Question on 950 handlebars

[KTMax]

Hi all,
Triggered by this forum I'm looking for a better handlebar for my 950 too. Funny how you don't really notice something untill people start talking about it. Now I'm gonna flush some more cash on this bike. Thanks!!..

My question is this; does anybody now how high the stock 950 handlebar is?

Or in other words, is the height of the fequently mentioned Pastrana FMX handlebar higher, lower or the same as the stock 950 bars. The FMX is 121mm high.

[Renazco]

Originally Posted by KTMax

Hi all,
Triggered by this forum I'm looking for a better handlebar for my 950 too. Funny how you don't really notice something untill people start talking about it. Now I'm gonna flush some more cash on this bike. Thanks!!..

My question is this; does anybody now how high the stock 950 handlebar is?

Or in other words, is the height of the fequently mentioned Pastrana FMX handlebar higher, lower or the same as the stock 950 bars. The FMX is 121mm high.

I know I promised some pictures but it's been a little a tough getting around lately. Before I took the stock bars off I considered what I would be giving up. Ricky pointed out that the stock bars come in a little to much at the ends and I agreed, so the decision was made to use the Pastranas because they resembled the same height of the stock bars but gave you more of a relaxed feel in the sense that the bars swing out a little more. I'm no expert at explaining this but after trying a few bars the Pastranas felt the best and I quickly adapted to the change favorably.
I initially thought the stock bars were good but after riding with them a while I realized that I would gain more control of the bike by having something accomodate my shoulder width. I had ProTapers on my other bikes as well so jumping from one bike to the next gave me a similiar feel in ergonomics.
I'll get some photos off this afternoon and dig up some older shots with the Renthals for comparison but the best way to know that this will work for you is to ask Ricky, he's pretty good at helping choose the right bar for your body type and riding style.

[Greg Minor]

I changed to CR Hi protapers the heighth is about the same but they are wider and have a bit different bend, I like them

[barbasma]

i've a MAGURA SX... more open... like KTM mount on EXC series... and Meoni...

is find it fantastic to ride standup....

[KTMax]

Originally Posted by barbasma

like KTM mount on EXC series... and Meoni... is find it fantastic to ride standup...

According to Magura Meoni and Nani Roma use the EX bars. This is the handlebar from the Duke II I mentioned in another thread.

I don't do any off road worth mentioning. Only road riding so standing up is not an issue. I can swap my bars for new Duke bars (Magura EX, 120mm high) at my dealer if I want. But I'd like to find out if this one is lower or higher than the 950s before I start changing them. That's all really...

[Shamal]

This doesn't really answer your question, but I went through a similar measuring process. I had Pro-taper CR Mid's on my last bike but on a whim I tried the SX's on the KTM and feel very comfortable with them. What I'm saying is you can try to calculate everything in advance, but with something like this, it might be best to JUST DO IT. There are so many options and its so easy to switch this part out, so there's always opportunity for change.

[LC12JT]

Originally Posted by KTMax

Hi all,
Funny how you don't really notice something untill people start talking about it.

I was just thinking the same thing. Went for a ride on the 950 this weekend, and caught myself thinking that the bars are a little too narrow (never noticed that before). You bastards have warped my fragile little mind...

[veesquared]

I saw some at my local KTM dealer yesterday . Email me and I'll give you a number to call to where they have all of them in stock and can give you a direct comparoison. The stock bars cost more than the Pro Tapers

[Ricardo Kuhn]

I'm To tyred to respond at this very moment, for Now Look at this Pictures.
Scott Harden's Little wonder


He uses Renthal don't ask me why I don't remenber the model I check tomorrow



I think this Face tells it all

[rocker59]

Originally Posted by KTMax

Hi all,
Triggered by this forum I'm looking for a better handlebar for my 950 too. Funny how you don't really notice something untill people start talking about it. Now I'm gonna flush some more cash on this bike. Thanks!!..

My question is this; does anybody now how high the stock 950 handlebar is?

Or in other words, is the height of the fequently mentioned Pastrana FMX handlebar higher, lower or the same as the stock 950 bars. The FMX is 121mm high.

Height, width and pullback specs can be found on most companies' websites. I always do a little web searching when thinking of changing bars.

I use Renthal 7/8" Ricky Carmichael bend on my Ducati E900.

[KTMax]

Originally Posted by rocker59

Height, width and pullback specs can be found on most companies' websites.

Yes but not the 950s stock bars. I've emailed Renthal too, they make the d*mn thing after all. But like most manufacturers, no reply...

As nobody seems to know the height and pullback of the stock item I guess I'll just have to swap them for 'Duke' Magura EX bars and find out afterwards...

Good pics. Like the orange color! I guess they confirm the fitment of an LC4 top yoke too. I think the one on the pictures is an LC4 yoke. But I don't see a steering/ignition lock.

[Ricardo Kuhn]

First i'm sorry for the Ultra Lamme Pictures,,,I will make some better then I fabricate a proper platform
All this parameters are pretty difficult to explain and require a "open mind" to new concepts


If the bars were located on the same proper angle the KTM stock bars will be about a 1 1/2' more forward the typical recomended set up features a pretty intense swep .
acording to what I know, the only way to make them work is to get some type of bar back to move the mounting point farder back and high and then tilt the stock bars about 30 degrees to achive the proper bend ,,I think now you understand why you need to move the bars back

the other photos are so bad they are even more usless..

I post more stuff later

[Ricardo Kuhn]

Now this is much better sorry i'm ussing my GS clamps to hold the bars but is just to be able to hold them in place and have a acurate reference template.

first i'm going to try to show the stock "ideal" possition(acording the factory spects) of the two bars


Notice how the renthals are pretty flat and all the swep is backwards




the sweep back on the Renthals is to accute no matter what but certain possition work better than others


In this stage I'm trying to show what happend if you adjustemt to be TALL .


You see how abrup the angle upwards become!?!?






the issues with the bars are much more complicated than just the Height or the bend

In this Stage I adjust the RENTHAL fort IDEAL(real) wrist/ forearm angle but then notice how much more forward the bars become.


this is much better but then the bars are very forward making the reach a issue if you are about 6'4" have really narrow shoulders
and never ride in the dirt maybe they will fit you,,


If you can move the bar mounts back about 1 1/4' the bar will almost work also will be nice to lift them up specially if you use the bike standing up like is soppose too


can you see the bend on the bars on the top!?!?
Good


they still a little lower


another issue pretty Difficult to fix is that the bars are to Narrow,and if you shoulders are more than 18"(at the rotators) the bars will be to skinny in relation to your shoulders,wrist and arms.

Please just remenber I'm not doing this for any monetary reward and is just what to share what I know .
the bars i think works best for the KTM for a big mayority of people(from 5'9" to 6'2") give or take depending on the riding style) are the ProTaper Pastrana FMX and you can buy them from any decent motorcycle shop,the only come in silver or gold and the outperform any other brand of bar by far do to the advance materials that they use and the variable internal taper construction that they feature.

the are pretty expensive(to cheapskate standards) at about $95 but will make any wide shoulder person much more happy with his fancy bike...if your shoulders are super narrow like a Japanese female Anime caracter and you have really long arms(3 or 4 positive index)and never ever ride in the dirt keep the stock bars,,is no big deal

[barbasma]

Originally Posted by KTMax

According to Magura Meoni and Nani Roma use the EX bars.

i've touched the MEONI bike.... personally....he use SX....

x ricardo kuhn

THANK'S FOR THE SCOTTS PICTURE...

[Ricardo Kuhn]

Originally Posted by barbasma

i've touched the MEONI bike.... personally....he use SX....

x ricardo kuhn

THANK'S FOR THE SCOTTS PICTURE...

I don't know if you can tell but the clamp on this bike are far from stock
Scott Harden tell me they are KTM race parts and that they locate the Fork tubes 20MM more forward than the stock setup he also emply that Scott's usa(the damper people) is going to take the template and make some


you need to remenber what with the clamps move forward the dinamics of the bars also change so is not as easy as is looks.


the lower clamps are pretty nice also and oviuslly need to be change to achive the longer trail on the forks


look how far away the steering stop bolts are on this triple clamp


in my concept the Maguras are out of contension in temrs of shock absortion and longevity compare with the protapers and Hopefully soon i will have the technical data to prove it