Handle Bars

lazyeye6

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I have a 1970 Tiger 650. When I bought it 18 years ago it came with fairly new handlebars the seller called Western Bars (wide and high). It has taken me this long to decide that I don't like the ergonomics of these bars and was hoping to find lower/narrower Euro Bars like I have on my Norton Commando. My Triumph parts book
lists only one handle bar. The page with cables listed show a throttle cable for Western Bars. Is there such as thing as Euro Bars which are OEM? Would they
require shorter clutch, brake and throttle cables? Do people actually thread a throttle cable through the grommeted hole in the right hand headlight ear?
I find that the clutch and brake levers in the full out position are quite a stretch for my hand size. Are there options for these levers?
 
As LAB said.

Yes, cables should be changed, but you might wanna try the bars first before going ‘all in’!

Are you sure you have the right bars? ‘70 Western bars are wide, but they’re not very high compared to the later bars on T140s, T160s, etc. Maybe you got the wrong ‘uns?

Magura dog leg levers are far more ergonomic and would solve your lever issues. You may have to be prepared to modify the cables though?

Mines a ‘68, but the bars would be the same on yours, do yours look like this:

Handle Bars
 
As LAB said.

Yes, cables should be changed, but you might wanna try the bars first before going ‘all in’!

Are you sure you have the right bars? ‘70 Western bars are wide, but they’re not very high compared to the later bars on T140s, T160s, etc. Maybe you got the wrong ‘uns?

Magura dog leg levers are far more ergonomic and would solve your lever issues. You may have to be prepared to modify the cables though?

Mines a ‘68, but the bars would be the same on yours, do yours look like this:

View attachment 17408

Its does appear that my bars have a higher rise than yours (about 6"). Can you measure the rise for me? Pictures can be deceiving.
Also, it looks like you thread your throttle cables through the hole in the headlight ear? Thanks for the assist!
IMG_2471.JPG
IMG_2471.JPG
 
Last edited:
Hi lazyeye6,
I have three sets of handlebars for my '69 Bonnie - USA (97-1870), UK (97-1871), and the ones that I like the most and that sound like the ones that you might be most happy with judging by your description: Norton highway bars (06-4132).

You can find illustrations and measurements for these and practically every other Brit bike handlebar under the sun at this British Cycle Supply link:


Cheers!
 
Over here they’re commonly referred to as ‘semi western‘ bars and are listed as having a 5” rise. I can’t measure mine presently cos my Dad pinched the bike to replace his Hinckley Bonnie which got too heavy for him!

Kinda difficult to be sure comparing our pics, yours do look higher, but maybe it’s how you‘ve got them quite forward and up compared to mine?

I think you’re correct, in that pic I believe the throttle cables are routed through the hole. I stopped doing that though because it seemed to yank the cables around too much for my liking, especially with the twin cables, all that yanking didn’t help with slide synchronisation. As yours is a single carb, then provided the cable is plenty long enough, routing through the hole should be fine IMHO.
 
I have 06.4887 AN bars on my 850 and I find them too wide. Maybe that isn't an issue with you but just mentioning it. I like the
OIF domestic bars 97-1484 (Triumph pt no.) But bars are very specific to each rider in what satisfies.
 
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