Bar Risers
Forwarded by: "Bob Sims" simsr@gpzlist.org
Subject: LSL Handlebar
conversion kit review (LONG)
Just got back from a test ride around town with my new LSL handlebar conversion kit installed. Makes the GPZ feel like a whole new bike. Although I didn't measure the differences, I suspect the new bars are about 2" taller, 2" farther back, and significantly wider - at least 1" on each end. The bars make me feel like I'm back on my old XL125 dual sport (except, of course, with about 10x the motor). Ever since I've had the GPZ, I've wanted to get a set of higher bars for it.
After sitting on Mitch Comstock's and Rich Watkin's respective Genmar-equipped GPZs, I decided that the Genmar risers (the Genmar riser is a ~1" spacer that sandwiches under the stock bolt-on handlebars) wouldn't be enough for me. I'm 6'4", and I sometimes get severe back pain from the stress of supporting my upper body with my arms. I wanted something like a Storz or Heli conversion, which would replace the stock bolt-on bars with a more standard, higher handlebar set. Unfortunately, neither company makes a set for the GPZ (although Bruce Javitz had some success adapting Concours' Helibars on his GPZ).
After doing some research, I found 2 different sets that are available in England, made specifically for the GPZ. One is by a company named MFW, and another by LSL. I called M&P MC Accessories, and although they listed the MFW kit in their catalog, they didn't have one in stock. I found Chris Smrcka through the VFR page, who had installed a set of LSL bars on his bike and he seemed pretty happy. I emailed and he sent me the phone number for V&M Racing in England. I called and they had a GPZ-specific set on the shelf. Great! The price was steep, so I thought about it for a day and then made the order early the next morning (mid-day in England). Within 48 hours, the kit was at my doorstep via UPS. From some of the German-language sheets that accompanied the set, it appears that the clamps are actually made in Germany.
Installation was fairly involved. The LSL set did not come with instructions, but the set is pretty straightforward and easy to figure out. I remembered some of the techniques used by Bruce Javitz when he installed his Concours' Helibars on his GPZ, so I knew a little about what I was up against. The toughest part about the disassembly of the old bars was getting the bar end weights out. Kawasaki apparently uses some thread compound that would be strong enough to hold the main hull bolts on the HMS Invincible. I ended up going to a local auto parts store and buying an $11 impact driver (I've always wanted one of those anyways - it's one of the few tools available that was meant to be hit by a hammer).
The LSL clamps are very nicely machined and finished. Everything is painted (or powdercoated) black. The clamps each consist of two pieces which bolt in place of the stock unit - one piece is a small spacer and the other is an L-shaped plate with the handlebar clamps on top. Everything mated together perfectly. As I began to line everything up, I realized that the cables and wire would have to be re-routed behind the forks in order to make the reach to the new grip positions. The kit comes with a short piece of braided steel hydraulic line which replaces the stock upper front brake line - this is the only piece which can't be rerouted.
Most of the time spent on installation was spent re-routing and re-installing the wires, lines, and switchgear. The kit comes with a standard 7/8" Renthal street-bend handlebar, which readily accepts the stock pieces. I even reused the stock rubber handgrips. After careful measuring and marking, I drilled two holes in the bars on each side to mate with the alignment pin on the inside of each switch housing. I had to bleed both the front brake and clutch lines because I unfastened the hoses during the rerouting process. I don't have a vacuum pump so this was somewhat time consuming. Adjusting the bar clearance was easy - the bars are high enough that tank clearance isn't a problem, and the master cylinders can be rotated down or the bars rotated back in order to clear the windscreen. I saved the original black capscrew plugs and a few extra ones from my Givi spares to dress up the exposed allen heads.
The net result is impressive. It looks very clean and factory. I'd like to find something to cover the now exposed fork ends, but that can wait. The test ride was phenomenal in terms of improved comfort. The seating position feels much more like a standard now - much like my wife's Bandit. I sit upright, with most of my weight on my rear end instead of on my wrists. The wider bars also allow a lot more leverage in steering, which made me want to power slide around every corner, crossed-up dirt-track style. I still have some finishing touches to add; the lines all need to be dressed up with zip ties and I need to find some small bar end weights.
How much did all this cost? Well, the kit was 165 British pounds. After currency conversion and shipping costs, this comes to around $300. A lot of money, yes, but well worth it, IMHO. When I first was considering buying a new bike, it was a toss-up between the GPZ and the BMW R1100. The large price difference was one of the main factors that made me choose the GPZ, in spite of its more forward seating position. I figured that I could have a set of gold-plated titanium handlebars custom machined for the GPZ and still have big cost savings over the BMW. Well, they aren't titanium or gold-plated, but I think the cost will pay big dividends in terms of comfort. So before anyone else decides to cash in their GPZ for a bigger touring bike, I'd definitely recommend looking into this kit. I'll get some pictures of my bike on the mailing list page as soon as I get my next roll developed.
For more information on ordering, contact Mark at V&M Racing. Let him know how and where you heard about him. I was more than satisfied with the service and timeliness:
V&M Racing Lower Mill, Shaw Road Newhey, Rochdale OL163SR UK tel: +44 1706 840066 fax: +44 1706 882437
The kit includes the adaptor plates, braided steel upper front brake line, necessary bolts and extra crush washers, and a Renthal street bend handlebar (available in a selection of colors). Additionally, the LSL kits are available for a wide variety of modern sport bikes. V&M accepts credit cards, as well.
Feel free to email me with questions.
Bob simsr@gpzlist.org
Date sent: Tue, 08 Sep 1998
16:55:52 -0700
From:
Glen & Rose <vgasglen@lvdi.net
Subject: Handlebars
Hey, thanks for the info!
I was able to find LSL:
http://www.lsl-motorradtechnik.de/docs/lsl-zub-titel.htm
They are a German company. With my limited language skills in German (I
spent 8 years over there while in the Army), it appears the kit costs
less than DM400. Knock off their added value tax (was 14% last time I
checked), plus conversion from DM to dollars, and I think it would be a
deal. Haven't made any serious inquiries yet, but plan to.
Will also check out Storz.
Thanks again...
Glen
The GenMars are 1" spacers that raise your handle bars. This is a noticable difference, and at $100, a cost efficient improvement. The phone number is a bit hard to read in the picture, it is 505-524-4485.
Lister Richard McDonald put together this awesome photo-journal installation page.
From the Genmar web site:
Kawasaki. . . .Part# K106 = $99.95 + $5.00 shipping
GPZX1100 1995-current
The risers are placed between the fork crown and the handlebars to raise the bars up 1" (25mm). This will help to relieve wrist and neck pain on long rides. Requires no change of any control cables, wiring, or hoses. Intructions for installing handlebar risers on GPZX1100 1995 and later.
Sender: crawforc@asa.corp.cubic.com
Subject: Gen Mar Risers
Installed the risers Tuesday night.......took all of 10 minutes. Didn't get an opportunity to take the bike out into the hills until yesterday afternoon.
The risers don't move the bars any closer, but they do allow me to rock my weight back a bit more taking some pressure off the wrists. They also allow me to slide back in the saddle a bit more. Definitely an incremental improvement as suggested by Morris.
I'm sure the big payoff will reveal itself on a long trip.......sounds like a good reason to plan one.
Not a tremendous difference, but well worth the C-note in my opinion. Go get'em boys....
Regards,
Chris ------------------------------------- E-mail: crawforc@corp.cubic.com Date: 5/8/97 Time: 7:24:59 AM
From:
"Comstock, Mitch" <MComstock@gails.com
To:
"'rsims@ldl.net'" <rsims@ldl.net Subject:
RE: Gen Mar bar risers?
Date sent: Tue, 6 May 1997 13:00:24
-0400
Hi Bob, I posted a message on the mailing list but I don't think it got through. I have the Gen-Mars on my GPz, they raise the bars about 1 inch. It helps a little but is not a dramatic improvement. (I am 6' tall). If Heli-Bar had a setup for the GPz like they have for the ST1100, I think that would be a lot better. The Heli-Bars are adjustable for height and pullback.
From: "Bob Schwab" <schwab@cew.wwia.net To: <rsims@ldl.net Subject: Re: Gen Mar bar risers? Date sent: Sun, 4 May 1997 20:58:17 -0500
Hey Bob
I got myself a set of Gen-Mar risers and am very pleased. At first I thought they weren't high enough but have since come to the conclusion that they are about just right. I travel the interstate a lot and frequently get to go fast for long periods of time. Any higher and it would be near intolerable after several hours. Take care.
Bob Schwab schwab@cew.wwia.net
Subject: Re: Gen Mar
bar risers?
Date sent: Sun, 4 May 97 00:54:44
-0500
From:
iss <iss@vivanet.com
To: rsims@ldl.net
I'd like to hear some impressions of the Gen Mar risers. In particular, I'd like to know if they did anything to reduce back pain and fatigue.
Bob -
I'm 5-8, and I'd have to say the Gen-Mar's did very little for me.
Yes, they make a difference, but it is slight. I'm wondering, though, if due to your height (and correspndingly longer arms) if they would make a more noticebale difference for you.
Bruce
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
Bruce M Javits -- Imaging Support Services Quality
Technical Support for the Photofinishing Industry iss@vivanet.com
-- http://www.vivanet.com/~iss
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
From:
"Michael Reed" michael_reed@hagerstown.lib.in.us
To:
<gpzlist@dominet.com
Subject: Genmar &
Stuff
Date sent: Sat, 14 Jun 1997 20:33:46
-0400
Hello GPz List,
Well, I got my Genmars this week and put them on today. Quick and easy installation. The worst part was finding an allen wrench to fit the set screws. The front brake cable is a little tight but I guess it will be alright. I like the new feel. The difference is subtle but for me was noticeable immediately. I feel like now I can sit a little further back in the saddle, more upright, and with less strain on my wrists. I'll wait until I have a chance to go on an all day ride to pass final judgment, but I'm satisfied for now. I think about another inch higher would be even better, but considering all you have to do with the Genmars is unbolt the old and bolt on the new, I would recommend this modification. Mine cost me $104.95 delivered to the front door and took about five days to arrive. Now if I could just find a windshield to get the bugs up over my head and quiet things down a bit it would be a perfect machine.
Talk to you guys later, Mike Reed michael_reed@hagerstown.lib.in.us The Big Red Bullet Rules (95 KAW GPz1100)
Note: An update the procedure outlined below by Bruce Javits for installing the Storz handlebar conversions follows.
John Harrison (and others, I believe) report that the Storz handlebar
conversion kit for the Concours works fine with the GPZ. You just need to
purchase an extra set of the metal spacers that are included with the kit (for a
total of two sets of spacers). The spacers are then installed on top of
one another. You may need longer mounting bolts as well -- I'm not sure if
Storz supplies bolts long enough for both spacers or not. Other than that,
no other additional spacers (ie Genmars or washer stacks) are required.
John writes:
Bob is correct. There was not a GPz kit, but I did some measuring and determined that the Storz kit for the Connie would work if I got extra spacers. The required longer mounting bolts are not included. You can obtain the proper length high strength metric socket bolts from an industrial/commercial bolt supply for about 50 cents each. You will need a longer front brake hose from the master cylinder to the Y-block. The one Storz sells for the Connie works fine. The cables and wires work with minor re-routing. The K&N bar recommended for the Connie works too.
John Birmingham, AL '95 GPz1100 AMA #234179 IBA - SS1000, BB1500, 50cc, 10/10ths, 4corners
Here's a quick run-down of information on installation of the Concours Tubular handlebar mod kit from Storz on the GPz 1100.
A) It works
B) It does take some engineering to get it to fit and work right.
C) You need the GenMar risers (note: not necessarily! see note above. -ed.), the ones Storz sends are not tall enough to allow proper clearance for the bridge that supports the tublar bar, I had to slide a few washers in under the bridge even with the GenMars in place.
D) You need a longer upper front brake hose, Storz supplies a nice braided SS one withthe Connie kit.
E) All hoses and wires must be routed differenlly, namely you need to pull them out from in front of the fork and run each set around each side. This is obviously not where they are designed to go , so this modification is done at your own risk. I may eventually go in and try going further with the mod, but this would entail -
1 - soldering in extension wires to
lengthen the wiring harneses
2 - locating longer throttle and choke
cables
3 - locating a longer clutch hose assembly
But, even with the different routing, everything seems to work properly.
F) Since the new bar moves the grips not only up, but back, the new bars remain clear of the tank and fairing. I have a minor problem with the brake lever pivot bumping the fairing slightly at full steering lock, but I think I can adjust this out with some more playing around-time.
G) The new handlebar puts the grips about 2-3 inches back, 1.5 - 2 inches higher, and also spaced a bit wider then the stock grips. Of course, that's using the bar that Storz suggests for the Connie. The beauty of this kit is that you could bolt on any bar that you want (Ape hangars, anyone.....) The seating position on my GPz is now probably closer to a standard than a Sport now, but still plenty sporting enough for me.
H) The mod, since it sits me more upright, seems to have taken my helmet up above the turbulence coming off the new Givi screen, things are actually quieter now, as far as I can tell.
I) I wil take a few photos and post them as soon as I get a chance.
J) To pull this off, you'll need the Storz clamp modification, a new front brake line, a new handlebar, a set of Gen Mar risers, new grips, and new bar-end weights (I found a nice set of red ones that matches the bike pretty well)
K) It took about five hours to get everything done. You need to pull the gas tank, but I did it without removing any of the fairing, except for those little plastic side covers.
NOTE
As with any other modification, especially to the controls of your motorcycle, you do any and all of this at your OWN RISK.... thanks for keeping that in mind.
E-mail me for more info.
Bruce
Date sent: Tue, 17 Jun 1997
16:01:01 -0400
From:
"helibars@sprynet.com" <helibars@sprynet.com
To:
rsims@ldl.net
Subject: Answer to
question on GPZ handlebars
Bob: At this time we do not make helibars for the GPZ1100. The president of the company does want to make bars for that model because of the high demand. However that process involves casting the bars and at this time we do not have the equipment to do that. Thanks for your inquiry.
Billie-Jo Frye/ Customer Services
From: Tome[SMTP:TTRAJKOV@iunhaw1.iun.indiana.edu]
Sent: Saturday, February 21, 1998 11:04
To: Sims, Robert Subject:
Re: GPZ & Helibar
Hi Folks, I spoke to Helibar yesterday (to one of their customer reps) and the lady informed me that they are very seriously persuing making the mod bars for the GPZ. She said that the latest two attempts had failed. They got a GPZ from a customer who had recently purchased a new gpz and tried some bars on it. They tried a few versions of Concours bars but that didn't work too well. They tried some configurations of ZX bars but that didn't give enough clearance either. They are aware of the demand for these bars and are very serious about making these. They are now looking into casting a new set for the GPZ. The problem right now is getting time with a GPZ to figure out exact deminsions. They would welcome anyone who lives close enough to them who would be willing to have their bike used as a test bed for the bars. I'm gonna guess that anyone who does this will be able to get a set of bars for a cheap price if not free, but that is something the volunteer can take up with them. They are located in Cornish, ME. If anyone lives nearby and would like to do this service for all GPZ members, please do, it would be appreciated. Also, e-mail them and call some more. Keep bugging them and maybe the bars will come quicker. :) Tome
Note: If you'd like to see Helibars make their product for the GPZ, write them an email and let them know. -Bob
From:
"John Harrison" <morgan@traveller.com
Subject: Re: Handlebar
replacement
Date sent: Thu, 12 Mar 1998 20:24:45
-0600
Personally, I thing the Storz setup is much better than
the proposed Helibar solution...and is about HALF the price of Helibar products.
You can order the Storz setup for the Concours, ask them for an extra set of the
Storz spacers and the 16" brake line, get 4 longer high-strength 8mm
allen bolts from a local supply house and be in business. The Storz setup
then allows you to use any tube type
handlebar that you like.
John
Birmingham, AL
'95 GPz1100
AMA #234179
IBA - SS1000, BB1500, 50cc, 10/10ths, 4corners
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