Handlebars differences

I had the privilege of uncrating and servicing a couple of American imported MKIIIs. The shop owner had left them unsold but decided to sell them in the 80s. Out of the crate the stock handlebars had a slight bend upwards akin to Superbike bars but they were really wide. They were great for leverage and control but really uncomfortable. The riding position put me looking down at the front fender and I had to tilt my head back to see the road ahead. Today I ride with a bar that just as low but not as wide. I always hated the pull back "American" handlebars.
 
Fast Eddie said:
Not super scientific, but it might help…



Triumph Western bars:
View attachment 113848


Norton ‘western’ bars
View attachment 113847
Click to expand...

Cheers for that and really appreciate you going to the trouble of swapping the bars over in record time ;)
MichaelB said:
Daytona Touring Bars, been using them for years.
Should be available over there. Emgo product.

Emgo Black 7/8 in. Daytona Touring Handlebar - 23-12574 - Dennis Kirk

Find the Emgo Black 7/8 in. Daytona Touring Handlebar at Dennis Kirk. Shop our complete selection of Cruiser Motorcycle parts and accessories including the Emgo Black 7/8 in. Daytona Touring Handlebar.
www.denniskirk.com www.denniskirk.com
Click to expand...

Ordered a set to try out - ironically from Fast Eddie Motorcycles 👍

The real irony of course is that Cliffa offered me a remarkably similar set of bars a couple of months ago and I turned him down as I was happy with my low Euros. :rolleyes:
 
Bonzo said:
Cheers for that and really appreciate you going to the trouble of swapping the bars over in record time ;)


Ordered a set to try out - ironically from Fast Eddie Motorcycles 👍

The real irony of course is that Cliffa offered me a remarkably similar set of bars a couple of months ago and I turned him down as I was happy with my low Euros. :rolleyes:
Click to expand...
Pictures and opinions when fitted and tried please …
 
Bonzo said:
I'm also a sniff over 6ft. I've been fine with the UK/Euro bars (065748) in Roadster guise, and was pretty convinced that translated over to the bike in Interstate set-up, alas after a 90 mile non stop ride the other weekend, my back was complaining.

Simulating a higher bar (by using fingertips on the grips - not very scientific I know) leads me to think that the semi western (061046) might be the way to go for me, I'm just not a fan of the look of the US bars.

Pity there isn't a just bar in between the Euro & semi western 🤔 EDIT. Maybe the Interpol?
Click to expand...
EMGO has LOTS of bars and many of them are available on Amazon or other sellers.

Go here: https://emgo.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/2019general_IN-2967-1.pdf

Look at the handlebar specs - choose, and search by part number. The are high-quality.

Keep in mind that if you find the rise and pull-back you want but they are too wide, it's simple to cut them off. I've had a few cusotmers who liked EMGO's semi-western bars for Norton, but wanted up to 2" cut from each side.

I like their 23-93106 (Norton 06-1046, Semi-Western) with 1" cut from each side as that puts my hands in a very natural position for me. 6'1" tall, 37" sleeve length. Uncut is fine for me too, it just starts feeling a little wide.

Do not but the Euro bars for disk brake - way too narrow for the stock master cylinder - fine for drum brake but WAY too narrow for me.

Be careful to select 7/8" - they also have 1" bars that don't fit Norton.
 
I think trying to ride down some very narrow English streets with cars parked on both sides using the American high and wide western bars would be asking for trouble.
 
I have 06-1046 semi westerns on my 850 Mk3 Roadster and have used the same pattern on my other bikes Atlas 650SS etc all are really comfortable to ride.
 
Another vote for the Emgo “Daytona” style. Installed recently and they feel pretty good with my Dunstall
rear sets. Previously had on the drop down “Clubman” type that mimic clip-ons. Fine as seen on my avatar 50 years ago, but got a little too old in the last couple years to tolerate them now.
 
marshg246 said:
EMGO has LOTS of bars and many of them are available on Amazon or other sellers.

Go here: https://emgo.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/2019general_IN-2967-1.pdf

Look at the handlebar specs - choose, and search by part number. The are high-quality.

Keep in mind that if you find the rise and pull-back you want but they are too wide, it's simple to cut them off. I've had a few cusotmers who liked EMGO's semi-western bars for Norton, but wanted up to 2" cut from each side.

I like their 23-93106 (Norton 06-1046, Semi-Western) with 1" cut from each side as that puts my hands in a very natural position for me. 6'1" tall, 37" sleeve length. Uncut is fine for me too, it just starts feeling a little wide.

Do not but the Euro bars for disk brake - way too narrow for the stock master cylinder - fine for drum brake but WAY too narrow for me.

Be careful to select 7/8" - they also have 1" bars that don't fit Norton.
Click to expand...
Greg,
I also cut off 1” from my western bars and it works great for me and I am much shorter man.This is with an Interstate tank and stock foot peg location.
Mike
 
I have a set of Euro (I think) bars - 760mm wide.
Mine is Interstate with footpegs set back by 4".
I experimented a bit before settling.
A big difference was when I put 1.3kg of lead shot into them. I glued a plug into one end, sufficiently deep to fit bar end mirror, and tapped/filled until I could just fit a glued plug and mirror at the other end. Lead shot was from eBay.
Settled the buzz substantially.
Cheers
 
My '70 Roadster had the western bars on it when I first purchased it. I am fairly tall (a little over 6'3" these days) with long arms, and I remember feeling like a giant parachute riding down the highway with those bars. I quickly switched over to some lower bars, although it has been almost 30 years and I am not sure of the manufacturer. Those worked better, but I ended up cutting about 1.75 inches off of each end. I just measured and cut down, they are 28" wide. they are still till a bit wider than my BMW R90/6 bars which are some of my favorites.

I have found that the shorter and narrower bars feel much better when traveling at speed, but as stated above, can make for a little more difficult control in low speed or rough gravel conditions.

YMMV,
RSR
 
rightshiftrick said:
My '70 Roadster had the western bars on it when I first purchased it. I am fairly tall (a little over 6'3" these days) with long arms, and I remember feeling like a giant parachute riding down the highway with those bars. I quickly switched over to some lower bars, although it has been almost 30 years and I am not sure of the manufacturer. Those worked better, but I ended up cutting about 1.75 inches off of each end. I just measured and cut down, they are 28" wide. they are still till a bit wider than my BMW R90/6 bars which are some of my favorites.

I have found that the shorter and narrower bars feel much better when traveling at speed, but as stated above, can make for a little more difficult control in low speed or rough gravel conditions.

YMMV,
RSR
Click to expand...
I agree that lower bars are far more suited to prolonged travelling at speed than ‘western bars’. But, so are rearsets !

For me, lower Euro type bars need rearsets to feel ‘right’. Whereas western bars make the stock pegs feel well positioned.

I’m currently changing my roadster to interstate and was planning on fitting western bars and stock footrests.

But, as it’s already kitted out with rearsets, I think I’ll try the euro bars and rearsets first…
 
Fast Eddie said:
I agree that lower bars are far more suited to prolonged travelling at speed than ‘western bars’. But, so are rearsets !

For me, lower Euro type bars need rearsets to feel ‘right’. Whereas western bars make the stock pegs feel well positioned.

I’m currently changing my roadster to interstate and was planning on fitting western bars and stock footrests.

But, as it’s already kitted out with rearsets, I think I’ll try the euro bars and rearsets first…
Click to expand...

I ran mine with the low bars and stock pegs for a number of years, but switched to rearsets a few years ago, and have been quite happy.
 
Bonzo said:
I'm also a sniff over 6ft. I've been fine with the UK/Euro bars (065748) in Roadster guise, and was pretty convinced that translated over to the bike in Interstate set-up, alas after a 90 mile non stop ride the other weekend, my back was complaining.

Simulating a higher bar (by using fingertips on the grips - not very scientific I know) leads me to think that the semi western (061046) might be the way to go for me, I'm just not a fan of the look of the US bars.

Pity there isn't a just bar in between the Euro & semi western 🤔 EDIT. Maybe the Interpol?
Click to expand...
Difference in preferred “look” is UK see yourself as IoM racers while US we think we are flat trackers.
 
Fast Eddie said:
Pictures and opinions when fitted and tried please …
Click to expand...

European's...

Handlebars differences

Daytona's...

Handlebars differences

Not a massive difference to look at, but makes all the difference to my comfort. Enjoyed the late morning/early afternoon in the sun with around 50 miles and my lower back is much happier. That's a result! They're staying put :)

Apologies to @quawk for hijaking the thread and thanks to @MichealB for the Daytona Touring bar recommendation. No changes needed to cables & brake line, so a hassle free swap over. Low rev vibration seems to be lessened a tad too, so all good.

It really seems to be the handlebar slap bang in between the European & the Semi Western.
 
My 850 MK III has Interpol bars, part number stamped under left grip, a little short but ok on modern roads. Not good at all on stone or rough roads
 
I'm running the EMGO semi-western bars on my '70 Roadster and I think they look close to original for the year.
Greg is right that they're wide, but as I'm 6'10" it's not so much of an issue 😄

 
I'm 5'9" and was thinking about trying a lower Euro bar on my Mk3 which currently has wide American bars (32") but after reading all the posts here am wondering if I should just cut off an inch or so off each side. I like the look of the lower Euro bars but don't really want to put rear seats on if I can avoid it. Also worried about more neck fatigue from the lower crouch. But it would beat the parachute feeling that I get now with the wide grip and upright posture when on long straights.
 
arcpoint said:
I'm 5'9" and was thinking about trying a lower Euro bar on my Mk3 which currently has wide American bars (32") but after reading all the posts here am wondering if I should just cut off an inch or so off each side. I like the look of the lower Euro bars but don't really want to put rear seats on if I can avoid it. Also worried about more neck fatigue from the lower crouch. But it would beat the parachute feeling that I get now with the wide grip and upright posture when on long straights.
Click to expand...
That's exactly what I recommend. Cutting an inch or two from both sides makes a big difference. Still lets you sit up, but brings your hands closer together which lets you get your elbows straighter which is more streamlined. Just be sure that the master cylinder and throttle still will fit. If they are put on without the grip you can see how much you can cut off without a problem and you can check what feels comfortable.
 
marshg246 said:
That's exactly what I recommend. Cutting an inch or two from both sides makes a big difference. Still lets you sit up, but brings your hands closer together which lets you get your elbows straighter which is more streamlined. Just be sure that the master cylinder and throttle still will fit. If they are put on without the grip you can see how much you can cut off without a problem and you can check what feels comfortable.
Click to expand...
Thanks Greg, good counsel. I think that's what I'm gonna do. Hopefully no issues with the master cylinder as I have the front disc.
 

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