Offset handle bar risers

[cestes]

I'm 5'6" and felt that I was putting to much weight on my arms as I rode due to a slight forward lean. I decided to try the offset handle bar risers from Touratech. It took me maybe ten minutes to put the risers on today. I didn't have to mess with the cables, everything fit like a glove.

Before I put the risers on I thought the ride was good, and thought I might have bought something I didn't need-but what a surprise. They made a huge comfort and handling improvement for me. One of the things I read about turning was to squeeze your knees to the tank to take the pressure off your arms to make turning easier. Well the offset has the same affect. I went to a road with alot of the twisties to try it out and I'm still smiling, the bike was so easy to handle and so much fun.

I had seen other posts where people trying other brands had cable issues and thought I'd share my experience with these.

[Ashveratu]

I am also 5'6" and getting a set of risers was one the best investments I have made (seat comes second only because it cost alot more). I bought a set of the moto-techniques as pictured below.

(these are on a R1150R, they nearly identical to the R1200R version)

[cestes]

Yes Ashveratu, they are almost identical; the Touratects may be a little fancier. I would of posted a picture, but I haven't figured that out as of yet. As far the seat goes, I so far really like the stock low seat, if I have a change of heart I'll have get a review from you about the Sargeat low seat.

[Ashveratu]

I actually think the stock low is pretty good. I originally started with the standard and was not happy at all. I then found someone selling a low seat in the buy/sell section and bought it so I could send the standard one off to Sargent. While the standard one I started with was getting it's Sargent make over, I came to like the low seat. Come to think of it, I believe I still have it in storage, need to resell it sometime.

[rokinrider]

I'm 5'7" with short arms. I ordered a set monday, they can't hurt. I cracked off 300 miles in SW Wisconsin yesterday "very windy". I picked up an airhawk and it did help my butt burn considerably. My problem is the fall on the ice last winter did something to my tail bone?? I gotta say it again, this R12-R is awesome!

[Paul]

Hi, i'm looking into getting bar risers too.
As an alternative, has anyone swapped the handle bar itself with another one that goes higher and closer to the rider?
Probably not worth moving all the stuff on the new bar.

[gersh10]

I have the Touratechs and they look awesome but with my neck injury I'm still not back far enough... I was riding the other day and when I sat back with just my fingertips touching the bars I felt the most comfortable, not to mention that's the best my sargent seat felt too. I've thought about changing out the bars as well but am curious if anyone has tried the Motorrad Verholen Adjustable Tubular Handlebar Adapter, they give 70mm of adjustment but are $185. They would be worth it if my neck wouldn't light me up on a ride.

[dechaoz05]

hi guys

i have the same problem as many of the rr owners. 5'6" with short arms and inseam. got the low seat but still can't flatfoot. but that doesn't bother me as much as my short arm reach. i have barbacks installed on my r1150r but still too far out for me.

just today i had a crazy thought. what if I stack 2 barbacks together? i "simulated" the new riding position and man... what a difference. i can sit completely straight up!!

but.. has anyone tried stacking up barbacks? would it work? i think if i route the cables outside the plastic neck instead of inside, i won't have to change any of the cables

but how about the handlebar? will it be too wobbly and unsafe? eager to hear you thoughts

a new set of barbacks runs only <$50. i think i may just do the $50 experiment and see how it works

thx
dean

[Don C]

I have the 1 inch up and 1 5/8 back bar backs. I tried to put on another set of risers to get a bit more height. I found that it won't work unless I get a longer brake hose.

[dechaoz05]

hi don,

thx for the info. did u route the cables outside the neck or they stayed insdie?

[Don C]

I didn't try re-routing anything. I didn't want to have to bleed the brakes, I think it is a dealer job due to the ABS. And I don't see a way to re-rout that hose without opening a brake hose fitting, letting air into the brake line.

[deilenberger]

just today i had a crazy thought. what if I stack 2 barbacks together? i "simulated" the new riding position and man... what a difference. i can sit completely straight up!!
dean

IMHO - sitting "straight up" is vastly overrated - especially as you get older. It puts your spine in compression, and every bump in the road tries to compress your disks. A slight lean forward eliminates that. I take the bike out for a ride when my back is bothering me - and usually a few hours of the slight lean forward position works wonders for it, stretching out the vertebrae and disks.

YMMV if you're a lot younger, but just about everyone suffers from degenerative disk disease if you get old enough. It's why we get shorter as we age..

[dechaoz05]

thx for the info. will take that into consideration when configuring the risers

[vroomr]

I just installed the 1 x 1 1/4 Moto Techniques and am quite pleased. I still lean forward a bit, but am much more comfortable. I wear a 32" sleeve length.

When the bike was in for the brake recall I had the dealer install a longer brake hose from Spiegler, so I didn't have to pay for bleeding the system. Got a length of smooth, clear tubing at Lowe's to make a protective sheath for the new hose (wish it had been manufactured that way, but there was a communications breakdown) to protect it from slight rubbing when the handlebar is fully locked.

[Stef.]

I have just tried to mount my new Touratech handlebar risers on my R1200R (2010) and it seems like the cables (brake) are getting to short. Am I doing something wrong here as some of you said you did not have a problem with the length of the cables? How does a cable extension work? Where do I get this cable. (No worries...my hubby would do that for me. He has successfully raised his handlebar on the 1200GSA) Is it complicated?
Sorry for al these stupid questions but I googled it..not very successfully.
Thanks for your advice.
Stef.

[Ric]

I have just tried to mount my new Touratech handlebar risers on my R1200R (2010) and it seems like the cables (brake) are getting to short. Am I doing something wrong here as some of you said you did not have a problem with the length of the cables? How does a cable extension work? Where do I get this cable. (No worries...my hubby would do that for me. He has successfully raised his handlebar on the 1200GSA) Is it complicated?
Sorry for al these stupid questions but I googled it..not very successfully.
Thanks for your advice.
Stef.

There are no stupid questions.....and did you ever get your bike out of the cold ? Did you pull inside the house ?

[Stef.]

No I have not gotten it into my house, but I am about to start my new riding season. By reading this thread once again..I have realised that tampering with longer brake lines is not a good idea but that this has to be done by the dealer. Nevertheless, need to give the handle bar risers one more try as I might have turned the handlebar towards me and by doing this, I might have shortened the cable length even more...???
Stef.

[mogu83]

Stef,
Their are no cable extenders, if they are too short they will have to be replaced. Sometimes you can cut the tie wraps that hold them to the frame then move the cable/hose to get a little extra. When your done don't forget to move the handlebars from one side to the other to make sure nothing binds, very important.

[Stef.]

Thanks for the info. Yes I have by now realised it is either new cable done by BMW or perhaps there is enough play once I do not twist the handlebar towards me when mounting the riser. At the moment I can in fact turn the handle bar fully in both directions but the brake cable seems to be sligtly on the short side. Anyhow will check again.
Stef.

[Coyote Crazy]

Thanks for the info. Yes I have by now realised it is either new cable done by BMW or perhaps there is enough play once I do not twist the handlebar towards me when mounting the riser. At the moment I can in fact turn the handle bar fully in both directions but the brake cable seems to be sligtly on the short side. Anyhow will check again.
Stef.

Stef,
What was your final resolution? Were you able to find enough slack in the OEM cable or did you end up having to install longer cables?

I am thinking of installing the Moto-Techniques 1" rise - 1 1/4" setback offset risers. Can anyone tell me if they were able to accomplish this with the OEM cables? If not how about the 1" rise - 5/8" setback?