Riding Position

Brly · Feb 6, 2013

Well, I've had enough of the clip ons and rear sets, the numb hands, stiff neck and sore back.... and my wife can't really ride with me on the current set up.
So, I'll be going back to stock pegs so I can get the stock passenger pegs back on. What handle bar bend is better for confortability? Euro or US bend? I'm 6'0", 200 lbs if that makes any difference. It's a '74 850 Roadster.

Thanks,
Ben

bwolfie · Feb 6, 2013

I have the euro bars and a corbin seat on my combat, bars are a bit too low, I'm going to get a set of US bars. I am of a similar size to you, and the euro bars seem a tad too low.

SGOUD2 · Feb 6, 2013

Brly said:
Well, I've had enough of the clip ons and rear sets, the numb hands, stiff neck and sore back.... and my wife can't really ride with me on the current set up.
So, I'll be going back to stock pegs so I can get the stock passenger pegs back on. What handle bar bend is better for confortability? Euro or US bend? I'm 6'0", 200 lbs if that makes any difference. It's a '74 850 Roadster.

Thanks,
Ben

I would say the "US Bend" is the most comfortable for back and neck. On my Commando I have Euro bars, rearsets, Corbin type seat and Interstate tank but on my 79 Bonneville 750 I have stock "US bars" and it is a very comforable ride but less sporty.

Hobot · Feb 6, 2013

do as suggested if sticking with norton issue but best bars I fitted for all conditions long or short were T140 8" rise bars that more lean back than upright. Put on rear sets and something to lean butt/back on and away ya go like a man not an ape. The numbness is more from spinal cord choking than the hands were felt.

beefco · Feb 6, 2013

I just took off my US bars and put on some Euros from Phil on my 72. I feel that I might have a little better control angle with a slight lean. I usually sit sit up. On my Kawasaki and Suzuki I have 1 inch risers with stock bars. They are full faired. The wind kind of bugs me on the Norton if over 60mph.

Matt Spencer · Feb 6, 2013

These Clubmans bars , upside down , like this give you a bit of room & you can almost see the sceneary . Also give good leverage.

whereas theres also the ubiquitous ' Norton Flats ' from the dominator Days , utilized usually on Vincents .

rpatton · Feb 6, 2013

beefco said:
I just took off my US bars and put on some Euros from Phil on my 72. I feel that I might have a little better control angle with a slight lean. I usually sit sit up. On my Kawasaki and Suzuki I have 1 inch risers with stock bars. They are full faired. The wind kind of bugs me on the Norton if over 60mph.

+1
The US bars with stock pegs are fine for puttering around at sub-60mph speeds. It is tiring due to the upright riding position at higher speeds for any length of time because of the wind blast. Try a set of Euro bars with the rearsets in place. I've been using that set up for a long time on an Interstate and what wind blast I get at higher speeds takes care of the little load there is on my arms. It's the combination of bars and pegs that sets the ergonomics. US bars-stock pegs, or Euro bars-rearsets. Mix them up and you probably won't like it.

Brly said:
So, I'll be going back to stock pegs so I can get the stock passenger pegs back on.

It's hard to see from your avitar whose rear-sets you are using. Norvil rear-sets use the stock z-plate and positions the peg right in the middle of the three studs for the old hangers. Not too high or too far back to interfere with passenger's feet.

Yellow_Cad · Feb 6, 2013

Matt Spencer said:
These Clubmans bars , upside down , like this give you a bit of room & you can almost see the sceneary . Also give good leverage.

Does anyone have a photo of these as suggested (upside down) with a rider on the bike?

Yellow_Cad · Feb 6, 2013

Personally I have a problem with my neck if my head position is further back than the normal straight ahead postion for too long (whiplash a few times). I have an Interstate with US bars and Old Britts single racing seat and stock pegs. When I ride, neck, back, arms are all fine but it seems like my legs are up too high. I know the Interstate is worse for this than the Roadster. I wonder how the US bars, Old Britt seat (keeps the body in position due to the raised portion) and rear sets would do?

L.E.N. · Feb 6, 2013

That's such a good looking bike maybe you should just put up with the pain. However I've got rearsets (Dunstall) that don't interfere with passenger pegs, and I've got the Euro bars. Seems pretty comfortable but I don't do sustained freeway speeds or above routinely. My cross-over shifting is a little sloppy in the bushings across the rearsets on the Dunstalls and there's only around 8800 miles on the ODO (which works by the way). At some point I'll figure out a new bushing arrangement.

Brly · Feb 7, 2013

Thanks for all of the replies fellas. I appreciate all of the different combinations of handle bars and pegs. I'd rather not spring for another type of rearsets at this time. I can get it back to a stock configuration on the cheap because I already have many of the parts needed. I'm not too concerned about the wind issue with the upright riding position as I don't do a whole lot of distance riding at higher speeds.
So, from the sounds of it, I'll be going with US bars and stock pegs. When I get another bike, I can dedicate that for two-up riding and take the Norton back to the rearsets / Euro bars.

Many thanks,

Ben

BillT · Feb 7, 2013

Brly said:
Thanks for all of the replies fellas. I appreciate all of the different combinations of handle bars and pegs. I'd rather not spring for another type of rearsets at this time. I can get it back to a stock configuration on the cheap because I already have many of the parts needed. I'm not too concerned about the wind issue with the upright riding position as I don't do a whole lot of distance riding at higher speeds.
So, from the sounds of it, I'll be going with US bars and stock pegs. When I get another bike, I can dedicate that for two-up riding and take the Norton back to the rearsets / Euro bars.

Many thanks,

Ben

When riding solo on the highway, I flip down the pillion pegs and put my feet back on them - gives me the slightly forward riding position that's more comfortable at speed. When puttering around town, I return my feet to the front pegs. - stock seat and pegs, euro bar.

DogT · Feb 7, 2013

Just for info, the US bars I got from Walridge have a smaller rise, maybe 1", than the original US bars I had.

Dave
69S

Onder · Feb 7, 2013

Im 5 foot 8 I have Triumph UK T150 bars on 850.
Seem to have a bit of pull back to them which is nice.

mike996 · Feb 7, 2013

I have euro bars on my Commando and have found that one alternate position that always has worked well for me is to periodically ride with my feet on the rear (passenger) pegs. Obviously you can't shift gears in that position but for long cruises I find alternating between the standard position and feet on rear pegs to be quite comfortable and makes it much easier for me to ride for extended period. I also prefer a standard seat for the same reason - it allows you to move around a lot and vary your position, eliminating numb butt!

I agree that the upright position, on any bike without a big windscreen is tough when the speeds rise much above 70. Above that speed the sportbike position is far superior. I can stand short bursts on the Commando to whatever speed it can achieve but whereas the faster my 996 Ducati went, the more comfortable it became, my Commando riding position is the opposite.

Keith1069 · Feb 7, 2013

I agree that the upright position, on any bike without a big windscreen is tough when the speeds rise much above 70. Above that speed the sportbike position is far superior. I can stand short bursts on the Commando to whatever speed it can achieve but whereas the faster my 996 Ducati went, the more comfortable it became, my Commando riding position is the opposite.]

Which is the reason I'm going another year in full bum up and head down mode! Yes it buggers the wrists and at the end of a long ride I can hardly operate clutch or brake but my weak back from years ago is strangely not a problem. Sometimes tempted to go back to the sit up and beg position but the thought of making progress at 80mph + for an hour or two like that makes me think twice. I don't have the luxury of a modern bike so the old girl has to do all things.

PeterJoe · Feb 7, 2013

I have a 1974 Interstate Mark IIA that originally came with the European handlebars. Like you I had to do something about my back pain, and I had been told that rear sets would help out alot. So, I got a set of rear sets, and for me all it did was shift my upper body forward so that I was forced to hold myself up. Unfortunately my back pain did not go away. As I was riding, I spent more time trying to figure out ways to relieve the pain in my lower back. It turns out that my lower back was the problem, not the bike and I hope that is not your case. I recently had back surgery in hopes that down the road that my back will cease to be a problem.

I decided to go back to the original foot peg arrangement and I just installed the American bent handlebars. It looks as though the original brake master cylinder was made for the US bent handlebar. The hose exits out the end of the master cylinder and runs along the handlebar quite nicely. In contrast to the European bar, the hose and brake switch cover get smashed in the handlebar preventing you the ability to adjust the control lever to a position that I happen to like. To me the difference was amazing and you may want to consider that as well.

The Norton seat has absolutely no support for the lower back. I have a 1970 BSA 650 and the seat has a small rise in the middle of the seat. It is not that obvious to look at, but it really makes a difference in supporting the back. So I have been toying with the idea of modifying the Norton seat so it has something similar to my old BSA.

Yellow_Cad · Feb 7, 2013

PeterJoe said:
I have a 1974 Interstate Mark IIA that originally came with the European handlebars. Like you I had to do something about my back pain, and I had been told that rear sets would help out alot. So, I got a set of rear sets, and for me all it did was shift my upper body forward so that I was forced to hold myself up. Unfortunately my back pain did not go away. As I was riding, I spent more time trying to figure out ways to relieve the pain in my lower back. It turns out that my lower back was the problem, not the bike and I hope that is not your case. I recently had back surgery in hopes that down the road that my back will cease to be a problem.

I decided to go back to the original foot peg arrangement and I just installed the American bent handlebars. It looks as though the original brake master cylinder was made for the US bent handlebar. The hose exits out the end of the master cylinder and runs along the handlebar quite nicely. In contrast to the European bar, the hose and brake switch cover get smashed in the handlebar preventing you the ability to adjust the control lever to a position that I happen to like. To me the difference was amazing and you may want to consider that as well.

The Norton seat has absolutely no support for the lower back. I have a 1970 BSA 650 and the seat has a small rise in the middle of the seat. It is not that obvious to look at, but it really makes a difference in supporting the back. So I have been toying with the idea of modifying the Norton seat so it has something similar to my old BSA.

Maybe try a kidney belt for your back (addis support) and an Old Britts single racing seat for the seat issue.

dougmatson · Feb 8, 2013

I have two friends one has a MKIII and the other a 71' fastback. Both of them lowered their foot pegs and what a difference in comfort. Both are fast riders and have had no issues with scraping. I think they lowered them about 1 1/2". When my MKIII is done I am going to do this also, you no longer have the feel that you are on a Honda 90. Here are a couple of pics of the Fastback

mike996 · Feb 8, 2013

Looks like it might be a neat thing to do - I have often thought the pegs are too high. If I'm seeing it correctly they just redrilled the Z-plate in order to move the footrest bracket downward, right?

Riding Position

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