Heli Modified Handlebars
HELI MODIFIED HANDLEBARS
CW EVALUATION
Bolt-on wrist relief for sportbikes
MANY MOTORCYCLISTS ENJOY THE razor-sharp handling, incredible technology and exciting looks of today’s sportbikes. But for all of their virtues, many sport-oriented motorcycles come under fire for their uncomfortably low handlebar placement.
Heli Modified (P.O. Box 160, Wilmington, MA 01887; 508/6589848) offers a solution to that problem with its taller-than-stock replacement handlebars. We ordered a pair for our 1992 Honda VFR750.
Heli Modified’s aluminum handlebars are nicely crafted, with clean welds and excellent attention to detail, and the pair we installed on our VFR weighed nearly a pound less than the stock set-up. Mounting the Heli bars was a simple, half-hour affair: The replacement bars are drilled for controllocating pins, and the stock cables and hydraulic lines are retained.
Once in place, the Heli bars offer a noticeably different feel compared to the stock handlebars. Higher at the top triple clamp by % inch, and 2 inches taller at their ends, the Heli bars are relatively flat compared to the Stockers, which have a downward slope. The result is a more upright riding position that drew mixed reactions from staffers.
Some riders felt that the new seating position was more comfortable, while others thought that the Helis’ flat profile placed extra pressure on their palms. In the end, we all agreed that the concept behind the Heli bars was excellent, though the result wasn’t to all of our likings. Will the Heli bars work for you? We can’t answer that. But if your present handlebars are uncomfortably low, the Heli bars may be worth a try. The only thing you have to lose are your aching wrists-well, that and the Helis’ purchase price if they don’t alleviate the problem.
Heli Modified handlebars are currently available for Yamaha’s FJ1200, Kawasaki’s Concours, and Honda’s CBR600F, VFR750 and CBR1000. Prices range from $150 to $190.
