unless I get creative with the Dremel tool (not likely).

 Any real world input on either of these two bars? Remember, I'll be moving the pegs back to match, so the whole riding position will change.

[FunJimmy]

I have Superbike bars on one of my bikes and love them.
It would be interesting to know the difference (both rise and pullback) between the two.

[octagon]

has anyone used mid-seventies suzuki 185 bars?

[MoMo]

Choose whatever is the most comfortable riding position, but would be hard to do without the bars. I have 3 CB400 fours and love the look of the bars but at 63 the position is a bit uncomfortable for me during longer rides.  With the superbike bars you can always drill the holes for the wiring, I drill 2 or  3 holes, then use a grinder to smooth the lines and then round the edges over so the wires won't get chafed.   Takes an hour at most using an 18v Makita drill driver....Larry

[JBMorse]

I've read up on this topic here.  What I learned is basically what you already know, but remember an NOS CB400F bar is still available from some sources and will be of much better quality than a standard "emgo" superbike bar.  The chrome is apparently much better, better metallurgy, and of course pre-drilled wiring holes, and holes for the pins that hold the switch housing.
I really don't think it would be a big deal to recreate the wiring holes in a new set.  Seems like there wasn't a huge difference dimension-wise between the two, so I don't know if riding position will be much different.  
Of course, the emgo bars are much cheaper than NOS Honda bars, so that would be a big factor for me.

[Scott S]

 I already have a (used) set of 400F bars and a set of new Super Bike bars.
 There's a pretty big difference in rise/pullback. I'll see if I can set them up in the garage for a picture comparison.

[crazypj]

I fitted European 400f bars to mine in 1977. (not sure if there is a difference with USA 400f bars?)
 They are slightly lower and narrower than stock, but, its all the leverage you need

[Hoosier Tom]

I put the early CB400F bars on my '74 550 and love them.  They fit me fine, but it's about what fits you the best.

[octagon]

there's a cycle magazine article called gentleman's express posted somewhere here on the site. in it gordon jennings recommends suzuki 185 bars for cb750s - that's why i asked in the post above. in fact i bought a set a couple of days ago on ebay, but they haven't arrived yet.

[fasturd]

I switch handle bars like my g/f switches shoes and purses... Bar far one of my favorite bars is the stock 400F bar. They might seem a bit narrow but they are likely the most leverage you will ever need. I love the look. Now super bike bars come in all sorts of dimensions, so one mans choice isn't necessarily what the other man is looking at. However you can always cut down the larger bar to fit your reach. Make sure you have room on either bar for all your controls. The 400F is a tight fit for the master even stock, on a 550 it might be worse. I have an early CB450 bar on one of my hotrodded GL1000s. I have "super bike " bars on one of my 750s and clubmans on the rest. My 400 will soon be getting a NOS set of Dunstall clipons to keep up the vintage after market theme. The Dunstalls are drilled for factory Honda controls.
Good luck.

[Scott S]

 Well, I took some pics but it's really hard to get a good comparison with the camera.
 I also took some measurements. The Super Bike measurements came from MikesXS's website, which is where I bought the bars.
 I'm not sure about the pull back measurement on the 400F bars, but they are definitely more forward than the SB bars.

 Super Bike
 Width - 30 1/2", Rise - 2 1/2", Pullback - 5 5/8"

 400F
 Width - 27 1/4", Rise 2", Pullback -3 5/8"

[zachz]

Sooo... any update?  Which ones did you go with or end up finding more comfortable?

Zach
'76 CJ360t & CB400f, '77 CJ360t

[Scott S]

 Still haven't gotten there yet.  Got side tracked with my KZ250 project, been riding the CB500 and I also decided to refurbish the controls I had on the 400F bars. I'm trying to get everything in line so that I can swap the 400F bars AND foot pegs all in one weekend and limit the downtime on the bike.

[Scott S]

 Oh, and I sold the Superbike bars. I'll either use the 400F bars or the black bars in the pic a few posts up. Or, maybe order some Daytona bars.....hell, I'm still undecided!

[zachz]

Well... if/when you wanna get rid of the stock CB400f bars...

[ralt12]

Euro 400F's are just about perfect for my 550F

[Scott S]

 Are the bars I have the same as what you guys are calling "Euro 400f" bars?