Kuhn Pro-Tapers?

[Scary Mc]

Senor raKuhn- What mods to the 1150 GS are necesary to swap to your Pro-Taper bar and riser setup?

Are the changes in the bikes handling drastic or subtle?

Gracias- Scary

[Curmudgeon]

I just returned from 1900 miles on Ricardo's riser and bars. It took me about 4 hours to install and another 2 hours to get the setup just right. My setup (Ricardo customizes to each client's needs) put slightly more pressure on my hands, but the angle of bars are so much better that you can hardly tell, because the pressure on your hands is more evenly distributed. My shoulders told me of the increased lean, but not my hands. Only an inch or so of forward lean really sets you up for the corners. The standing position is something I don't do much, but with Ricardo's setup it feels like your sitting. There is no slumping of the shoulders to reach the bars. The improvement for standing is huge. I expected a better position while seted, but the standing position is the greater of the two improvements. If you "dirtbike" ride your GS, I highly recommend Ricardo's custom fit bars. I was concerned about too much forward lean, but Ricardo set me up just right. I was also concerned about increased vibration to the grips, but the increase is barely noticeable and not an issue for me.

Super satisfied customer.

Patrick

[Javarilla]

How about a unbiased 3rd party observation -

The modifications are slight, and the change in handling is pretty astounding.

To set the stage - I have throttlemeisters, heated grips and a VarioScreen that I set at the most extended, and most laid back position.

I bought the multi-height, CR-Mid arrangement.

The only changes I had to make to the bike were to cut, then resplice the heated grip wiring down near the wiring harness, and I had to use a heat gun on the hand protectors to mildly modify their shape to fit the bar.

I purchased the multi-height setup. In the low setting the bike feels amazing. I did the MSF experienced rider course in the low setting and ended up scraping the shit outta the centerstand and pegs because the low positioning encourages you to take every corner like you're live at willow springs. On a very tight course geared toward steering manuevers at speeds that hit 40 in an unspoken competition between me, a Monster, a CBR600, an SV650, and two Aprilia's, the GS cooked, ate and regurgitated their breakfast. Fully 4 seconds faster than the next best time. I would've thought the advantage would've fallen the other way. The handling was fantastic!

Unfortunately, the bars banged the VarioScreen, and my ruined forearms and right thumb could not handle that position (oh, to be 25 again.)

The high setting gets you up sorta like the OEM position - but still more agressive.

If you ride with the VarioScreen set like mine the high position rotated to +1.5 will not tag the screen's edge. Because of the more aggressive setting, you get cleaner air across the helmet. The bars make you feel like you're directly connected to the road.

Downside - more buzz.

Cheers,
J'rilla

[Ricardo Kuhn]

Originally posted by Scary Mc
Senor raKuhn- What mods to the 1150 GS are necesary to swap to your Pro-Taper bar and riser setup?

Are the changes in the bikes handling drastic or subtle?

Gracias- Scary

when I mount the bars for the first time ,about FIVE year ago. my main concern,was to diminish the harmonic vibrations ,,and i think i full acomplish that,,,well yesterday I recibe a e-mail from JAVARILLA asking me if HE can return my bars,,,,of course he can,no funky restocking fees.
first time .....out of 47 sets,,, reason execive vibration
but now I'm a little worry....my theory is the lower towers ,are to rigid ,,,I think?????
and the mass was located to far forward,increasing the engine feet back,,
well i totally trust the vibration absortion of this sistem,,and I'm going to keep searching for the answer

now with that on the CLEAR,,,I feel like if I ever want to be succesfull I need to disclose and explore,every possible scenario
just think ;;;;EMRON,,,,,,,,,,,,,but back ward

the bar installalation is simple "very laborius"but straight forward.(exept for the stupid connectors for the heated grips) but the Cut ,Splice,and Rapp works really well,,much simpler,,,the new kits will include (thanks to JOHN JENSEN)spare connector ;if you want to go that way, or "string" rapp if like that better
you don't need to modified anything exept for a small bending on the hand guard,(and is only,,,, some times depending on the bar model)i can sell you modified ones, but i think that will be a insult, to your mecanical habilities ,very easy to do
if you ever take them out,will be no evidence that they were ever there...I'm very carefull ,with stuff like that,,,remenber the upper clamp is a cast piece ,only the contact area is machine...so sometimes they vary 25,000 inch,dibiance,that i can detect
and I"M even more carefull when the time commes to CHOSSE the bars,,,is not exact science,,,and the variables are sometimes to many,,,the most difficult part are the wrong dre-conceptions about ergonomics and some habits that people develope after years of riding
I will say I"M more or less 90% spot on,,,,lets my client tell that part

IMPROVEMENTS OVER THE STOCK in order,,,,,,,my order
A)better ERGONOMIC TEMPLATE,,,,,custom to YOU and your needs
B)harmonic vibration dampening
C)much better "FEEL"from the road ,no ''bagee'',rubbery feeling
C,1)better more accurate steering inputs,resulting in a much more ALIVE ,,,bike
E)STRENGTH can you say" Bullet Proff" ,,the bar ends are sacrificial DESIGN to collaps in case of a big crash and they can be replace .EASY and one cost $12 each
if you CRasH ,like CrasH, they even make serius economic sense.the will not bend ,,,and if the do the bike will be in pieces any way
E,1)the hability to continue riding ,after the bike falls,if you are on a trip becomes, priority one,,,if you are going to "star bucks" is,,,,,,,,priority X)
F)less WEIGHT to carry around,,,is about HALF,,,,with the clamps and every thing................. like that matter on 600 pound bike
G)I do NOT care about LOOKS to much, and i try to stay away from that with my products,,,,at least, I will not compromise FUNCTION for FORM, or have blind bolts or stupid Harley Crapp kind of design,
my stuff is a HONEST as I'M ,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,translucent all the WAY
:): ,:):, :):, :):

[Ricardo Kuhn]

Originally posted by Razorbak


Dood, how come you didn't add that little bit about wanting to return the bars?

GENTLE MAN
AND THAT IS THE WAY GENTLE MAN'S ARE

but I prefere to have all in the open,,,,

[Curmudgeon]

Originally posted by ricardo kuhn


Big Snip...


IMPROVEMENTS OVER THE STOCK in order,,,,,,,my order

Snip...

C,1)better more accurate steering inputs,resulting in a much more ALIVE ,,,bike

You feel more control in your hands and that means "more ALIVE", as opposed to "stock dead".

Patrick

[Scary Mc]

Thanks for the beta. I've emailed Ricardo about ordering some.

Thanks- Scary

[jimjib]

I am considering ordering also.

Contrary to what most people seem to like, I want the bars more forward but just at high as the stock bars...is this possible with your system ricardo?

[Ricardo Kuhn]

Originally posted by jimjib
I am considering ordering also.

Contrary to what most people seem to like, I want the bars more forward but just at high as the stock bars...is this possible with your system ricardo?

oh,,,,, YEAH
well to and extend ,,,i can locate the grips about 1.1/5 forward with a similar altitude,,,i do not why!?!?!? you want to do it ,,,,but i can do it.!!
NOTE:
this RISSERS actually don't RISE much,,they just compensate from the difference in dimention in between the; OEM(BMW bars a really big,tall,and flexible,,,did i mention CHEAP) and the GOOD bars

about most people preferencences
many people more than 50% are actually going the forward ,lower way.
I"m glad ,people understand the weigth distribution ,better that i spected

[Kurt]

I love to read Ricardo's posts. I never know how to respond, but I love to read them. He writes with such a great accent!

[Ricardo Kuhn]

Originally posted by Kurt
I love to read Ricardo's posts. I never know how to respond, but I love to read them. He writes with such a great accent!

,,,,,is JUST lack of knowloage on the english lenguage...i hope will get better soon ,actually gets better every day
well 2,,,,3 hours on the computer a day ,HELP a LOT!!!

[fish]

Originally posted by ricardo kuhn


,,,,,is JUST lack of knowloage on the english lenguage...i hope will get better soon ,actually gets better every day
well 2,,,,3 hours on the computer a day ,HELP a LOT!!!

That...and you got over your "shrinking violet" e-personality

[Javarilla]

Originally posted by Razorbak


Dood, how come you didn't add that little bit about wanting to return the bars?

Ricardo - I was trying to keep everyone from hearing a story from the gimp...

RBak -
I don't believe there is anything wrong with the bars, and wouldn't want anyone to think there was just because I can't use them. I'm a special kinda gimp, and my problems with door handles, beer mugs, bike handgrips and 44 magnums aren't relevant to the masses.

For full disclosure - I used to race surfskis up and the down the Pacific Coast - this was in the early days of winged paddle evolution. As a result of one particular 29 mile race with a borrowed Chekoslavakian titanium blade, I fused the tendons in both forearms to the tendon sheathing, damage my forearm and handmuscles, and destroyed a vast amount of thumb bone and cartiladge in my right hand. As I recall, that was only good for 2nd place.

Now, 13 years later, I'm still in physical therapy twice a month.
What I'm left with is a very limited range of motion, and a right thumb that can't take stress of any sort. (I can't hold a beer bottle - can anyone think of a better definition of a drinking problem?)

What I found with the ProTapers is that - while they create gods own riding position, and it feel soooo right when carving, and they look so damn good on your ride - the thumb angle is too oblique for me, and cripples me after an hour. My next trick will be to look for bars that have similar to or more sweep than the OEM bars. (Perhaps that's what we should talk about Ricardo!)

So I'm one in a million. No reason to cast dispersions on the bars. PS - I'm also the guy who ended up semi-crippled after using Wunderlich barbacks for 2 hours.

Cheers,
J'rilla

[Javarilla]

Originally posted by Curmudgeon



You feel more control in your hands and that means "more ALIVE", as opposed to "stock dead".

Patrick

True in spades!

I wouldn't have guessed how much more connected the bike would feel. Hard to communicate, but I shit thee not when saying it's very much like hopping out of a Taurus and into an M3.

Cheers,
J'rilla

[fish]

Originally posted by Javarilla

it's very much like hopping out of a Taurus and into an M3.

for up to an hour, anyway...