Handlebars affect handling?

[GSdonnie]

I bought a used 81 650GL last spring because buying used was cheaper than having the dealer repair my 550 that hadn't run in 20 years. The first thing I noticed was the 650 rode like crap - the ride was rough and choppy and really uncomfortable!

I replaced the fork springs and shocks with Progressive units, thinking that would be a vast improvement in ride quality (this bike had 33K on the odometer.) Wrong!!! Ride quality was much worse. I felt EVERY bump in the road, bad enough to make my glasses inside my helmet to bounce up and down on my nose (yeah, just like a MTV video.) It was really bad on the gravel road that I live on - I felt every little rock and pebble!

Oh, the thing cornered like crap, like I was totally losing control of it when I got 10 degrees over vertical.

When I got this bike (I'm the third owner) it still had the buckhorn bars on it. How it went through 2 previous owners with this ride quality, I don't know how they stood it! I had an extra set of regular GS bars that came off of my 550 that were in my farm shop somewhere, but couldn't be located. Finally one day in late October, my son found them. I purchased a bar snake and ran it through the bars, then finally swapped the bars one Sunday morning in November, keeping all of the same handlebar controls.

What a transformation!!! All of the sudden, the 650 handles like a dream, the suspension feels taut but controlled and ALL of my eyeglass bouncing was GONE!! Now it's FUN to ride!

I've been wondering all winter why the character of the machine changed all from a simple handlebar change? Any ideas out there??

The biggest change I noticed was the regular GS bars are wider by about 4" and I lean forward just a bit more (maybe 3"?)

[Commodus]

I don't know! But I have noticed that I feel a lot more secure on a bike with lower handlebars or clip-ons than on high bars. I guess it all has to do with weight distribution.

[tconroy]

i have an 83 and just put new progressives in the front and the ride quality has improved greatly.i have never had any problems with handling or bumps.It might have something to do with your size and weight.I have been thinking about replacing my bars also just to lean forward more but I have a fairing that would probably get in the way of the bars and then I wouldn't be able to use my highway pegs either.

[RJ]

Your rear shocks may be shot. When you put in the new springs up front it probably made you lean back further onto the rear. Changing to lower bars leaned you forward off of the rear improving the handling. Change out the shocks and you will probably realize even better handling.

[tconroy]

He said he replace the rear shocks with proggessives cause thats what I would say was wrong also.Could also be the handlebars where not where they were suppose to be aligned at.

[GSdonnie]

I did change the rear shocks at the same time as the fork springs. Put on Progessive 412's and IMHO, the ride quality was WORSE than with the old original shocks! But after the bar swap, they now ride smooth as butter! Why? That's what I'm wondering.

BTW, when I ordered the shocks, I stupidly assumed I had to order 2 shocks, so I ordered 2 and got 2 pair. BikeBandit wouldn't take the extra pair back due to my misunderstanding of their return policy. So if anybody needs a pair of Progressive 412's (12.5" eye to eye) please contact me. :-D

[tconroy]

Shoot me a price on the 412's. I have the original shocks on mine but never carry any riders so there ok for me now but I would like to upgrade.Also are they chrome springs?

[RJ]

Yes you did, my bad.

[GSdonnie]

TConroy, they are chrome springs with the black bodies. So far, I've been running them on the lowest preload setting and they seem very comfortable for my 260-lb ass.

I'll try to contact you tonight.

[tconroy]

That might be too stiff for me.I only have a 150 lb.ass.Contact me anyway.

[GILES JENSEN]

Counter Steering?????????

Probably you are relying more on countersteering without the pullbacks and not knowing it......that's why the bike steers and handles better.

[GSdonnie]

=D> GILES, you might be onto something there. I knew it had to be something about weight distribution and balancing of the machine on the road. Also, I think the buckhorns tend to lean you back and therefore, more likely to catch the wind and maybe it was the wind blast that's causing the discomfort more than anything else. The more wind blast you have, the tighter you hang on to the grips and the more likely you are to FEEL every bump and squiggle.

I'd think if you put a set clubmans on, you'd really have a little cafe racer with the L's!

[GILES JENSEN]

superbike bars

yep, I put black chrome superbike bars on my 83 1100 L. Handles totally diff. especially at low speeds! Just remember, to counter steer the bike, once over say 20mph push on the side of the bar the way you want to turn! Push left side, turn left. You don't need to lean, it will turn that direction, not questions asked! When in the twisty's it's just like flying a jet. fun fun fun
giles