"A Riser Alternative"

[VulcanE]

I'm a pretty good size fellow, 6'2" tall with a 7'2" arm-span, and the stock bars were pretty comfortable for me. One day I thought that if my grips were about 2~3 inches closer to me, and at the same height and angle, that it might just be a little more comfortable, especially on long rides. I thought about risers, but with the type of stereo head unit I have (non-marine) I have to use a marine bubble cover when it rains to keep it dry. I use a USB thumb drive to store my music on, and when it's sticking out of the stereo, I have to leave the bubble cover open, and I couldn't do that if I had risers. So I started researching handlebars. One day I went into my local Kawi dealer, and there sat a 1700 Nomad. I was checking it out, and when I sat on it, the bars were where I wished mine would be. I went home and got a tape measure and yard-stick, and went back and measured the bars. I ordered the bar then, and the parts manager said that I could always return it, if I didn't like the new set-up. MSRP is around $140 for the 1700 handle bars, but I always get a discount when I order from him (nice to have friends in high places ) and got them, tax and all for $118.
Mounted the new bars, and my hands are at the same angle, height and width, but about 3 inches closer. No clearance issues with the tank. All the "locater holes, and strap holes just happened to be in the right places. The only thing that's not perfect about the fit, is that where the bar mounts in the stock risers, the 1700 is 1/2" wider than the 1600, so there is 1/4" of knurl showing on each side outside of my stock risers.

Some Kawasaki part numbers for handlebars
1500 FIs- 46003-1544
1600s ('05-"08)- 46003-0074
All model 1700s- 46003-0183

Here's a few photos comparing the 2 handle bars........


Handlebar angle rise, one on the left is the 1700, there is a 3" rise.....



Another photo looking straight down, one on the top is the 1700..........



This photo shows the center rise difference (2 5/8"), taller one is the 1700...



This one shows the knurl on the stock risers..............




When mounted, you can pivot the bar down, back toward you, and it will give the 3" closer to you grips. Elevation over the tank is the same as the stock bar, so the clearance of my flip-a-lever is still the same, just further back.
I hope this may help someone, I find it to be much better than stock, and I don't mind that little bit of knurl showing, besides, when my bubble cover is open (and is almost always), you can't see it.

Ride safe everybody,
Cliff