Looking for handlebar
- Nerdy
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Re: Looking for handlebar
02 Sep 2026 10:06Nerdy, have you ridden a bike with inverted clubman bars or are you just blowing wind? It's actually quite comfortable and doesn't put your elbows up in the air like a lot of the dirt bike style bars.
I was expressing an opinion, hence "IMO". I was only talking about the looks.
However, I would never ride anything so dopey-looking unless I was planning to buy it and undo the dopeyness immediately.
I think upside-down clubmans look awful and give the impression the installer forgot which way is up or simply didn't know what clubman bars are. If they're upside-down, they're installed incorrectly.
If you like that sort of thing, help yourself.
1967 Yamaha YCS1 Bonanza
1980 KZ440B
1981 Yamaha XT250H
1981 KZ440 LTD project bike
1981 GPz550
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- Kelly E
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Re: Looking for handlebar
02 Sep 2026 10:15
You really should try something out before you give an opinion. I prefer Euro bend bars but the inverted clubman bars are comfortable. I have ridden a couple of bikes with them. You never know, someone might think your bike is dopey looking but has enough manners to keep that kind of opinion to himself.
The Rust Bros. Garage Collection
1974 Honda CB 550 K0
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1977 Kawasaki KZ 1000 LTD
1978 Kawasaki KL 250
1980 Suzuki GS 1100E
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1990 Moto Guzzi 1000
1994 Kawasaki ZG 1000 Concours
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1974 Honda CB 550 K0
1975 Honda CB 400F Super Sport
1977 Kawasaki KZ 1000 LTD
1978 Kawasaki KL 250
1980 Suzuki GS 1100E
1983 Honda CB 1100F
1984 Honda Sabre 700
1984 Honda Interceptor 1000
1990 Moto Guzzi 1000
1994 Kawasaki ZG 1000 Concours
And more
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- Kofla
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Re: Looking for handlebar
02 Sep 2026 15:57
The only times I used a Cafe Clubman handlebar was during the 1970's when I visited the local 1/8 dragstrip. It worked out fine for dragracing.
1978 Kawasaki KZ1000 LTD
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2010 Kawasaki Ninja ZX-14
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- sf4t7
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Re: Looking for handlebar
03 Sep 2026 06:24
Scotty
1974 Z1A
Yoshimura 987, 10.25:1
welded Z1 crank
Andrews 1X Cams
Delkevic 4 into 1
Superbike bars
530 conversion
1974 Z1A
Yoshimura 987, 10.25:1
welded Z1 crank
Andrews 1X Cams
Delkevic 4 into 1
Superbike bars
530 conversion
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- Nerdy
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Re: Looking for handlebar
03 Sep 2026 08:01The only times I used a Cafe Clubman handlebar was during the 1970's when I visited the local 1/8 dragstrip. It worked out fine for dragracing.
I installed these *after* going to the dragstrip
1967 Yamaha YCS1 Bonanza
1980 KZ440B
1981 Yamaha XT250H
1981 KZ440 LTD project bike
1981 GPz550
2013 Yamaha FZ6R
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- MFP-Joe
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Re: Looking for handlebar
04 Sep 2026 07:24When I was younger, I rode exclusively with Clubman bars (known here as "M-bars") for about a year and a half, followed by twenty years of using clip-ons; as I got older, I moved to a slightly higher setup with drag bars and low Superbike bars. Personally, I find that a lower, flatter, and narrower handlebar gives me a better feel for the bike, and I simply don't care for the look of high handlebars.
It’s just like so many other things: it comes down to individual taste and personal experience. Everyone does what works best for them, and that’s a good thing!
Z1000 A1 1976
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Z1000 A2 1977
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- slmjim+Z1BEBE
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Re: Looking for handlebar
05 Sep 2026 08:16Interesting to see the 'Daytona Touring' bars on that chart. We installed them on Z1BEBE's Z1-B in 1989 or so to slightly reduce the reach & add some forward lean she likes into the wind. Also installed smaller dia. Grab-On foam grips that fit her hands better. Now that she's hung up her keys, slmjim's happy with the reach & angles, but the grips are too small to be comfy. Set of NOS Grab-On foamies in standard size are on the shelf for install this winter. Wish we'd kept the OEM paddle grips...
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A Rider looks at your odometer and tags.
USA
1973 ('72 builds) Z1 x2
1974 Z1-A x2
1975 Z1-B x2
1993 CB 750 Nighthawk
2009 ST1300A
www.kawasaki-z-classik.com
A Forum tightly focused on all things Z1 and Z2.
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- Wookie58
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Re: Looking for handlebar
05 Sep 2026 09:16Great info guys, I would add that the Renthal "superbike" bars are available in different height optionsInteresting to see the 'Daytona Touring' bars on that chart. We installed them on Z1BEBE's Z1-B in 1989 or so to slightly reduce the reach & add some forward lean she likes into the wind. Also installed smaller dia. Grab-On foam grips that fit her hands better. Now that she's hung up her keys, slmjim's happy with the reach & angles, but the grips are too small to be comfy. Set of NOS Grab-On foamies in standard size are on the shelf for install this winter. Wish we'd kept the OEM paddle grips...
Good Ridin'
slmjim & Z1BEBE
1982 KZ1000 Ltd
www.kzrider.com/forum/11-projects/617631...-82-begins?start=192
kzrider.com/forum/faq-wiki/616810-electr...-fault-finding-guide
www.kzrider.com/forum/11-projects/617631...-82-begins?start=192
kzrider.com/forum/faq-wiki/616810-electr...-fault-finding-guide
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