[exploring/carolina]

Have a handlebar question. When I purchased my 80 CX500D project

it had Cafe Style handlebars installed.



Planning to replace the handlebars so I can have an upright seating position.



Looking at the following website to see which bars are close to

original bars:



http://www.bikemaster.com/bmstrv2.nsf/Products/7BBFEBB7D70BBBCD86257700007385F4?opendocument



Hoping someone would give me the original handle bar measurements

including width, rise, pullback, and center width.



Thanks in advance!

 

[InWeldingWeTrust]

Unless you are absolutely desperate to gain a totally stock look, why dont you get a length of copper tubing and emulate each of the bars you like the look of to see which you prefer before you order it, as all the dimensions are provided in the chart. the real job at hand is not to make yourself fit the motorcycle, but make the motorcycle fit you. The stock bars would be very similar to the European style

 

[exploring/carolina]

Unless you are absolutely desperate to gain a totally stock look, why dont you get a length of copper tubing and emulate each of the bars you like the look of to see which you prefer before you order it, as all the dimensions are provided in the chart. the real job at hand is not to make yourself fit the motorcycle, but make the motorcycle fit you. The stock bars would be very similar to the European style

Good idea!



Making this bike fit my wife and the width of the

stock seat & Cafe Bars do not work for her. Have a

solo seat/seat pan coming later next week that should

give a narrow & lower seat height for her.





Will install the seat and shape mock handlebars like you

recommended, before ordering bars.



Thanks!

 

[ramprat06]

The B and C styles listed in the link are very similar to the 500CX Custom stock bars. 7/8" diameter. Commonly called "Buckhorns". The seating will have an effect as to reach back and comfort. You may be on the right track with the suggestion above. I bought an OEM replacement bar set from JC Whitney.

*edit to add, the stock 'buckhorns' on my bike had bar end weights, the replacements did not.*

 

[exploring/carolina]

The B and C styles listed in the link are very similar to the 500CX Custom stock bars. 7/8" diameter. Commonly called "Buckhorns". The seating will have an effect as to reach back and comfort. You may be on the right track with the suggestion above. I bought a OEM replacement bar set from JC Whitney.

Here is a photo link of the "Darkwing" seat, seat pan, & rear light on order, mounted on a GL1000:



http://www.hotwingglass.com/Images/20100223/Dark Wing nice.JPG



Will fit handlebars according to seat, as recommended.



Thanks for the JC Whitney tip and info.

 

[Blindstitch]

Got any better pictures of that bike. The angle doesn't exactly help in figuring out the size.



I guess I went the easy/hard route and had Larry fabricate me some daytona style bars out of standard or deluxe bars. But he used the height of the dlx/std bars to accommodate for the custom supertank.



I got the best of both worlds.



Don't get the buckhorn bars they suck. Makes you feel like you're riding a horse.

 

[exploring/carolina]

Got any better pictures of that bike. The angle doesn't exactly help in figuring out the size.



I guess I went the easy/hard route and had Larry fabricate me some daytona style bars out of standard or deluxe bars. But he used the height of the dlx/std bars to accommodate for the custom supertank.



I got the best of both worlds.



Don't get the buckhorn bars they suck. Makes you feel like you're riding a horse.

Went to Lowes today and bought some 3/4" PVC tubing & 45 degree couplings. Will make some mock-up handlebars, and wait until the seat & seat pan arrives later this week to find which handlebar arrangement works & looks best. Will copy some of the handlebars from:



http://www.bikemaster.com/bmstrv2.nsf/Products/7BBFEBB7D70BBBCD86257700007385F4?opendocument



Here is a photo link of the seat & seat pan ordered on a GL1000:



http://www.hotwingglass.com/Images/20100223/Dark Wing nice.JPG



Here is the project bike:

 

[ramprat06]

As with most things motorcycle, handlebars are a very subjective thing. I happen to really like my Buckhorns, and horses too. The OP will find his fit seeing as he is using a mock up to find a sweet spot. Any feel can be achieved with effort. IMHO, with his larger tank than mine, he may just find that the buckhorns suit him, perhaps not. Still up to the individual.

 

[exploring/carolina]

As with most things motorcycle, handlebars are a very subjective thing. I happen to really like my Buckhorns, and horses too. The OP will find his fit seeing as he is using a mock up to find a sweet spot. Any feel can be achieved with effort. IMHO, with his larger tank than mine, he may just find that the buckhorns suit him, perhaps not. Still up to the individual.

Was originally thinking about a Cafe Racer, but decided to set this bike up for my wife & I will take it out for mountain rides, too

. The original seat was too wide for her to flat foot and the current Cafe bars did not allow a upright seating position.



Can't wait until the front fender, seat & seat pan with brake light arrives later this week to find the right handlebar combination.



Will post photos with mock-up handle bars, seat, seat pan, and fender in place before removing/rebuilding & painting/polishing parts, in the CX Customization and Modifications section.



Appreciate the information everyone on this forum is willing to share.