Are bar risers or high bend handlebars on a dirt motorbike evil?
Some tall riders say it's the only way they can fit on enduro motorbikes that
are designed for midgets, while others say handlebar risers will
ruin your motorbike's handling, give you cancer and shrink your genitals.
And of course high bendhandle bars tend to fall into this category too.
This handlebar riser topic has long interested me, as I'm six foot four or 194cm.
For years I was a lazy enduro rider and mainly sat on the motorbike,
but the past two years I've been standing most of the time.
I used to get a back ache so fitted handlebar risers to all my dirt motorbikes, but when we
did our coaching with Chris Birch last year, he recommended we take the handlebar risers off.
I said surely tall freaks of nature like me still need handlebar risers or high bend handlebars?
But Chris Birch said top riders like David Knight never use them.
In fact when Birchy met him, the first thing David
said was 'Get those damned handlebar risers off your motorbike mate'.
Why? Birchy said handlebar risers are a common mistake by inexperienced riders
because they aren't standing on the motorbike properly.
You should be in this position because it lowers your centre of gravity, lets your
legs absorb bumps, and your arms are also bent to absorb impacts and control the motorbike better.
Birchy also said it's important to keep your legs bent and body weight low for wheelies as well...
and that was his constant theme.
Stay in that crouched position, keep your centre of gravity low at all times.
Birchy also said low handlebars also help to keep your weight low and to the rear of the
motorbike for more advanced techniques, especially when getting over obstacles.
Bar risers or high bend handlebars can also work against you in hill climbs where you
need to keep your body weight low, and go forward for the steepest parts of a climb.
After a bit of googling around, I found comments from other riders too who said
that as you raise the handlebars, the handling of your motorbike does change for the worse,
saying the steering usually becomes twitchy,
you are less able to get your body weight over the front of the motorbike for tight corners,
and raising the handlebars usually pushes them closer to you which isn't good for taller riders.
So what was my experience?
Birchy suggested I not use handlebar
risers or high bend handlebars for a while and see what effect it had.
At first this was very uncomfortable... as
mentioned I'm very tall so I was using the Rox pivoting two inch risers.
But within a few rides I had adapted and
did notice the motorbike was a bit less twitchy at speed.
I couldn't notice any other immediate effects, but knowing how important a
low centre of gravity is I am sure there were benefits from being lower on the motorbike.
The problem?
My quad muscles were working a lot harder to maintain that lower body positioning.
I started some jogging which helped to some extent, but eventually figured
that the two days of creaky arthritic knees and sore muscles wasn't worth it.
If I was in my forties or younger I would definitely avoid the handlebar
risers or high bend handlebars, but I figure there is nothing
wrong with letting comfort become a bigger issue in your mid fifties.
So I've slapped the Rox pivoting handlebar risers back on and the
legs feel much better during and after the rides.
Yes the steering has become a bit twitchy at speed, but I don't ride
fast usually so that's a relatively minor issue.
If you are a tall rider, I suggest work on your body positioning first.
If your quad muscles ache, then just exercise more.
Remember too, you can Fastway footpegs to drop your pegs down and to the rear
which helps give you more room on the motorbike.
If you still don't feel comfortable,
then get some handlebar risers or high bend handlebars and experiment with them.
I have immense respect for all those top riders, but remember they are also exceptionally fit,
and need every benefit to maximise their technique.
Then there are us gumbies who still like a bit of comfort and aren't out to win any championships.
Anyone got further comments? I'll add them in here.