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McMurphy
05-18-2011, 11:46 PM
I'll be using my bike as my daily ride for work when I get back home, and was wondering if anybody has put different bars on theirs?

The positioning of the stock ones starts to bother my wrists after a little bit and I'm thinking about upgrading with a pair that sit higher to take some weight off of them.

Any suggestions on brands? I hear the Lightning bars sit a little higher, but I don't trust my abilities to do a major swap if it's going to take a lot of work.

nativeXb12Rbuell
05-19-2011, 06:52 PM
I have owned my 2005 XB12R Firebolt since april 2008, i have put about 5000+ miles on it since, & when i first got it, 95% of that riding was my hour and half ride to work each day (90miles one way) I love the lightnings and wanted one
(xb or X1) but knew my ride to work would keep me in the wind alot of the way and i thouught the firebolt with the front fairing would help cut down on the wind . i really cant compare between the lightning and the firebolt . but i can tell you i love my firebolt and how it feels to me and how comfortable it is when i ride it right and when i dont ride right, position wise.
when i first got it (it is my first bike) my hands would get sore from not being in a good riding position and not using my abbs(core). but I asked for how to keep from my hands from getting sore and the best riding postions for riding the firebolt. for long rides, no matter what, i learned that you have to switch postions from using your abbs(core)& not to lean on hands and NOT to use your arms to support your self (at least not for very long ), and that tucking in and laying down on the airbox keeps me out of the wind (and thats lets me rest my abbs(core)too for long rides)also use your legs to help support to a degree , also always use legs when turning, to help keep your body in a good postion, but you should know that. and being only 5'6" it helps me along with good gloves with padded in the palm below the fingers and along the bottom of the hand above the wrist. maybe it's me being short but i mostly sit close to the airbox when riding in upper(almost upright)position, & then sit further back sometimes when tucked in to stretch out my back and abbs.
i hope thats helps and my explaination is understandable. checkout some of the riding postion threads too i learned alot from them too. i will see if i cant find a few for you.(see below)

also checkout some of the videos on riding positions on from keith code's twist of the wrist and and some others too.



http://www.buellxb.com/Buell-XB-Forum/Buell-Lightning-XB12S-XB12Ss-CityX-XB12Scg/Firebolt-handlebar-conversion

http://www.buellxb.com/Buell-XB-Forum/Buell-Firebolt-XB12-XB9/Buell-Firebolt-or-Lightning
i know there is a few more but cant find them.

Firebolt Ergos (http://www.buellxb.com/Buell-XB-Forum/Buell-Firebolt-XB12-XB9/Firebolt-ergos)

here's one about old vs. new buells too
http://www.buellxb.com/Buell-XB-Forum/Buell-X1-M2-S3/Old-Buell-vs-New-Buell-how-do-the-compare-

McMurphy
05-22-2011, 01:58 AM
Thanks, sounds like I might want to play around with my riding style before I go and drop more money.



I might try going the cheap route if it's still bothering me and buying the lowered pegs, but I tend to scrape peg all the time so I'm not sure if it'd be a great idea.

gunut75
05-22-2011, 11:03 AM
Best of both worlds.http://www.buellxb.com/buell_images/3020_20110304150416_L.jpg
http://www.buellxb.com/buell_images/3020_20110416222034_L.jpg
http://www.buellxb.com/buell_images/3020_20110422122714_L.jpg

nativeXb12Rbuell
05-22-2011, 09:47 PM
heli bars made some but extremly hard to find they didnt make many not enough demand i think , I kinda like those in the pics above. and yes you loose a little bit of lean angle with the lowered pegs, I was going to get them too, but changed my mind on that because of the loss of lean angle.

http://www.google.com/#hl=en&sugexp=ldymls&xhr=t&q=firebolt+bars&cp=13&pf=p&sclient=psy&source=hp&aq=f&aqi=&aql=&oq=firebolt+bars&pbx=1&bav=on.2,or.r_gc.r_pw.&fp=e5b130cc10bf5fa1
http://www.google.com/#sclient=psy&hl=en&source=hp&q=firebolt+bars+site:+buellxb.com&aq=f&aqi=&aql=&oq=&pbx=1&bav=on.2,or.r_gc.r_pw.&fp=e5b130cc10bf5fa1

search of buelxb.com firebolt bars
http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=+site:buellxb.com+firebolt+bars+site:+buellxb.co m

http://www.buellxb.com/Buell-XB-Forum/Buell-Firebolt-XB12-XB9/Firebolt-handle-bar-risers...just-an-idea

http://www.sporttwin.com/index.php?/topic/14877-heli-bars-for-firebolt/
http://www.streetfightersinc.com/Buell-Handle-Bar-Riser-Kits.htm
http://www.americansportbike.com/shoponline/ccp0-prodshow/9077.html


more buell venders here too..

Buell-Clothing--Parts-List---Foreign--Domestic (http://www.buellxb.com/Buells-for-Sale/Buell-Parts-for-Sale/Buell-Clothing--Parts-List---Foreign--Domestic)

jandj_davis
05-31-2011, 08:34 AM
I just fitted the Heli top triple to my bolt, and let me tell you, it makes a HUGE difference. Their specs claim 1.5" back, 1" up. Al at AmericanSportbike.com sells a kit that should be close to that (1" x 1"). I've never liked the look of "regular" handlebars on a bike with a fairing (lightning bars on a bolt) so the Helis or Al's bars keep the "clip-on" look with some relief.

gunut75
05-31-2011, 09:27 AM
The foot peg clearance shouldn't be an issue. I'm running S pegs on my Bolt, and have skinny little chicken strips and NO clearance issues.

beull4me19
05-31-2011, 10:17 AM
i have some Handle bars that i just took off. They are way higher than the stock bars. And to me, they made the bike harder to turn. But if you would like to buy them i will sell them to you at a very good price. Comes with triple and new brake line. Let me know if you are interested. I can send pics if interested.