handlebar conversion

markfj · April 04, 2011, 03:35:15 PM

Hey all, I'm new to the board. I have a '92 FJ1200 that I bought new. I'm almost 43 and the riding position is getting a little too far forward for my back and neck on long rides. I've done the heli bar conversion and it does help but a few years back I bought the LSL handlebar conversion. I haven't installed it yet but plan on doing a long ride through the Blue Ridge parkway with a buddy of mine and thought the FJ would be the perfect with a few mods including the handlebar mod. Anway, bottom line is I wanted to know what the most upright bar configuration might be for someone who's already tried this. My LSL came with super bike bars which have about a 2" rise and a 6" pullback which is pretty far but still doesn't quite exceeded the heli bar conversion. Any input would ber appreciated.

Cheers, Mark

carsick · April 04, 2011, 07:26:42 PM

Hey Mark,
Welcome aboard! Neat to have another original owner here, only downside for you is you can't blame the previous owner for your mistakes. I don't have any knowledge of the bar conversions, but is LSL the same as Spiegler? Show us your bike and give a little history about both of you, we like well developed characters...

markfj · April 05, 2011, 09:24:39 AM

Hi Doug. I'm a bit of a bikeaholic. I've been riding since I was 10. I rode an old R65 from 16 until my early 20's when I started riding H2s which I was starting to collect like poker chips. Looking for something more reliable I bought the FJ right off the showroom floor for a good price. I rode it along with a few other bikes for years. I've done the progressive fork springs, ss lines and some other little odds and ends to keep it up to date. Runs great but back in the early 2000's I suffered a herniated disk in my neck and stopped riding seriously for a few years. I could ride for short periods but after a little while I would lose feeling in my arms. After a lengthy recovery of physical therapy I can now ride again but the FJ is just a little too far forward. It's the only bike I just can't seem to let go of so I'm going to try to make it fit my limited riding position. I was playing with the LSL(yes, is spiegler) risers last night and tried a few bars I had laying around. I think the right bar will get me where I need to be for a long trip I'm planning with a buddy(the entire Blueridge). Of course it looks like I'll have to make up new ss lines to reach and maybe some other little clearance issues but it should work. I have an old Givi wing rack for bags so my FJ will be a full station wagon by the time it's done.

For other bikes I have a Buell and coupe of H2's a couple of GT750's and 550's. I'm in the process of "slimming down" but motorcycles have always been a big part of my life. I'll upload some pics when I get a chance. I'm glad to be here. The FJ is a special bike and I think it often gets forgotten in these modern times.

Pat Conlon · April 05, 2011, 12:15:19 PM

Hello Mark, you will fit in fine here...so welcome!

When I did the usd conversion on my '84 I had to convert over to tubulars.
By far...the best, most comfortable bar I've found to be the oem 2002 Yamaha FZ-1 bar. It even has threaded inserts so you can run the stock bar end weights or even better those bitchen Vibranator end weights. The FZ-1 bar places the handgrips wider and taller and further back than the oem FJ placement. I am 6'3" with a 35" sleeve so I have a long reach. Therefore I had to rotate the bar a bit forward for a perfect fit.
At full lock with the bar cranked sideways the controls and mirrors clear the oem FJ windscreen.
The next time I have the bar off I'll measure the rise and pull back.

markfj · April 05, 2011, 04:54:10 PM

That looks sweet. So is that a FZ1 topclamp(triple tree) on you FJ forks or did you do a whole front end swap?

Pat Conlon · April 05, 2011, 07:34:59 PM

Thanks Mark, the top/bottom clamps are from a complete 1992 FZR usd conversion. A very worthwhile mod.:

More picts are on page 6 of the FJ Bike Gallery Cheers!

markfj · April 06, 2011, 09:15:21 AM

Very nice indeed. I didn't think the FZR of that period had inverted forks so I'm guessing they're from somthing else. Any way that came out beautiful. I think I may have gotton my handlebar ergos right and speigler offers a naked bike bar with a 6 3/4" pull back and a 3 3/4" rise which should help me out. I have a set of R1 brakes/master with lines so I might be able to use those and just extend or add a longer clutch line and I should be all set. We'll see.... - gotta admit updating the suspension sounds like a fun project for next winter.

andyb · April 06, 2011, 11:07:42 AM

Quote from: markfj on April 06, 2011, 09:15:21 AM
Very nice indeed. I didn't think the FZR of that period had inverted forks so I'm guessing they're from somthing else. Any way that came out beautiful. I think I may have gotton my handlebar ergos right and speigler offers a naked bike bar with a 6 3/4" pull back and a 3 3/4" rise which should help me out. I have a set of R1 brakes/master with lines so I might be able to use those and just extend or add a longer clutch line and I should be all set. We'll see.... - gotta admit updating the suspension sounds like a fun project for next winter.

Late FZR1000's had USD forks, the genesis models did not, and the 600's did not.

markfj · April 07, 2011, 09:41:55 AM

Quote from: andyb on April 06, 2011, 11:07:42 AM
Quote from: markfj on April 06, 2011, 09:15:21 AM
Very nice indeed. I didn't think the FZR of that period had inverted forks so I'm guessing they're from somthing else.

Late FZR1000's had USD forks, the genesis models did not, and the 600's did not.

Gotcha. Very cool mod.

markfj · April 09, 2011, 12:53:01 PM

I ordered a new handle bar from speigler. While I'm at it I'll put on the R1 calipers and master I've had laying around. They're in really good shape but I'll probably get a rebuild kit for the master. Not so much for anything else other than the rubber parts. The boot that seals the plunger is pretty cracked but all the parts look very good otherwise. Want to get ready for a short trip at the end of May and then the Blue Ridge at the end of June.

markfj · April 25, 2011, 10:33:29 AM

It's on and I love the riding position the bars give me. I put on the new R1 calipers and rebuilt the master so I have to mount all that as well. Looks like I'm going to have to go a couple of inches or so longer on the throttle cable. I'm not sure where to come up with. The local bike shop says he can't make up double ended cable so I might have to do some hunting and see if I can find something close from another bike. If anyone has any suggestions I'd love to hear. I'm soooo close and it's going to be warm this week.

I also may have some clearance issues with the windscreen. I might just make up some stops so I don't hurt anything - but still, a little side to side loss in the yoke is worth the extra riding comfort.(at least thats what I'm thinking right now)

Arnie · April 26, 2011, 07:37:15 PM

The ends on the cables are pretty standard, and the outer cable is certainly standard.
If you're using all the assorted pieces from the old too short cables, you should be able to find a dealer who can custom make a new set of cables for you. I'd check with a dealer that might have carried the old british bikes (pre-75 or so) and/or a HD shop that's been in business for a while.

Cheers,
Arnie

markfj · April 26, 2011, 09:53:00 PM

Thanks Arne, I'll give that a try.

anson45 · April 30, 2011, 11:10:13 PM

I put the LSL risers and bar on my 1989 in 2003. I rerouted the throttle cable from the left side to the right side and did not have a problem. I had to use the SS brake line that came with the "kit". I also had a clearance issue at full lock. Last year, just to see if I could do it, I put on a black daytona touring bar from Bikemaster. I could not believe how well it fit the bike and me, and I no longer have a clearance problem. I added a bar snake and Manic Salamandar black bar end weights. It looks like it could have come from the factory. Bar was a $30.
Anson

markfj · May 03, 2011, 07:23:12 PM

Quote from: anson45 on April 30, 2011, 11:10:13 PM
I put the LSL risers and bar on my 1989 in 2003. I rerouted the throttle cable from the left side to the right side and did not have a problem. I had to use the SS brake line that came with the "kit". I also had a clearance issue at full lock. Last year, just to see if I could do it, I put on a black daytona touring bar from Bikemaster. I could not believe how well it fit the bike and me, and I no longer have a clearance problem. I added a bar snake and Manic Salamandar black bar end weights. It looks like it could have come from the factory. Bar was a $30.
Anson

I might go that route since the LSLs I'm using have some clearance issues. However I love the riding position so they'll be fine for now. At that $19.00 price it would be worth the gamble. $30 is cheap for a decent set of bars(that's with shipping too)

News:

handlebar conversion