Handlebar Risers

ChrisAlvey

Joined
Apr 7, 2023
Messages
1
Age
63
Location
Lusby, MD
Hello fellow ST owners.
I am brand new to this bike, still trying to sell my '05 Suzuki V Strom 1000. Just got an '03 ST 1300 as I test drove one back in September with my wife and, well it just felt more appropriate for two old people looking to be more comfortable on a trip.
Anyway, I guess due to my arms being slightly short relative to my back, I need handlebar risers. Also, I'm seeing too much of the handlebar and lever in those low mirrors. One inch higher would fix two issues. They cost me about 35 bucks for the V Strom. My 1st search into same for the ST was $199. Anyone have any experience with this mod? Good deals on them or thoughts of how aggravating to do the job/enough length in the cables and hoses/good how to video on it?

Appreciate any insight. Thanks,

Chris
 
Those Moto-CNC risers look just like the GenMar riser blocks I put on my ST1300 many years ago. I didn't want to change the bar angles and these did fine. Nothing else needed adjustment. Probably not many of the GenMars kicking about these days, though.

So the HeliBars above look like a great buy, if they really don't change the bar angle, and they may be what you're looking for.
 
Hound said:
Probably not many of the GenMars kicking about these days, though.
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Someone once posted that the Genmar are the same risers that are used on the Police version of the ST1300. In fact, they stated that Genmar made them for Honda. If that is the case, the ST1300 Police model risers are probably still available from Honda since the Police version was available until around 2017.
 
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Andrew Shadow said:
Someone once posted that the Genmar are the same risers that are used on the Police version of the ST1300. In fact, they stated that Genmar made them for Honda.
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I've seen risers on US police bikes that were marked as HeliBars, and were engraved with something that identified them as "service" equipment, but they were obviously aftermarket. The Honda-supplied ones definitely look like GenMars, with a joining bridge so there's no gap under the centre cover like mine! I'm sure you're absolutely right Mr S.

IMAG0013a.jpg
 
Hello All
I have similar questions regarding handlebar risers. I am new to the ST1300 world. In February 2023, I purchased (at an estate auction) a 2004 model with 6,400 miles, and as I am finding out several aftermarket modifications. One modification I learned is the handlebar riser. I have noticed now after several afternoon rides that my fingers and wrists start to go numb and tingle. I wonder if this may be attributed to the angle of this particular riser design. I wonder if there is too much angle to it? Can anyone tell what I have from my posted picture? I would also appreciate if anyone can provide the history of the evolution of different risers for ST1300. It looks like some of you out there may have changed risers more than once, and perhaps someone who has experienced similar situation can give me suggestions and guidance.

Thanks
 

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Heppy18 said:
Hello All
I have similar questions regarding handlebar risers. I am new to the ST1300 world. In February 2023, I purchased (at an estate auction) a 2004 model with 6,400 miles, and as I am finding out several aftermarket modifications. One modification I learned is the handlebar riser. I have noticed now after several afternoon rides that my fingers and wrists start to go numb and tingle. I wonder if this may be attributed to the angle of this particular riser design. I wonder if there is too much angle to it? Can anyone tell what I have from my posted picture? I would also appreciate if anyone can provide the history of the evolution of different risers for ST1300. It looks like some of you out there may have changed risers more than once, and perhaps someone who has experienced similar situation can give me suggestions and guidance.

Thanks
Click to expand...
I had a set of MCL risers on my 05 and I had basically the same experience with them that you have. I had an issue with some tennis elbow early last year so I swapped for a set of heli bar risers and it made a huge difference. I don't think the heli bars were swept back or up much more but the angle is different on them and that seems to have made a big difference for me. YMMV.
 
Heppy18 said:
Can anyone tell what I have from my posted picture?
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You have a Motorcycle Larry (MCL) Sport Touring Handlebar Riser.
According to the MCL website, this riser moves the bars 1 1/2" up and 2" rearward. No mention of a change in angle.
This company is no longer in operation due to Larry, who was the owner and a member of this site, passed away.

I have the same riser and have no such issues with it. Are you using a death grip, or putting to much weight on your hands?
 
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If I were an ergonometrist, physical therapy pro, or otherwise qualified, I would request you post photos of you seated in the riding position, hands on the bars, so I could view your shoulder, elbow and wrist alignment, and make recommendations.
But I'm not any of those, and I like my bars stock as delivered by Honda.
 
Heppy18 said:
Hello All
I have similar questions regarding handlebar risers. I am new to the ST1300 world. In February 2023, I purchased (at an estate auction) a 2004 model with 6,400 miles, and as I am finding out several aftermarket modifications. One modification I learned is the handlebar riser. I have noticed now after several afternoon rides that my fingers and wrists start to go numb and tingle. I wonder if this may be attributed to the angle of this particular riser design. I wonder if there is too much angle to it? Can anyone tell what I have from my posted picture? I would also appreciate if anyone can provide the history of the evolution of different risers for ST1300. It looks like some of you out there may have changed risers more than once, and perhaps someone who has experienced similar situation can give me suggestions and guidance.

Thanks
Click to expand...
Also, don't discount your grips. Sometimes a change in grip softness or diameter can make a difference for the problems you're speaking of. Myself, I installed slip on foam covers on my factory grips. It made them quite a bit larger in diameter but I have large hands and I like the difference. :twocents1:
 
I suggest you do a search for handlebar risers - blue band atop this page, right end, >Search - type in key words. You can also go to >Forums>ST1300 Related>Handlebars,Foot pegs and skim the threads. I remember reading in an old thread someone compared various brands - how far back, how much higher, any angle change for various brands. Not sure how helpful that will be since many of the mfrs of risers are gone (MCL for example) and you will be searching for a used accessory.

You might sit on your bike (with it on the centerstand), get comfortable and put your hands out where you want the handlebars. Have a helper measure the difference in height and distance aft of the grips.

Motorcycle recycling yards might be a source. Two I know about are:
Greentown Motorcycle Salvage, 2365 State Street, Uniontown, OH 44685
330 499-9768
Pinwall Cycle Parts, 635 3rd Street NW, Massillon, OH 44647
330 879-9910
 
Andrew Shadow said:
You have Motorcycle Larry (MCL) Sport Touring Handlebar Risers.
According to the MCl website, this riser moves the bars 1 1/2" up and 2" rearward. No mention of a change in angle.
This company is no longer in operation due to the Larry, who was the owner and a member of this site, passed away.

I have the same riser and have no such issues with it. Are you using a death grip, or putting to much weight on your hands?
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Thank you for the information on the MCL risers. In regards to using a using death grip the answer is no.
Andrew Shadow said:
You have Motorcycle Larry (MCL) Sport Touring Handlebar Risers.
According to the MCl website, this riser moves the bars 1 1/2" up and 2" rearward. No mention of a change in angle.
This company is no longer in operation due to the Larry, who was the owner and a member of this site, passed away.

I have the same riser and have no such issues with it. Are you using a death grip, or putting to much weight on your hands?
Click to expand...
Thank you for the information on the MCL Sport Touring Risers. In regards to using a death grip, that would be a no. As far as putting too much weight on my hands.. I do not think so but am not sure. It is not at like I am riding a mountain bike supporting my upper body or anything. I was out on my son's KTM 390 and did not experience the same effect.tempImage4cbMQB.png
 
Bmacleod said:
Also, don't discount your grips. Sometimes a change in grip softness or diameter can make a difference for the problems you're speaking of. Myself, I installed slip on foam covers on my factory grips. It made them quite a bit larger in diameter but I have large hands and I like the difference. :twocents1:
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Thank you. I may test this out by changing grip diameter by wrapping some foam or and ace bandage around the grip and see if that helps.
 
[QUOTE="Heppy18, post: 2440383, member: 57453]
As far as putting too much weight on my hands.. I do not think so but am not sure.
[/QUOTE]
I found the wind protection offered by the ST was such that my upper body was not supported by wind blast at speed. I WAS putting too much weight on my hands and wrists until I got risers. Mine came from an ad in the For Sale forum here.
 
I have a new to me 2005 st1300p and it has Tour Performance riser on it. Out of curiosity you just wondered what this added to the height? Looking at it I'm going to say 3/4 of an inch.

Also curious about the three holes drilled in the center of the bars and what that may have been used for?

I'm under the impression that the police versions may have had a different setup right off the bat from civilian cycles. Does anybody have information on the difference if any?
 

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That center piece on my bike was nothing more than a cover for the center of the handlebar riser. I forget which riser I bought, there are several brands out there. Mine came with a plastic center piece - no holes - and I made an aluminum piece and drilled it for a powerlet receptacle (wires came up the steering post). You might take that center piece off and check out what you have. The handlebars are held on to the spacer by the two bolts with nice push in covers at the base of each 'bar'.
 
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