I know this is an old thread but found it very interesting. I had 2" up, 3/4" back Heli Bars on my 2011 and rode for a thousand miles then removed them. I found the handling and performance was improved with the stock position and did not find the position uncomfortable. I did however find that my right hand was getting numb or more numb than I thought it had been with risers, so to satisfy myself I put them back on Wednesday night and I'll be taking them off tonight. I needed to go through that process to convince myself that the stock bar postition, for this bike, for me is the preferred height. I like the idea of the bike feeling more toward the sport side of the equation than the touring, and the lower bars gives me that. With those 2" risers I feel literally like I'm sitting straight up with no athletic riding postion at all. I don't think i would want them lower on this bike however.
