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Euro bars
- Thread starter 103947
- Start date
beemerphile
New member
Ergonomic preferences are too personal for any useful conclusions. I much prefer the Euro bars. My son likes the US bars. We are both 6'-2" tall. Whom should you believe?
As indicated, it's quite personal. I would think that low bars are workable on a naked bike where the air hitting your chest helps lift you and take the weight off your arms. If you do more city driving in this configuration, it might not work as well. Taller bars might better behind a fairing letting you sit more upright.
louieskretas
Member
Advantages of 'low' bars...
The closer you get your hands to the front axle the better feel of the road you get. The wind at speed without a windshield will partially support you to keep weight off the wrists in the forward leaning position these bars require. I find that from the 'leaned in' position, I can move my body around on the saddle while maintaining solid contact with the bike. That helps to keep changes in the road angles from upsetting yours or the bikes line. It permits you to load, follow and unload the suspension in response to the road irregularities... The seating position helps to keep you from getting battered by the road with a riding position that makes it easy to get your butt off the seat... USA bars (high bars) encourage one to sit upright for hours in one position, provide reduced feedback from the road and require slightly more effort to simply hang on. I like 'S' or European style but I really prefer flat bars like RS and particularly 'Clubman' style. Down side: your belt buckle will scratch the paint on the back of your tank...
The closer you get your hands to the front axle the better feel of the road you get. The wind at speed without a windshield will partially support you to keep weight off the wrists in the forward leaning position these bars require. I find that from the 'leaned in' position, I can move my body around on the saddle while maintaining solid contact with the bike. That helps to keep changes in the road angles from upsetting yours or the bikes line. It permits you to load, follow and unload the suspension in response to the road irregularities... The seating position helps to keep you from getting battered by the road with a riding position that makes it easy to get your butt off the seat... USA bars (high bars) encourage one to sit upright for hours in one position, provide reduced feedback from the road and require slightly more effort to simply hang on. I like 'S' or European style but I really prefer flat bars like RS and particularly 'Clubman' style. Down side: your belt buckle will scratch the paint on the back of your tank...
mika
Still Wondering
An R100 was my first BMW. I lived in the Chicago area. I changed to Euro bars and loved it overall.
Cons
Extended slow commuter traffic could be tiring on the wrists and shoulders.
After the bar change, I wanted a slight footpeg rear set. I tried several aftermarket options, and made one set, but never found just the right feel. It may be a case of chasing a dream.
Neutral
On long days I could feel the weight of my helmet. Keep in mind this was the mid-80s and helmets have gone on diets. YMMV as a result.
Euro bars have less pull back than US bars. I am 6’4” and liked the extra reach to the bars.
Pros.
The ski jumper body position was incredibly comfortable. My torso became an airfoil instead of a wall. After thirty mph the weight began to lift off the hands, wrists, and shoulders. This position was a real plus on extended rides at highway speeds.
Cables
I had no trouble going from US bars to Euro bars. The other way around may or may not be the same.
Cons
Extended slow commuter traffic could be tiring on the wrists and shoulders.
After the bar change, I wanted a slight footpeg rear set. I tried several aftermarket options, and made one set, but never found just the right feel. It may be a case of chasing a dream.
Neutral
On long days I could feel the weight of my helmet. Keep in mind this was the mid-80s and helmets have gone on diets. YMMV as a result.
Euro bars have less pull back than US bars. I am 6’4” and liked the extra reach to the bars.
Pros.
The ski jumper body position was incredibly comfortable. My torso became an airfoil instead of a wall. After thirty mph the weight began to lift off the hands, wrists, and shoulders. This position was a real plus on extended rides at highway speeds.
Cables
I had no trouble going from US bars to Euro bars. The other way around may or may not be the same.
fawudd
New member
My /5 toaster has Euro bars and I personally like the look and feel of them. They seem to evoke more of a "sporty" feel. My /6 has US bars and they are certainly more comfortable and provide more leverage. It is personal taste as many others have indicated, but these bikes are not used (in my case anyway) for long distance touring anymore, so the pluses/minuses of the different bars are less relevant.
One other consideration is originality. If you are a stickler for originality, then most US bikes probably left the dealership with US bars. Does anyone here know if the US bars were installed once they got to the US vs at the factory?
One other consideration is originality. If you are a stickler for originality, then most US bikes probably left the dealership with US bars. Does anyone here know if the US bars were installed once they got to the US vs at the factory?
Original configuration...
USA bars were installed at the factory. If you ordered a bike you could have it delivered with low bars instead or the dealer would convert it. 90S and 100S had low bars as standard. However dealers did convert some S bikes to touring models with addition of US bars and Luftmeister/Vetter fairings. I bought a 1 owner R100S that was done that way. "Original" bars for these bikes would have been low bars.
USA bars were installed at the factory. If you ordered a bike you could have it delivered with low bars instead or the dealer would convert it. 90S and 100S had low bars as standard. However dealers did convert some S bikes to touring models with addition of US bars and Luftmeister/Vetter fairings. I bought a 1 owner R100S that was done that way. "Original" bars for these bikes would have been low bars.
1074
Active member
Go low!
My preference is for the low bars. I'm 6ft. 1. The correct original low bars for a /5 are different, and lower than the /6 and later bars if you choose to be a stickler for originality. I prefer the later bars, originality be damned. I might also point out that if you have an original or original style seat then it will be more comfortable with the low bars. You'll be sitting with pressure on your cheeks instead of on your tail bone.
My preference is for the low bars. I'm 6ft. 1. The correct original low bars for a /5 are different, and lower than the /6 and later bars if you choose to be a stickler for originality. I prefer the later bars, originality be damned. I might also point out that if you have an original or original style seat then it will be more comfortable with the low bars. You'll be sitting with pressure on your cheeks instead of on your tail bone.
Low bars also let rider bend spine in a different curve from the upright, bump, bump, bump on the rear end. My first bike, /5, had a jammer/high bars. So cool, at the time. A year later ordered cables and euro bars, tanked the jammer and took off for the Missoula '84 rally. For me it was the right move. No windshield, the air foil thing. You can always shelve the parts, re-use them later. I just gave the jammer and parts away.
Important detail
I had completely forgotten about that! Thank you for mentioning it. I need to find set of those 'LoLo' bars
I have a R75/6 that I bought new. I've had the R90S bars, and cables, on and off several times. I'll ride it with the short bars for awhile then the taller US bars for awhile. The older I get the more I like the higher US bars. I think the bike looks better with the S bars, and I may put them back on this summer.
