Drag Handlebars for 2014 Valkyrie

[PDX_Valk]

Hi All - I'm glad to join this forum. This is my first post.
I love my Valkyrie, but the handlebar grips don't let me lean into the wind without folding up my arms and the position slows getting up on the balls of my feet when that's needed.  I am looking for handlebars that will move the grips forward four to five inches.  I'm thinking of swapping in this Dennis Kirk Flanders handlebar, possibly with risers:  Black Wide Center Drag Bar - 33 1/2 in. Wide - 650-08496.  Comments? 

[hubcapsc]

Hi All - I'm glad to join this forum. This is my first post.
I love my Valkyrie, but the handlebar grips don't let me lean into the wind without folding up my arms and the position slows getting up on the balls of my feet when that's needed.  I am looking for handlebars that will move the grips forward four to five inches.  I'm thinking of swapping in this Dennis Kirk Flanders handlebar, possibly with risers:  Black Wide Center Drag Bar - 33 1/2 in. Wide - 650-08496.  Comments? 

I put big 1500 Valkyrie cruiser bars on my bike... real hard.

Putting smaller bars on might not be so hard, you probably
won't have to redo all the control wires and lines and cables
like I did.

The OEM risers are very specific to the bike, the LED pod
mounts to them... I put on giant 6 inch risers and fabbed a
mount for the pod...



-Mike

[PDX_Valk]

Thank you Mike for the reply.  That's a sweet Corbin setup you have. 

As you say, with shorter bars I'll have to deal with extra slack, not too little.  I'll take a look at the LED pod mounting; I'm glad you mentioned it.  Moving the grips forward will make it more comfortable to me on long rides and will make the bike look more like a power cruiser than a laid back cruiser.

-Paul

[Verismo]

Holy crap are you seven feet tall or something?  I'm 6' and and I would kill to have an easily fixable handlebar issue.  My biggest complaint about this bike is that you can't move the bars back without a ridiculous/risky amount of work. 

[rogueleader_92]

It sounds like he's looking for more of a sport bike setup.

[PDX_Valk]

I'm 6'2", and yes, I want a position closer to a sportbike.  I also ride a 2001 Aprilia Mille R  . 

To get my center of gravity over the footpegs, I need my shoulders farther forward.  So, less pullback on the bars.  The difficulty will be avoiding extreme lock bar contact with the tank without an ape-hanger solution. Maybe can't be done, but that's why I posted - to get ideas from y'all.

-Paul

[bscrive]

That's funny, I went the other way and put on some custom 16" handlebars.  Yes, it was a lot of work.  But, with the help of Mike (hubcapsc). I got it done, and it was well worth it.  I sit up straight on the valk, and I can ride all day.
I couldn't imagine putting on shorter ones than the OEM handlebars.  
I think you may have bought the wrong bike.  

[_Sheffjs_]

Welcome PDX and I am 55 years old and 6'0 and love the stock bars and the position from it.  I would think you would have endless options going less.  Please update us if you do change it out. 

[Dragunslayer]

That's funny, I went the other way and put on some custom 16" handlebars.  Yes, it was a lot of work.  But, with the help of Mike (hubcapsc). I got it done, and it was well worth it.  I sit up straight on the valk, and I can ride all day.
I couldn't imagine putting on shorter ones than the OEM handlebars.  
I think you may have bought the wrong bike.  

Different strokes for different folks. I also would look into a more drag bar set-up. Everyone is always talking about this bike like it is a BIG sport cruiser, so why not put something on it to respond even more like that.

And just like seats for one rider being comfortable does not make it comfortable for all.

[AdrianR]

I also would look into a more drag bar set-up. Everyone is always talking about this bike like it is a BIG sport cruiser, so why not put something on it to respond even more like that.

[/quote]

You know imo, it is not a cruiser at all...I really cannot think of a category this bike would fall into.  The closest think I could thing I could think of is a naked touring bike that handles pretty good.  It's really no sport bike, nor is it a cruiser..  The pegs/bars/minimally raked front end negates the cruiser category...and it's weight and wheel sizes bumps it out of the sport realm...

[rogueleader_92]

I think that's why Honda was calling it a power cruiser.

[rudymsmith]

The thing about ALL motorcycles is you have three contact points, your arse, your hands and your feets. Everyone has to be able to find comfort in those contact points regardless of how the use the bike, comfort will mean they use it MORE OFTEN. Sometimes form follows function and sometimes function dictates form... whatever ... as long as you enjoy sitting on it and riding the hell out of it.

[woofred1832]

               Right,   When others were trying to put this bike in a class, I said from the beginning, it's not meant to convert the 1500 riders, nor the massive tour bikers, it's for those of us that like to ride a good handling, powerful, bike that can be set up for go fast scoots or, add bages and a trunk, and go cross country rides with no worries.

[sleepngbear]

               Right,   When others were trying to put this bike in a class, I said from the beginning, it's not meant to convert the 1500 riders, nor the massive tour bikers, it's for those of us that like to ride a good handling, powerful, bike that can be set up for go fast scoots or, add bages and a trunk, and go cross country rides with no worries.

We've had similar discussions about the CTX1300. Between the ST guys being miffed that their preferred ride was discontinued to people calling the CTX a replacement for the ST to all the arguments about what class of bike it belongs in, the only consensus was that people who wanted one and owned one really love them, and that Honda has decided that they are not always going to follow conventional thinking when it comes to bike classes. While I don't always agree with some of the 'creations' they pull out of their backside (can you say NM4?), I love their on-the-edge thinking. I just got off a CTX1300 (the hard way) that very few other people have and loved it. I'm about to get on another one that very few other people have, and I have no doubt I'm gonna love it, too. And like the CTX, I don't really care what class they wanna put it in.

I kinda like it out here being an outlier. 

[Kidd]

If you are familiar with the EV06   that Honda's  CEO said he would produce  before he left the company, well , this is it , watered down version of one

https://www.google.com/search?biw=1536&bih=731&tbm=isch&sa=1&q=honda+ev06&oq=honda+ev06&gs_l=img.12...9012.10215.0.13686.0.0.0.0.0.0.0.0..0.0....0...1c.1.64.img..0.0.0.S6R3jM4Gc6Q

[Dragunslayer]

If you are familiar with the EV06   that Honda's  CEO said he would produce  before he left the company, well , this is it , watered down version of one

https://www.google.com/search?biw=1536&bih=731&tbm=isch&sa=1&q=honda+ev06&oq=honda+ev06&gs_l=img.12...9012.10215.0.13686.0.0.0.0.0.0.0.0..0.0....0...1c.1.64.img..0.0.0.S6R3jM4Gc6Q

I would buy one of those in a heart beat.

[Kidd]

Yeah , me  too , been waiting since 2006   , and they give us this recent Valk with no engine mods , just reduced the weight for a little extra power , oh well ,   that's Honda for ya

If you are familiar with the EV06   that Honda's  CEO said he would produce  before he left the company, well , this is it , watered down version of one

https://www.google.com/search?biw=1536&bih=731&tbm=isch&sa=1&q=honda+ev06&oq=honda+ev06&gs_l=img.12...9012.10215.0.13686.0.0.0.0.0.0.0.0..0.0....0...1c.1.64.img..0.0.0.S6R3jM4Gc6Q

I would buy one of those in a heart beat.

[Verismo]

That Evo definitely calls to my aesthetic, since I'm coming from an older Valk to the newer.  But I have to say after putting about 5000 miles on the new one, those radiator pods are badass and might be the most impressive thing on the bike. The fact that you can't feel any heat from the bike is startling.  It might prevent me from wanting that Evo after experiencing the freaky lack of heat, especially in this hot Texas summer.

[_Sheffjs_]

I see custom shorter bars on this 2104 1800c-----

". The new, custom handlebars are one-of-a-kind. They provide with shorter pullback, better handling"

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Honda-Valkyrie-/282114380725?forcerrptr=true&hash=item41af53d3b5:g:y4gAAOSwIgNXju8P&item=282114380725

[postoak]

I'm with the OP.  cycle-ergo.com shows someone with my build having a 1 degree forward lean which becomes uncomfortable after a while.  Previous bikes I've owned gave me 9 degree forward leans and that's what I'd like to find a way to achieve on the Valkyrie.

[PDX_Valk]

I'm the OP.  I bought and installed the Flanders Drag bars.  I'll update this with pictures so its badassness can be appreciated    I'm very happy with the result. 

Results:  Riding is more immediate because my posture is always in a position to accelerate or push down against the footpegs.  Handling is more natural also because my hands are closer to the fork axis.  My back doesn't get sore from extended riding, and on the freeway, wind pressure takes pressure off my hands.

I had to remove the guide stubs in the right and left controls because the new bar doesn't have the corresponding hole they would fit into - but that wasn't a problem.

The wires and hoses loop out as they now have too much slack.  I'll handle that.

[st2sam]

I'm the OP.  I bought and installed the Flanders Drag bars.  I'll update this with pictures so its badassness can be appreciated.
Results:  Riding is more immediate because my posture is always in a position to accelerate or push down against the footpegs.  Handling is more natural also because my hands are closer to the fork axis.  My back doesn't get sore from extended riding, and on the freeway, wind pressure takes pressure off my hands.

I lowered my bars, wanting to get my posture as you stated, helped but I would like more...
Pictures and update would be great!!!