Kawasaki Concours Forum
The C-14, aka Kawasaki Concours-14, the new one :) => Accessories and modifications - C14/GTR 1400 => Topic started by: Snype on December 15, 2017, 11:48:34 AM
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I know this has been talked about. I've been reading through the old posts. I could not find exactly what I was looking for.
The problem: I'm a broad shouldered guy. The stock hand position forces me to put severe bends in my wrists to hold the bars. After riding, I have a tremendous pain in my wrists; resulting in less riding (the problem). I need to change the angle of the bars to put my wrists in a more natural position, with minimum change to the overall riding position.
I've tried the risers and did not like them. The only product that seems to do what I want is the Heli Bars; however, I want to retain as much of the sport position as possible.
I've read the install directions from the site.
Questions, those with Heli Bars, please chime in:
How sporty can you get these???
How hard is it, and how did you remove/replace the factory grips and retain heating?
Any installation issues that I should be aware of?
Anyone have a good video?
Those with other solutions, please chime in:
What did you do to solve the pain in the wrists?
Thanks for the help,
Snype
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Murphskits ... https://www.murphskits.com/ (https://www.murphskits.com/) ... used to sell this.... https://spieglerusa.com/controls/handlebar-conversion/model/concours-14.html (https://spieglerusa.com/controls/handlebar-conversion/model/concours-14.html)
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I don't have specific answers to your questions, but I share some of your concerns, which is why I went with AST pullback risers and the wedges from Murph. I did a before and after measurement of increased height and pull back with this combo:
Pull back - 2 -7/8
Rise 3"
That's a pretty substantial change, and the wedges flattened out the plane of the grip. I had contemplated the Heli Horizons, but I thought I would try this set up first. On cycle ergos.com, my C14 now has about a 1 or 2 degree forward lean, which is comparable to my K16GT in stock config. I can ride the K16 to the moon and back without any fatigue or soreness in relation to the angle and reach to the bars, so my C14 should be in the same ballpark in terms of comfort in that category.
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I use Phil's Wedges (which later became Murph's Wedges)
http://www.zggtr.org/index.php?topic=2644 (http://www.zggtr.org/index.php?topic=2644)
http://www.zggtr.org/index.php?topic=6252 (http://www.zggtr.org/index.php?topic=6252)
http://www.zggtr.org/index.php?topic=3312 (http://www.zggtr.org/index.php?topic=3312)
http://www.zggtr.org/index.php?topic=605 (http://www.zggtr.org/index.php?topic=605)
http://www.zggtr.org/index.php?topic=1019 (http://www.zggtr.org/index.php?topic=1019)
http://www.zggtr.org/index.php?topic=16889 (http://www.zggtr.org/index.php?topic=16889)
http://www.zggtr.org/index.php?topic=8733 (http://www.zggtr.org/index.php?topic=8733)
Max search magic to the rescue....
PS- "Heli Bars" is a company, not a product. You have to specify if you are talking about risers or Horizons... It sounds like you are talking about possibly using Horizons, which are VERY configurable and VERY expensive. Try the wedges first, they work and are cheap. If you want more info on Horizons, you now know the magic search word...
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Yes, I am looking at the horizons. I am not sure they re as configurable as they sound. The distance between the headstock mount and the hand grip articulation cannot be modified. Further, the height and fore/aft adjustment is mainly a function of rotating the bars withing the clip, in the exact same fashion as a simple single bar in clamps.
What I really want off of these is the adjustable hand grips, and perhaps a little wider.
I tried risers and was pushed too far back and they did nothing for the wrist angle; which is the biggest issue. If I could simply rotate them out a few degrees.... Stupid Kawasaki for not making those adjustable!!
Snype
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the wrist angle; which is the biggest issue. If I could simply rotate them out a few degrees....
Try the wedges. The don't exactly rotate, but they have that effect- straightening the grips a few degrees. I have bad carpal tunnel syndrome and it help noticeably. In your case, use without the risers.
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I have Heli Bars & they are the best. Being able to adjust the angle of the grips took away ALL of my wrist pain !!. As far as being able to ride sporty with them I have no problems & anyone here who has ridden with me at RTE's can vouch I'm always in group in the front !
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I have Heli Bars & they are the best.
You have Heli Bars Horizons. Most people have Heli Bars that are not Horizons. "Heli Bars" is a company, not a specific model or product. It is like saying "I have Kawasaki" instead of "I have a Concours" (Deja Vu!)
Being able to adjust the angle of the grips took away ALL of my wrist pain !!. As far as being able to ride sporty with them I have no problems & anyone here who has ridden with me at RTE's can vouch I'm always in group in the front !
I seriously considered them before I tried the Wedges. Came pretty close to buying them, but ultimately was too lazy to deal with the brake lines and grips. I still wonder if I should have gotten them- I love adjust ability. Plus Horizons are cool looking.
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Try the wedges. The don't exactly rotate, but they have that effect- straightening the grips a few degrees. I have bad carpal tunnel syndrome and it help noticeably. In your case, use without the risers.
I may be the only person who hated the wedges. I made it 80 miles into an 800 mile day before pulling over and removing them. They were painful for me. I know they help a lot of people and they are very well thought out and very well made. I should get around to selling them here one of these days. They have been languishing in my garage for a few years.
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I may be the only person who hated the wedges. I made it 80 miles into an 800 mile day before pulling over and removing them. They were painful for me. I know they help a lot of people and they are very well thought out and very well made.
Given human variability, I doubt you are the only one. It is a lot like shoes, keyboards, seats, just about any human-interface... sometimes you like and it helps, sometimes not.
I should get around to selling them here one of these days. They have been languishing in my garage for a few years.
Perhaps Snype would buy them from ya!
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Snype
You might check on the handlebars from Precision Engineering in Kallispell, MT. They make a very adjustable handlebar, you can rotate the mount of the hand grips, extend the length of the risers and change the angel of the riser all independently.
http://www.preeng.com/xcart/home.php (http://www.preeng.com/xcart/home.php)
I have had mine for almost 5 years and have been able to adjust them exactly as I want them.
PM me if you have any questions.
Milton Jack (SW ROADRUNNER)
(520) 559-1786
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You have Heli Bars Horizons. Most people have Heli Bars that are not Horizons. "Heli Bars" is a company, not a specific model or product. It is like saying "I have Kawasaki" instead of "I have a Concours" (Deja Vu!)
I seriously considered them before I tried the Wedges. Came pretty close to buying them, but ultimately was too lazy to deal with the brake lines and grips. I still wonder if I should have gotten them- I love adjust ability. Plus Horizons are cool looking.
I read his questions clearly & 100% understood he was asking about Horizons, When he asked " How hard is it, and how did you remove/replace the factory grips and retain heating?" You can understand he would not be asking about the grips if he was talking about risers !. Don't be so fast on the old trigger there cowboy :banana
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I read his questions clearly & 100% understood he was asking about Horizons, When he asked " How hard is it, and how did you remove/replace the factory grips and retain heating?" You can understand he would not be asking about the grips if he was talking about risers !. Don't be so fast on the old trigger there cowboy :banana
Helibars has been making lots of products long before they introduced the Horizons... Sometimes it isn't clear. And for sure, if the actual product name isn't listed at some point, nobody will ever find threads relating to it with search. There is a method to my madness.... per perhaps I am just crazy :o Or both!
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Preeng does not seem to be making them. They are pictured on their site for $995 and the link is dead. Grrrr..
Anyone else??
Snype
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I aquired a set of old style c10 adjustable Helibars and a set of LSL riser/adapters, both from members of either this forum or the Cog forum a few years back. Other than the Horizon and P.E. bars there isthe LSL conversion mentioned earlier and this from Japan.. https://japan.webike.net/products/3452900.html (https://japan.webike.net/products/3452900.html) . There is also this http://www.dx.com/p/moxi-universal-aluminum-alloy-steering-handle-bar-for-motorcycle-black-308489#.WjcP6_CnG01 (http://www.dx.com/p/moxi-universal-aluminum-alloy-steering-handle-bar-for-motorcycle-black-308489#.WjcP6_CnG01)
IIRC someone on the other forum tried these. I don't recall the followup if there was one.
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http://forum.cog-online.org/emporium/heli-multi-axis-handlebars-for-sale-72679/?topicseen (http://forum.cog-online.org/emporium/heli-multi-axis-handlebars-for-sale-72679/?topicseen)
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Answered:
I talked to Heli Bars. They are more than happy to do a custom order to my specs, without adding any extra charge (15% restocking fee if I returned them).
Now the hard part... saving up the $650.
Perhaps we could get a group buy if enough of us are interested. Anyone???
Snype
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I talked to Heli Bars. They are more than happy to do a custom order to my specs, without adding any extra charge (15% restocking fee if I returned them).
Interesting. I guess this means they don't stock them but make them on-demand. I suppose that is probably to be expected with a low-volume item. Curious, what exact changes would you ask them to make on your set of Horizons?
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Shorter. I like the original bar position, but really need to change the wrist angle and maybe widen them a little
Snype
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Shorter. I like the original bar position, but really need to change the wrist angle and maybe widen them a little
If it is short enough, you might be able to get away without the brakes/clutch line extenders, which would be nice. Seems unlikely, though.