Topic: '77-'80 era superbikes, why the higher handlebars?

[Caferacernoc]

They had rearsets and everything else like a caferacer or GP bike. Were they not allowed to use clubman bars or clip-ons? Or is there another reason they used the "superbike" bend handlebars?

[Bankerdanny]

Because street bikes had not yet become so specialized in those days. Bikes had to do more than fit in a narrow niche.

As we entered the boom years of the late 80's and through the 90's people were willing to pay for specialized bikes that looked like they just came off the track, or were equipped like a 2-wheel Winnebago. But before that people wanted street bikes that were versitile and those that wanted a race bike or a tourer bought themselves a UJM like the CB, or the KZ, or GS and customized it to be a cafe, or track bike or a tourer. I also don't think that the manufacturers thought there was a market for a more focused bikes. They didn't want to get stuck with a bunch of expensive racing style bikes that couldn't be ridden more than 50 miles without back pain.

[johnrdupree]

I think he is asking about actual race bikes and why they used "superbike" bars instead of clip-ons or clubmans.  I'll take a wild-arse guess and say it was mainly down to leverage.  The street-based racebikes were, compared to GP bikes of the day, heavy and slow steering (actually, that applies to this day).  Even modified for racing they steered like trucks.  They needed the width of the superbike bars to get the things to turn.  I've read stories of guys pushing and pulling on them so hard they'd come back to the pits with bent handlebars.  Clip-ons were simply too short to provide the force needed.

Then again there could have been something in the rule book.  These were street-based and were supposed to resemble production bikes.

Maybe somebody who was around at the time will chime in and set me straight.

~john

[TrueSpin]

Along the lines of what johnrdupree is saying, if they're bending the bars, they'd be worried about the clipons slipping I'm sure.

Me personally? I don't think the average street rider wanted a "lay on the tank" race bike when they went shopping.

[Caferacernoc]

Thanks for the replies. Yes, I meant the actual racebikes with the mild rise handlebars instead of something more radical.

[Duanob]

I know back in my highschool days in the late 70's the trick was to turn the superbike bars upside down for the cafe look. Didn't need longer or shorter cables since the bar length was the same. I never did that to my 360 it was fun to ride the way it was.

[Bankerdanny]

OH, well then I think it's because the Superbikes were based on the production models, and at the time production bikes used standard type bars rather than clip-ons or clubman bars.

[ofreen]

I think he is asking about actual race bikes and why they used "superbike" bars instead of clip-ons or clubmans.  I'll take a wild-arse guess and say it was mainly down to leverage.  The street-based racebikes were, compared to GP bikes of the day, heavy and slow steering (actually, that applies to this day).  Even modified for racing they steered like trucks.  They needed the width of the superbike bars to get the things to turn.  I've read stories of guys pushing and pulling on them so hard they'd come back to the pits with bent handlebars.  Clip-ons were simply too short to provide the force needed.

If that is a guess, it is a very good one.  Turning any bike at 120+ takes a lot of muscle, especially the old ones that weren't really designed for it.

[singedebile]

but if you look at European bikes of the same era, even the less sporting BMW's had much lower and narrower handlebars.. I feel that it is more to do with appealing to the generally more casual American market.

[ofreen]

but if you look at European bikes of the same era, even the less sporting BMW's had much lower and narrower handlebars.. I feel that it is more to do with appealing to the generally more casual American market.

Have you ridden an original Ducati 900SS or even an old BMW RS?  Even at street speeds steering effort is high.  At racing speeds the effort needed to change direction increases greatly.  Even on modern sport bikes, a lot of people have been surprised how much muscle is needed to turn when they try to take a corner at high speed and they have never done it before.  Surprised enough to run right off the road.