Upright sportbike conversion

I have been doing some hardcore motorcycle research, shopping/ looking, and just, to be honest i may be thinking and over-thinking bikes in general.

One thing that i have noticed is the sportbikes are dime a dozen. Clean 600cc rockets are going for prices that fit well in my price range.

Honestly i would love to give em a go but at my height and build or whatever it is, i am not comfortable on them. The seating position is good, the foot controls are wonderful and even the lean forward is not bad. What i cant stand is the clip on wayyyy low hand controls. I was on a bike for 5 minutes chatting with the salesman and in that time my wrists started locking up.

On the other hand my SV650 has a more up right bar and its great! I could even go with one a bit lower (more like a drag bar)

So to bring this all together:

how hard or is it practical to put standard bars/ drag bars/ more upright bars on a sport bike (R6, CBR, YZF, NINJA, etc) Would it be a smart move, or do you mess up the whole bikes characteristics? Would it want to lift the wheel all the time? I assume you would need to lengthen wires/ hoses etc.

How would you go about doing this?

Input? Thoughts?

Thanks everyone

I believe that it's pretty simple to adapt higher bars, but not exactly cheap. There are adapters out for the top clamp of the triple-tree... bar risers, I believe they're called. Here's an example.

Some of the milder sportbikes use more upright riding positions, too, like the Ninja 650R. I doubt they're much cheaper on the used market, though.

It's done all the time. I call them a Houligan bike but I've heard the term StreetFighter also. Maybe there's a difference.

Dan .

Why not start with a bike that's comfortable to begin with? This makes a whole lot more sense than modifying something that you may or may not like the handling afterward. #1- Figure out what type of riding,realistically, you do. #2- Then list bikes that fit that category. #3- Find one you like that fits you.

Check these guys out. Heli Bars.

Heli Bars website

They sell replacement bars for just about any sportbike. They made a world of difference on my TL1000S.

Be forewarned. They aren't cheap.

Minimac offers a better option in buying a bike setup for the kind of riding you want to do.

I also forgot you have an SV650. Why move on from that? Just something different?

minimac wrote: Why not start with a bike that's comfortable to begin with? This makes a whole lot more sense than modifying something that you may or may not like the handling afterward. #1- Figure out what type of riding,realistically, you do. #2- Then list bikes that fit that category. #3- Find one you like that fits you.

Because this way is more entertaining. I don't miss Slick Dizzy that much nowadays thanks to CarKid.

It IS sort of fun watching the ADD shift to MDD. Motorcycle Deficit Disorder FTW!

I'd personally go with a tubular/dirtbike/stunt handlebar kit. Relatively easy, and if you cobble your own kit together with dirtbike parts, not too expensive.

You will most likely need longer brake lines and throttle/choke cables, and you can probably re-route the handlebar wiring without having to extend it.

You'll most likely run into issues with fairing clearance (if you still have a fairing).

But, to echo a sentiment above: I don't think you're going to wind up with something terribly different than your SV. What are you looking for that you can't get out of your SV?

more

MitchellC wrote: more

Lol..I was thinking the same thing. I did that when I bought my TL1000. I sold it after I got better. Power sickness is a terrible affliction.

Haha thanks.....

Just looking for something different, something more powerful, i dunno.

I like the naked or bikes with minimal fairings or ones that sit more upright i guess?

Yeah, cool, until you have to ride from Ohio to Daytona on one in the rain.

One really need about five bikes.

914Driver wrote: One really need about five bikes.

so 914Driver. Whats you idea? whats a good all around bike?

Depends on where you go all around.

If you never leave the neighborhood pick one. When I ride to work it's 25 miles at 75 mph, I like a fairing so I have the BMW. I also like to ride fast through the mountains with a few friends so a sport touring or sporty bike is on my list, but not as a DD. I like Bobbers, the noise, the style, the look but go 20 miles on a hard tail and then tell me how cool it is.

All around bike? I dunno. My GPz-1100 served me very well. If someone handed me $2000 and said buy a bike and it's the only one you can own for the rest of your life.

In no particular order:

BMW K-100rs

BMW K-75s

GPz-1100

All have a bit of a fairing.

All have bags.

All can run with the squids.

All are stylish.

But I'm not you.

Dan

In reply to 914Driver:

What is a squid?

I'm tellin you a ZRX1200R is your answer. If Power is what you crave it will do that. If naked upright looks are what you want it'll do that. If 2 up riding is in the cards it will do that. If trackdays need to happen it's good for that.

I also happen to have one for sale at the top of your price range I'm just saying

Otto Maddox wrote: In reply to 914Driver: What is a squid?

Young inexperienced sport bike rider. Bike is faster than the brain.

Dan

914Driver wrote:

Otto Maddox wrote: In reply to 914Driver: What is a squid?

Young inexperienced sport bike rider. Bike is faster than the brain. Dan

Which is why I chose a VERY slow first bike. (for those who don't understand what I am inferring, I have a VERY slow brain!)

CarKid,

What you want is a sport-tourer. Sportbike mechanicals and chassis, higher bars, more relaxed seat.

If you're a Honda man, look for a VFR800 or CBR1100XX Super Blackbird.

The Yamaha FZ6 is large for me and I'm 5'11". It might fit you very well. You can get them for less than $4000.

BMW has been doing this for half a century, the S1000RR is their first tiny rocket, all other fast Beemers have been sport-tourers.

I just saw a Honda Interceptor yesterday. That's the VFR800 right? It's a good looking machine, and I really wanted to hear it.

914Driver wrote:

Otto Maddox wrote: In reply to 914Driver: What is a squid?

Young inexperienced sport bike rider. Bike is faster than the brain. Dan

Aren't you insulting real squids?

No. Watch a squid jet away from danger and then watch a squid jet through traffic.

CarKid, check out a Kawasaki Concours also. Bulletproof well sorted engine that's been around forever, comfy, cheaper on insurance than a sport bike, not easy to find due to its appeal.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kawasaki_Concours

Dan

Wanna mess with your friends?

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/2002-kawasaki-police-KZ1000-special-only-35k-miles-wow-/300532438453?pt=US_motorcycles&hash=item45f92115b5

I would say build a streetfighter. Sounds what you are looking at.