Just added my name to the ST1300 Heli Horizon Adjustable bars pre order list. Have high hopes for this mod. Currently use original MCL riser plate. Still have discomfort between shoulder blades on 200+ mile rides. I like the ST pretty well but want a touring/sport bike rather than sport/touring (emphasis on touring). If they work as expected the new bars should do the trick. They better for the price! Seems to me a sport/touring bike should come stock with adjustable bars. If this doesnt work I may go with the K1600.
Heli Horizon Adjustable bars
- Thread starter llbaker2
- Start date
Replaced MCL Riser Plate with Heli Horizon Adjustable bars this weekend. Initial impression is a good one. Have yet to do a long ride so will hold off on giving to much praise. Did about 150 miles yesterday with no discomfort in back, shoulders or arms. I am actually able to lean back on backrest, the jewels are not mashed against the tank, using the highway wings seems to be a little easier on the hips (arthritis), better (fuller) view in mirrors. Nice upright ergos. I think they will do the trick. I think they will make the difference between trading and keeping the ST. I want to get a 300+ mile trip under my belt before giving them a thumbs up.
When I first got the bike the first thing to hurt was my butt after about 50 miles. Had my seat Spencerized.
After Spencerizing the first thing to hurt was my shoulders (knot between shoulder blades that could not be ignored). Installed MCL riser plate and peg extensions.
Shoulders still hurt just took longer for pain to start.
After Horizon bars first thing to hurt is back to my butt. Takes more like 150 miles for pain to start.
I can now do at least 150 miles in total comfort. I suspect I could do 300 miles in comfort but have yet to try.
Install was time consuming but nothing to technical. Most people should be able to complete providing you have the tools for the job.
Bars appear to be well made as they should be for the nearly $600 price. Only problem I have initially is the high price.
Heli Horizon bars
Spenserized seat
MCL lowering pegs
MCL wings
Utopia backrest
When I first got the bike the first thing to hurt was my butt after about 50 miles. Had my seat Spencerized.
After Spencerizing the first thing to hurt was my shoulders (knot between shoulder blades that could not be ignored). Installed MCL riser plate and peg extensions.
Shoulders still hurt just took longer for pain to start.
After Horizon bars first thing to hurt is back to my butt. Takes more like 150 miles for pain to start.
I can now do at least 150 miles in total comfort. I suspect I could do 300 miles in comfort but have yet to try.
Install was time consuming but nothing to technical. Most people should be able to complete providing you have the tools for the job.
Bars appear to be well made as they should be for the nearly $600 price. Only problem I have initially is the high price.
Heli Horizon bars
Spenserized seat
MCL lowering pegs
MCL wings
Utopia backrest
:worthless
Would like some pics along with what other mods were necessary?
longer throttle cables?
Longer brake and clutch hoses?
Longer wires for the controls?
Brake and clutch hydraulic cable extensions included. Nothing else major required (one would hope not given the price). Will need a few zip ties, some brake fluid and a few beers. Had to re-route throttle cables (biggest installation time consumer). Install instructions can be found at "http://www.helibars.com/sites/default/files/install_instructions/HST01061%20%20Installation%20Instructions%202-3-12%20web.pdf". Instructions should give good idea of what you will be getting into. Will post some pics within next couple days. Dont like the looks of the hydraulic cable extensions but made install pretty simple.
IIbaker2, I'm waiting until I get my Spencerized seat back before I decide between the Heli Gen III or the Horizon bars. Any opinions you can provide will be most appreciated. What is the least up and back you think you can adjust to, e.g. is 3'' up and 3" back possible. Also, with the horizon bars installed can you still see all of the instruments, tach, speedometer, mpg etc. I am really looking forward to any pictures you post with the bars installed. Sorry about all the questions but you're the first I've heard of that actually has the Horizon bars installed. Very exciting! Thanks.
Steve
I've installed the Horizon Bars also. It took me about six hours to do the job. The instructions are well done with lots of photos to assist assembly. They look good and are of good quality. The price is high ($599) but because I ride about 10,000 to 12,000 miles a season comfort (at my age) is priceless. This mod will enable me to continue to ride for a few years longer .... luck willing! I'll post pictures soon.
Here's a few pictures of the new Helibar Horizon bars on a 2006 ST .... Old Vic
I'm a more TOURER/Sport type rider so I think they look great. Your picture with the view from the riders seat is similar to that which Heli posted on their websight. It appears only the Tach and speedometer is visible between the two up bars. Is that true or when seated can you see your whole instrument panal. I'll be deciding soon between the Horizon bars and the Heli riser plate and your pictures will help me decide.
The up/down range is quite high (from hitting the tank low to approx 5" above tank) but at the expence of the fore/aft range. They are sorta inversely related. For gross adjustments if you rase the height it will lengthen you reach and visa versa (movement is arc-like). There are also some finer adjustments that dont follow this). I have the bars kinda low and back just about as far as possible. I am able to not only sit upright but am actually able to lean back against my backrest now. If you are a touring/sport rider you may wish to check them out. If you are a sport/touring rider they may be to much for you (the less extream MCL, Heli, or GenMar risers may suite you better). I replaced a MCL riser plate and am pleased with the change so far. Time will tell but initial impression is good for touring oriented riders.
The new bars lack the "length" adjustment that the Heli's on my ST1100 had. Without that adjustment, the new bars will position me further back than I would like, so I'm going to pass on them. The reach and height of the stock ST1300 handlebars are perfect for me. I would like to adjust the angle of the bar section where the grips mount.
Thanks for the detailed response. The info will definately help me make a decision. I have the GenMar blocks on now and they are not enough. It would have been nice (but maybe impossible to do) if they had designed them more like the adjustable bars they had for the ST1100 which allowed the handle bar rise from the risers to be adjusted up and and down.
Steve
For $600 you would think they would of just made longer hoses instead of the joke there using. Quite the install process with the throttle cables. I wonder if the Police are long enough to route them in the stock way? I'm gonna hold off with these till a few more have them on before I spend that kind of money for them.
Blue One
Vendor
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- Mar 19, 2008
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- 70
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- Canada (Edmonton Alberta) - Texas
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- 04 ABS ST1300
Flame me if you want I can take it. 
I will grant you the desire to want to ride a bit longer and in more comfort.
But I'm sorry those bars just look like crap as far as appearance goes they take an otherwise fine looking sport touring motorcycle and turn it into a caricature of it's former handsome self.
They remind me of how rediculous the ape hanger bars look on the cruiser bikes.
They stick up so high it's a wonder you can see the instrument panel.
They remind me of the stupid looking windshields as big as barn doors you see on some Goldwings.
Heli Horizon Adjustable bars, the new ape hangers for STs. :
I will grant you the desire to want to ride a bit longer and in more comfort. But I'm sorry those bars just look like crap as far as appearance goes they take an otherwise fine looking sport touring motorcycle and turn it into a caricature of it's former handsome self.
They remind me of how rediculous the ape hanger bars look on the cruiser bikes.
They stick up so high it's a wonder you can see the instrument panel.
They remind me of the stupid looking windshields as big as barn doors you see on some Goldwings.
Heli Horizon Adjustable bars, the new ape hangers for STs.
:Yea, Im not real crazy about the Hydraulic line extensions. I too think I would rather have new one piece lines. Not crazy about the extra banjo fitting and bleader valve. I think the extensions make install much easier than replacing the lines would have been. I assume thats the main reason for the extensions. I wonder if it would make since to get an extra set of line extensions just in case one goes bad down the line. How easy will it be to get replacements a few yrs down the road. I assume they were custom made.
Maybe a little plastic is required to hide them...kind of like the PC and ST1100 bar covers?
View attachment 113938
View attachment 113938
Blue One -
Actually the new Horizon Bars don't look that bad when you look at them in person. They can be adjusted in a multitude of positions and can be adjusted even lower than the stock bars. I wouldn't have bought them if the Honda stock bars were more adjustable (like the K1200GT). I've owned many bikes over the years (Harley, Victory, Hondas, BMWs, Suzuki, Kawasaki, BSA, Norton, even a Chushman and Vespa) and I really have come to appreciate the ST for it's value, maintanence and reliability.
That being said, I am at the point in life where if I want to continue enjoying sport-touring then mods must be made to the bike ..... not to me .... that's even more expensive! I've seen over the years it's not how the bike fits that counts, it's how it looks. Look how many Harleys you see riding around that don't actually accumulate 2,000 miles per year. The hype of being a different soul and wanderer has certainly been lost to that genre!
When sitting on the bike there is no obstruction to the instrument panel, when I took the side view picture of the bike I had the windshield to it's highest position in order to work in that area. With the windshield down the bike still looks stream-lined. As far as ape hangers ... again look at a bike that has a set installed. The bottom line - it is different but it works for people like me that want a bike to fit them regardless of the looks. After all, isn't the ride that really counts?
Old Vic
Actually the new Horizon Bars don't look that bad when you look at them in person. They can be adjusted in a multitude of positions and can be adjusted even lower than the stock bars. I wouldn't have bought them if the Honda stock bars were more adjustable (like the K1200GT). I've owned many bikes over the years (Harley, Victory, Hondas, BMWs, Suzuki, Kawasaki, BSA, Norton, even a Chushman and Vespa) and I really have come to appreciate the ST for it's value, maintanence and reliability.
That being said, I am at the point in life where if I want to continue enjoying sport-touring then mods must be made to the bike ..... not to me .... that's even more expensive! I've seen over the years it's not how the bike fits that counts, it's how it looks. Look how many Harleys you see riding around that don't actually accumulate 2,000 miles per year. The hype of being a different soul and wanderer has certainly been lost to that genre!
When sitting on the bike there is no obstruction to the instrument panel, when I took the side view picture of the bike I had the windshield to it's highest position in order to work in that area. With the windshield down the bike still looks stream-lined. As far as ape hangers ... again look at a bike that has a set installed. The bottom line - it is different but it works for people like me that want a bike to fit them regardless of the looks. After all, isn't the ride that really counts?
Old Vic
I'm with llbaker2 and Old Vic.
Blue One, just don't buy them if you don't like them. It's very simple. there is no need to
insult the bars if they help others ride a bike they love. what's your point?
I'm firmly on the tourer side of sport/touring. Like Joe, I don't push the bike hard enough to worry about a small change in hard-corner handling that might occur with the Horizon bars.
I love the ST, especially the range, reliability, and tip-over protection. I looked at lot of other bikes before I bought the ST.
I've ridden over 60K miles on mine, including trips to Alaska and Maine, from Florida. The bike was not made for a short guy with short arms. None of the sport-tourers are. Most sport-tourers are not made for middle-aged or older guys. I think the Horizon bars are the answer. They may look a little funky, but have you ever looked at some of the IBR rally bikes? By the time people have put fuel cells, electronics, and everything else on them, they look a bit funky too. But who cares, people modify their bikes for a purpose.
Blue One, do you buy shoes that are functional and comfortable, or just ones that look cool? Russell seats look a bit odd too, and you can't really slide from side to side on them like you can on the stock seat so I guess you could say that the seat affects the function of the bike on hard cornering. But the seat will let you put in thousand mile days in reasonable comfort. Do you put those down too because you don't like the way they look?
The Horizon bars are a lot cheaper than a new bike that may not have the other sterling qualities if the ST.
I'm not sure why you seem to be trying to talk people out of purchasing them.
Live and let live.
Blue One, just don't buy them if you don't like them. It's very simple. there is no need to
insult the bars if they help others ride a bike they love. what's your point?
I'm firmly on the tourer side of sport/touring. Like Joe, I don't push the bike hard enough to worry about a small change in hard-corner handling that might occur with the Horizon bars.
I love the ST, especially the range, reliability, and tip-over protection. I looked at lot of other bikes before I bought the ST.
I've ridden over 60K miles on mine, including trips to Alaska and Maine, from Florida. The bike was not made for a short guy with short arms. None of the sport-tourers are. Most sport-tourers are not made for middle-aged or older guys. I think the Horizon bars are the answer. They may look a little funky, but have you ever looked at some of the IBR rally bikes? By the time people have put fuel cells, electronics, and everything else on them, they look a bit funky too. But who cares, people modify their bikes for a purpose.
Blue One, do you buy shoes that are functional and comfortable, or just ones that look cool? Russell seats look a bit odd too, and you can't really slide from side to side on them like you can on the stock seat so I guess you could say that the seat affects the function of the bike on hard cornering. But the seat will let you put in thousand mile days in reasonable comfort. Do you put those down too because you don't like the way they look?
The Horizon bars are a lot cheaper than a new bike that may not have the other sterling qualities if the ST.
I'm not sure why you seem to be trying to talk people out of purchasing them.
Live and let live.
Flame me if you want I can take it.
But I'm sorry those bars just look like crap as far as appearance goes they take an otherwise fine looking sport touring motorcycle and turn it into a caricature of it's former handsome self.
They remind me of how rediculous the ape hanger bars look on the cruiser bikes.
They stick up so high it's a wonder you can see the instrument panel.
They remind me of the stupid looking windshields as big as barn doors you see on some Goldwings.
Heli Horizon Adjustable bars, the new ape hangers for STs.
Man you are one opinionated dude. You need to expand your Horizons (pun intended) a little. We all have different wants and desires. That's what makes life interesting. What works for me may not work for you and thats fine and dandy. We are not all peg draggers. Some like to relax an soak in our surroundings.
Blue One
Vendor
- Joined
- Mar 19, 2008
- Messages
- 437
- Age
- 70
- Location
- Canada (Edmonton Alberta) - Texas
- Bike
- 04 ABS ST1300
:crackup
I have my own thread and discussion going on these bars and risers in general so I won't muck this one up further.
I have my own thread and discussion going on these bars and risers in general so I won't muck this one up further.