Handlebar length

[Dynamo Regulators Mike]

When I ride the A10 again after my modern 650 parallel twin I can't help but notice the wide standard handlebar. At least I think mine are standard length at about 29 inches. The Kawasaki's bars are about 3 inches shorter, excluding the end weights. I am wondering what effect cutting an inch or so off each end would have. I think it may be more comfortable on longer runs. The long bars are presumably indicated, at least in part, by sidecar use. For solo riding the extra leverage does not seem to be of real benefit.

Any comments from someone who has tried or uses shorter bars will be of interest, or even speculations from those who haven't of course.

(Perhaps I should get on with some of my winter fettling, instead of looking for solutions to issues that aren't, but I am curious.)

Cheers
Mike

[Brian]

Mike I just had a quick measure up and most of mine are 28 inches including the ones on my B33 which are original BSA bars. The set on the plunger A10 are aftermarket and 27 inches and the difference is quite noticeable and I intend to replace them as soon as I can get a decent set.

Maybe you could take yours back to 28 and see what you think.

The shape, or bend, also seems to make a difference to how they feel.

Brian.

[tombeau]

I had a very wide set of flat track style bars on mine.
After changing them to narrower bars I found the bike far more manouvreable. The previous bars were too wide for my arms. On full lock, I had to position myself quite awkwardly on the bike to make a u-turn, slightly throwing my balance.
It was a devil of a job getting the bike in and out of the shed too.
Cheers,
Iain

[Dynamo Regulators Mike]

It seems surprising to me how small changes in riding position can have a large effect on comfort. But a problem in ringing the changes is that it takes a good hour or more ride to really get a feel for any improvement. I lowered the footrests on the ER6 an inch recently hoping to get better comfort in my hips on longer rides,. Now where I had added 30 mm risers the bars feel too high, and I will have to revert to standard height, or somewhere in between. Then I may just get used to it again.

On the A10 I will try trimming perhaps a couple of cm each end to assess, as the bars are perhaps a little longer than original. A little at a time. Good excuse to get out and ride more at this time of year. ,

[LJ.]

Measured my bars this afternoon...

M21 - 29"
Star Twin - 28"
Red A10 - 30"
Blue A10 - 28"

The shorter bars do seem more comfy in my opinion and wider seem more tiring. Problem is though... the shorter bars seem to allow the clutch and brake cables to foul the nacelle. I've also wondered what the factory standard width was.

[coater87]

 Little OT here,

 But I do remember a No-run commando with jail house ape hangers. Riding with your hands a foot above your head, and 10 inches apart is no fun at all.

 Always love to watch those guys ride down the road one handed, my wife thought it was skill until I explained you have to keep switching hands or they would both be asleep at the same time! Then of coarse, the standard "silver cruise control"- (duct tape and a hose clamp)....WOW I was dumb when I was younger, I feel smarter now, but I felt smart then too....

 Lee

[LJ.]

Hmmmm I dont think Mike will be going to those extremes. 

[a10 gf]

I was dumb when I was younger, I feel smarter now, but I felt smart then too

From my time doing some trails and offroad, bars not too large \ too narrow (= movement radius \ applied strength), not too high or low (elbow angle), quite straight (wrist angle), all this gives great control.