Hi guys, I'm busy beavering away on bike and one main thing I wanted to do was change the original bars to the higher k100 ones from 1988 onwards so the riding position is more relaxed and comfortable. Anyway picked up some bars from a 1988 model and fitted them but I'm amazed at how much they seem to flex and move compared to the shorter ones. Am I missing something or can other owners of 1988 onwards bikes please confirm that they have a good bit of flex and rocking? Thanks in advance.

the bar mounts through the top triple clamps are rubber mounted

so with more leverage could well move noticeably more ?  plus the extra length involved would add to the  illusion

I guess you mean lt-rt bars

but look out for the bottom bolts and retaining washers braking off , through the rubber sections ...there have been some seen to have been massively corroded , and breaking or even just lost nuts off the through bolt .

hope that helps

Hi, if you want firmer feeling use uper triple clamp without rubber, from K 75. I did it on my bike and feel much better that way

Any chance you can throw up the last 7 digits from your VIN so we can see what you're working on? Cheers

Yes, no worries. I'm working on a 1983 k100 basic 0003361. It was manufactured in week 43 of 1983, I was 11 years old!

I think without a decent windshield , the RT handlebars are not a good idea. You'll find the wind resistance impossible to manage over anything but a short ride. You'd be better to install handlebar risers instead and use the standard bars that came on the bike. Read this recent post.
https://www.k100-forum.com/t12087-handlebar-risers#144380

Holister wrote:I think without a decent windshield , the RT handlebars are not a good idea. You'll find the wind resistance impossible to manage over anything but a short ride.

I ride a naked K75 and agree with Holister and also Duane Auscherman in his essay on handlebars. A forward position on a naked bike allows a cushion of air to build against the chest for body support, but preference is always a personal issue. High-speed, long-haul riding is a workout without a fairing or windshield, that's for certain.

Here is an interesting gizmo related to riding position.

Thanks again for all the replies above guys, I really appreciate it.  Yes the bike is naked at the moment but i'm putting a Sedcam screen on it and also wanted the higher bars so it's nice and comfy for touring on.  Never been that big a naked bike fan, had a Kawasaki gt550 and once you got over 60 you hung on for dear life and always end up tired in the arms from gripping the bars to hard!

I like the naked bike as it is a bit lighter than all the fairing and removes a lot of heat issues from engine etc.  I have just bought some of the bar risers now off ebay so I shall ride it with them on first, then swap to the higher 1988 bars and see what I think.