Handle bars

I have a 1981 1000 ltd and need some sage advice about making a few changes. Handle bars are the most important but with that being said when I change the bars clutch cable and master cylinder become an issue . I want the finished product to be neat and clean looking .Thinking something similar to super bike bars. I was wondering if earlier model clutch cable from a kz standard might be the answer. On the master cylinder it is angled to fit factory bars and I would appreciate any advice . I love my bike but the bars feel like a wheelbarrow . Signal light placement is my smallest prob with all the aftermarket options. Thanks for any and all input.

You should use GPz cables if you are going to use low bars. The throttle cable may be different because of the fuel injection, but maybe the throttle cable from a 750 may work if you have BS34's. You will probably want the shorter upper brake hose too. I did basically the same swap. but on a 550, and used all GPz stuff and it was clean and neat

you wanna make a few changes? ok first off front to back. dual discs, custom triple, new risers and bars, custom seat, mono shock, extended swingarm, 180 plus tire. then buy a dyna 2000 ignition and a digital tach. when you do all that let us know, and we can talk about paint. wheres omr and plummen?


ps, dont forget the dukes of hazard horn.:woohoo:

Nah Stu I think if I had wanted to make that many changes i wouldn't have wanted the bike I bought. For me the stance of the bars is the only flaw in the bike,actually wanted an older bike but in my neck of the woods they cost to dang much. I am just trying to mold the bike to me .I thought I got a good deal getting the bike for 1500 bucks 12,400 miles.Done nothing to it so far but enjoy it. If I was inclined to buy a dukes horn, a digital tach etc then I think I would have bought a crotch rocket and rode .

I installed a set of euro bars on my 900. They are pretty low and I still use the stock cables and lines. Somewhere I saw a tool to shorten clutch cables, or you can just order the length you want from Motion Pro, they do custom lengths.

Thanks for the help folks In the attachment I have in this post is a pic of the bike I rode up till I got this one needless to say its big change in the front.

Could inquire at Z1 Enterprises for advice on cables from a kindred model to best fit the desired handlebar application.

For example, a better fitting replacement cable might be from the standard model or cafe racer model, etc.

Good Fortune!

I know what you mean about those original LTD/CSR bars. They will cramp your shoulders after a short ride - they suck! I have the 82 CSR. I had a set of super bike bars on it with the stock clutch cable and brake hose, but there is a lot of excess and you need to re-route the clutch cable to take up some slack. I didn't like it and wanted taller bars so I found some with the same rise as the originals but with less pull back. They are much more comfortable and the cable and brake hose are not all bunched up.

You can use a clutch cable from the 81-83 KZ1000 standard with the short bars. The master cylinder is another issue though. Your original m/c is made to fit the tall bars and it still works with the shorter ones, but you need to level it before you open it to add or change the fluid because of the way it sits on flat bars. That's another reason I found different tall bars for mine. The rise you want is approx. 8 inches. The pullback should be about 3-4", in other words flatter than the OE bars. Look for "baby apehangers" or the 73 Z1 bars are taller too. You can also change to the 81-83 KZ1000 standard m/c and upper hose for a better fit to superbike bars, but that is costly.

That Yamaha is NICE!

Thanks Kidkawie ...A lot of work in that jewel .That bike was a FREEBIE when I got it and had been sitting in my Boss's garage for over 25 years with less than 5000 original on it .Still had original tires when I got it. Was really fun learning to work on a bike and a break from doing my daily work on everyone's cars. Thankfully the twin 38 Mikunis trained me well for any future work I have to do on my Kaws 34 mm.

i had bought the black superbike bars for my 750 cause mine 2 felt kind of like a wheelbarrow

was the best thing ever for riding position , i luv em

i have a 1980 kz1000 ltd... i did alot of research before i changed my handlebars. i looked into drag bars, cafe style bars from clubman, and also clip-on's... in the end i chose to go with the more expensive route and ordered a set of Woodcraft Clip-on's. i have the stock master cylinder, cables, and controls. i absolutely love the setup and am happy with my decision. it made the most drastic change (for the better) in the handling and feel of my bike.

heres some pics of before and after