Stock bars

[Hemitruckin@msn.com]

Hey all, I just jumped off my Honda Sabre and on to the ST and my right wrist is bothering me. Noticed it before when riding the ST for a little bit but, way more pronounced after back to back rides.
Question has anyone else ever had this issue with their wrists? If so has anyone tried to cut down the stock bars? 1/2 inch or an 1 inch depending on control limits and had any luck or noticed a difference? Not sure if it would help but just a thought. Plus a lot cheaper than new bars.

Thanks in advance Mike

 

[Don in Lodi]

Hey all, I just jumped off my Honda Sabre and on to the ST and my right wrist is bothering me. Noticed it before when riding the ST for a little bit but, way more pronounced after back to back rides.
Question has anyone else ever had this issue with their wrists? If so has anyone tried to cut down the stock bars? 1/2 inch or an 1 inch depending on control limits and had any luck or noticed a difference? Not sure if it would help but just a thought. Plus a lot cheaper than new bars.

Thanks in advance Mike

Most have attributed the wrist issue with too much pull back/sweep on the bars. Narrowing them will just intensify the amount of pinch you'll get. You'll probably appreciate a flatter bend like you find in several of the aftermarkets, like the Pro Taper bars many here have made use of. There are many many posts here on aftermarket bars tucked away here.

 

[Hemitruckin@msn.com]

Thanks will check them out

 

[tomatocity]

One way to check your hand to handlebar fit is to... hands open reach forward and lay your lower knuckles over the handlebar. Your knuckles should be even across the handlebar grip. If you have to move your wrist to make this happen... this could be the the what is causing the wrist pain.

I still have the stock 2015 handlebars. Today I noticed my hands were hurting on extended rides. I rode 360 miles with many miles being twisty rough up and down roads

Find a bar that fits you and hopefully you wont have a pain problem.

 

[snakebitten]

Yep. About 5 years ago on this forum there was a spreadsheet that had more than 100 handlebars dimensions in it.

And a bunch of us went through the exercise of "closing our eyes" and reaching out and putting our hands where our own body-ergonomics would naturally prefer them to be. Then you could open your eyes and see how much the current bars missed by. The spreadsheet offered the measurement\dimensions to best guess what to try as a replacement.

For me, it ended up being 15 degrees of sweep, and with broad shoulders, still as wide as the OEMs.

Also note that in that spreadsheet, it was very easy to see that the Gen1 OEM bars were the widest and the most sweep of over 125 different handlebars.
No doubt the Biggest Dirt Bike In The World warranted bars that were not "average" in any category.

Once I switched bars, my long day rides were FAR less painful in both my wrists and my upper shoulder blades. And I loved not having to just guess blindly. Instead, there was "science" to the choice. I still consider the personal ergonomics of my Tenere being one of the major reasons it is such a wicked weapon!

 

[scott123007]

The short answer to the OP's original question is yes, you can shorten the bars.

I took off exactly 5/8" on both sides and they still retained enough threads in each end to mount the bar ends again. I am not a fan of removing any of the bosses for the handlebar switch clusters or throttle so I had to drill three 7/32" holes up-stream, but in-line with the old ones. For me, it was a huge comfort improvement, but to really top it off I installed 2" adjustable ROX risers WITHOUT having to change any brake lines.

 

[Hemitruckin@msn.com]

Thanks to all for the replies. I will try to find this chart and will do the hand placement test as well.

Thanks again Mike

 

[snakebitten]

Found the thread with the spreadsheet.

Enjoy. I'm betting your diligence will reap huge rewards.

http://www.yamahasupertenere.com/index.php?topic=6749.0

 

[Hemitruckin@msn.com]

Hey thanks a lot. I think the raptor bend bars will work.

Mike

 

[tomatocity]

Hey thanks a lot. I think the raptor bend bars will work.

Mike

The bend is very close to the Gen1 KLR bars.

 

[Hemitruckin@msn.com]

Bars ordered and suspension tuned, rear reflectors off. Great site, time to add some miles on her http://www.yamahasupertenere.com/Smileys/DarkB/smiley014.gif