What kind of risers?

[ninni]

I went on my very first overnight motorcycle ride this past weekend to celebrate my 63rd birthday. I had never ridden farther than 100 miles in a day before. I absolutely LOVED it except by the time we reached our destination (about 175 miles) I had such a severe pain (ache) in my right shoulder that I didn't think I could go one more mile. I ride a 2008 V Star 1100 Silverado. Does anyone out there have an idea which risers would work for that model bike? I noticed if I scooted up on the seat as far as I could it was more comfortable---not for my legs and butt but for my shoulders. I want to be able to do more longer distance riding but don't want to feel that discomfort ever again. I know I have some arthritis in my neck and back and usually take ibuprofen before rides but do you think pullback risers would help? I don't want to change my cables.

[CieBme]

ninni,

pullback risers sound like exactly what you need. My first big ride (about four years ago) gave me so much pain after an hour, I thought I was relegated to around town jaunts. got the ShowChrome Round Risers and installed. Didn't fix everything for me, but it was a start. Had to add the clutch adjustment kit (about $20) to get the friction zone (clutch lever) closer to the grip. I didn't need to change out the cables - but I still want to go steel braid one day ... I think mine are 4" w/ 3/4" pullback. If I could have gotten them to be 4" up and 1- 1.25" back, that may have been better. I rolled the bars back & down slightly, and eased out the tension in the cables. Good to go now.


The Show Chrome Round Risers are side-by-side to the stock V* riser.


stock riser on Li'l Man


Show Chrome Round Riser installed

I should take a pix from same angle as stock ... if I get that done, I'll post later.

Two person job, but you can do it.

[Me&MyShadow]

I have those too! I just love them on Red. They are so sharp, but, like you Cie, I would have liked for them to be 1 1/2" back.

[ninni]

Thanks Cie, your pictures are great and helpful. My stock risers are all one piece---would that make a difference? I should post a pic---I'll try to do that.

[ninni]

Here is a pic of mine now

SSCN1524.JPG (25.11 KiB) Viewed 278 times

[CieBme]

ninni,

Yours are two piece w/ lg bolts going down into the triple tree (?? the thingie that holds the forks and all) the same as mine ... if you look at them carefully, and the ones in my pictures, you'll see a slight seam cutting through the middle of the top (my new ones have two seams) - and it goes right through the round holes for the handlebars. Your bolts (screws, bolts, whatever them thingies are), should be holding just the angled cap. When you loosen the bolts going straight down in the tops, it will separate the cap (yours has a hole drilled in it, mine has a hidden hex head screw, then the dome comes off, and it exposes the same kinda bolt like yours. When you take off the cap, the handlebar will be exposed and you just pull that up and off. We used a large, super thick towel to hold the handlebar on the tank while we did the rest of the work. After you have the handlebar off (all cables are still connected), you start unscrewing the nuts on the bottom of the triple tree (or unscrew the risers - I can't honestly remember - I didn't do as good a job of photo journaling as I should have) ... and then the bottom part of the riser comes up and out of the triple tree.

My memory may not be 100% right on the steps (certainly no good on what the parts are called), but I do remember there was a little play in the angle we could set the handlebars at after installing the new risers, and it still kept the cables from being in a bind. Be careful of rolling the handlebars down or up too much though w/o some yard practice. Too far either way will change your lever reach.

Most places (J&P Cycle, Cruiser Customizing, etc.) will have fitment charts to help you figure which riser set fits your make/model. Make sure you get "pullback risers" instead of just "risers". The pullback will be what gets the grips closer to you. The riser is what relieves a lot of shoulder pressure. Most women need both.

[SFW]

Right Cie!!
What she's got is just a cover for them.

[ninni]

Thanks Cie and all----I am pretty clueless about all this so your thorough explanation has been helpful. I still don't know which ones to order but I have a better idea what to look for.

[SFW]

Be careful as some will require rewiring...clutch cable and speedo cables...I found from Scootworks or PHAT that I did not need to rewire with the one I got. It raised it and pulled it back. I wanted more than 1". On the websites you can select by bike.

[PIPEDRMZ]

Be careful as some will require rewiring...clutch cable and speedo cables...I found from Scootworks or PHAT that I did not need to rewire with the one I got. It raised it and pulled it back. I wanted more than 1". On the websites you can select by bike.

You're right SFW - I just bought the Baron 4 inch riser 1 1/2 inch pull back and discovered I will need a couple of new cables so I'm having the dealership do it. Of course, it's going to cost a bunch of money but I feel it's too important to have all that stuff done right so I'm going to hold my breath and pay through the nose. At least this way I'll know the installation was done correctly and I can just ride without doubts.

[Blacktop]

My bike was cheaper to buy new mini apes,without new cables or at least that's what DH thought

[PIPEDRMZ]

My bike was cheaper to buy new mini apes,without new cables or at least that's what DH thought

I didn't figure all this out until after I bought the risers so now I must commit and move forward. I'm sure I'll be glad once it's done and I no longer have muscle pain after a long ride. Well see!

[SFW]

Be careful as some will require rewiring...clutch cable and speedo cables...I found from Scootworks or PHAT that I did not need to rewire with the one I got. It raised it and pulled it back. I wanted more than 1". On the websites you can select by bike.

You're right SFW - I just bought the Baron 4 inch riser 1 1/2 inch pull back and discovered I will need a couple of new cables so I'm having the dealership do it. Of course, it's going to cost a bunch of money but I feel it's too important to have all that stuff done right so I'm going to hold my breath and pay through the nose. At least this way I'll know the installation was done correctly and I can just ride without doubts.

Yay I finally have a purpose in life.....
to share what I've learned!!

Took a MC to get there!!

I remember mine were 2" rise and 1 1/2 pull back...I did a lot of research....the "blue" in my emergenetics profile can do some good for me!

[PIPEDRMZ]

Be careful as some will require rewiring...clutch cable and speedo cables...I found from Scootworks or PHAT that I did not need to rewire with the one I got. It raised it and pulled it back. I wanted more than 1". On the websites you can select by bike.

You're right SFW - I just bought the Baron 4 inch riser 1 1/2 inch pull back and discovered I will need a couple of new cables so I'm having the dealership do it. Of course, it's going to cost a bunch of money but I feel it's too important to have all that stuff done right so I'm going to hold my breath and pay through the nose. At least this way I'll know the installation was done correctly and I can just ride without doubts.

Yay I finally have a purpose in life.....
to share what I've learned!!

Took a MC to get there!!

I remember mine were 2" rise and 1 1/2 pull back...I did a lot of research....the "blue" in my emergenetics profile can do some good for me!

You know, I thought I had done my research and did select the one for my bike but they don't guarantee not having to replace the cables. I think a 2" rise makes way more sense but I don't remember seeing it on that long list of different stuff you can buy. Now it's too late, I just hope after it's all said and done the darn thing works well for me. I'm taking my bike in tomorrow night so once I get it back I'll let you know how it all turned out.

[ninni]

Does anyone have any experience with ROX pivoting risers. My mechanic is recommending them. They attach directly to the stock riser---anybody seen them?

[Condor]

Well I lost my post while getting a pic of my Phatt Risers. I chose a set that would give me pull back without rise, and I wouldn't need to change the cables. Unfortunately they got a bit corroded along with everything else on the bike after a disastrous winter storage. I installed them myself, and if you have any mechanical ability at all you can too.
That green jelly like stuff on them, was cleaned off. Not sure I have a better pic, but will look for one.

[PIPEDRMZ]

Be careful as some will require rewiring...clutch cable and speedo cables...I found from Scootworks or PHAT that I did not need to rewire with the one I got. It raised it and pulled it back. I wanted more than 1". On the websites you can select by bike.

You're right SFW - I just bought the Baron 4 inch riser 1 1/2 inch pull back and discovered I will need a couple of new cables so I'm having the dealership do it. Of course, it's going to cost a bunch of money but I feel it's too important to have all that stuff done right so I'm going to hold my breath and pay through the nose. At least this way I'll know the installation was done correctly and I can just ride without doubts.

Okay - I got my bike back from the dealership after they installed the risers. First, they ended up not needing new cables which was good news but the mechanic had to pull off my tank and re work the existing cables so that they were right for the new risers. Of course, that took a lot of time so after it was all said and done the installation cost me - are you ready? $222.00 Darn, that's more than what I paid for those lousy risers. Anyway I rode my bike yesterday and the risers are terrific! I'm so glad I got them I just wished it didn't have to cost me sooo much money! My S.O. said it was worth the price - now I know it's done right and I can just ride, relax and enjoy - besides you can't take it with you.

[CieBme]

Pipe, just think of all those drops and doubting yourself that you're avoiding! I'd say a whole pile of our lack of confidence and sketchy skills comes more from improper fit than anything. At least it was with me. It took three separate things - spaced too far in between - to get my bike where I needed it. I think having those cables properly run will save you having issues with them later on, and you know for a fact it is done right. and make sure you tighten the tops of the risers down after a bit (50 miles? 100 miles?). I don't know what the rule of thumb for that is, hours or miles, but I know they will need a little bit of tightening. Handlebars should be checked periodically anyway ... new risers just gives another reason.

[PIPEDRMZ]

Pipe, just think of all those drops and doubting yourself that you're avoiding! I'd say a whole pile of our lack of confidence and sketchy skills comes more from improper fit than anything. At least it was with me. It took three separate things - spaced too far in between - to get my bike where I needed it. I think having those cables properly run will save you having issues with them later on, and you know for a fact it is done right. and make sure you tighten the tops of the risers down after a bit (50 miles? 100 miles?). I don't know what the rule of thumb for that is, hours or miles, but I know they will need a little bit of tightening. Handlebars should be checked periodically anyway ... new risers just gives another reason.

CieBme, you're right and I know what you mean. I haven't dropped this bike but after a long ride I would experience some shoulder and upper back pain which lead me to believe the risers were necessary. They really are great and I feel completely different when I ride now - it amazing that such a small thing can make such a big difference. Okay - I'll stop wining about the money for the installation! I did make some minor position adjustments to the handle bars, mirrors etc... that the mechanic had moved and wasn't exactly in the right place for me. Thank you for the tip regarding having to tighten the bars periodically - I'll make sure to do that every now and then!