Protaper bars: Are they worth it ?
Don Scurlock
At 6'3"/185 I'm finding my 98 xr250r feels a lot smaller than it did sitting
on it in the showroom. I need bars that are higher with less pull back and
with some major shock absorbing capability. I'm told Protapers absorb the
most shock, but after buying the adapter clamp they are almost three times
the price of Renthals or Alumilites. I also hear that Protapers DON'T bend,
so is there a greater risk of bending the top triple clamp instead in a hard
get off, and spending even more for repairs than a new pair of bars.
Any comments much appreciated, thanks.
Don Scurlock
Vancouver, B.C.
98 XR250R
86 VFR750
92 TDM850
Abowat
at 6'2' my stock 86 xr250 was making me bend way down and over the front of
the bike when standing. felt very unbalanced! surprisingly after several years
i turned the bars up slightly figuring a little adjustment was better than
nothing. this made a huge difference in comfort and feel sitting and standing.
did the same thing on new xr650l with even better results. be sure to align
the brake and clutch levers up a little to maintain original alignment. also
if you go with the pro tapers and you want to put on handguards they take
different attachment bolts due to different i.d. than stock bars.
VisionxOrb
I like renthals best, they are not easy to bend at all
MX Tuner
>I like renthals best, they are not easy to bend at all
No but they DO bend much easier than Por-Tapers.
MX Tuner
Rick Evans
Don,
I have a 95 CR250, after looping it playing wheeling king, I needed to
replace my Renthals. With the Renthals my bike would give me a serious case
of the arm pumps. After installing the Pro-Tapers with an applied triple
clamp the arm pump was reduced. I would recommend spending the extra money
and getting a new triple clamp. The adapter setup looks a little unstable
for me.
Since, Installing my ProTapers I have had a couple of exciting get-offs
with no ill affect on the bars. Can't say much for the grips! The bars come
in short, medium and tall bends. I like the mediums.
Rick Evans
95 CR250 #85
Matt Pavlich
On Wed, 20 May 1998 16:57:14 GMT, ajh...@istar.ca (Don Scurlock)
wrote:
> I'm told Protapers absorb the
>most shock, but after buying the adapter clamp they are almost three times
>the price of Renthals or Alumilites.
I ride a 96CR500 and am a pretty big boy 6'1" and 195lbs. I've got
Renthals and I love 'em. However, they do bend in extreme get offs.
(I'm on my 2nd pair this year.) If you're gonna keep you bike for a
couple of seasons, get the Pro Tapers, they'll save you money in the
long run. Or you could just never crash....
OldFart
In article <6k20pk$m...@bgtnsc03.worldnet.att.net>, RIVR...@aol.com (Matt Pavlich) wrote:
>On Wed, 20 May 1998 16:57:14 GMT, ajh...@istar.ca (Don Scurlock)
>wrote:
>
>> I'm told Protapers absorb the
>>most shock, but after buying the adapter clamp they are almost three times
>>the price of Renthals or Alumilites.
>
Pro Tapers are worth every penny if you have em, your buddy doesnt, your buddy
wants em real bad.
OldFart
Home Page and RMD Photo Album www.off-road.com/~oldfart
maico...@juno.com
>---=== Posted via: Off-Road.com * http://www.off-road.com ===---<
Old Fart likes Protapers because he doubled the value of his bike just
by installing a set. ;^>
Happy Trails
MACE
djo...@cyberhighway.nospam.net
Shoot, he did that as soon as he changed the oil and filled up the gas
tank, didn't he?
DJ
Email: djo...@cyberhighway.net
Home of the "The Very Unofficial RMD Page"
Now with Loads-O-Links: http://www.cyberhighway.net/~djones/
Coming soon to a monitor near you:
"The Very Unofficial 1998 Idaho SpudFest Page"
OldFart
In article <3565c...@rubicon.off-road.com>, maico...@juno.com wrote:
>>---=== Posted via: Off-Road.com * http://www.off-road.com ===---<
>
>Old Fart likes Protapers because he doubled the value of his bike just
>by installing a set. ;^>
>
>Happy Trails
>MACE
>
handlebar system on a $600 dirt bike.
OldFart
www.off-road.com/dirtbike/ofcol0598.html
www.off-road.com/~oldfart
OldFart
In article <3569e32f...@news.cyberhighway.net>, djo...@cyberhighway.nospam.net wrote:
For the life of me I cannot understand why everyone picks on ME. I'm just a
nice guy who minds my own business.
>On 22 May 98 18:53:20 GMT, maico...@juno.com wrote:
>
>>>---=== Posted via: Off-Road.com * http://www.off-road.com ===---<
>>
>>Old Fart likes Protapers because he doubled the value of his bike just
>>by installing a set. ;^>
>>
>>Happy Trails
>>MACE
>>
>
>Shoot, he did that as soon as he changed the oil and filled up the gas
>tank, didn't he?
>
>DJ
>Email: djo...@cyberhighway.net
>Home of the "The Very Unofficial RMD Page"
>Now with Loads-O-Links: http://www.cyberhighway.net/~djones/
>
>Coming soon to a monitor near you:
>"The Very Unofficial 1998 Idaho SpudFest Page"
>
OldFart
www.off-road.com/dirtbike/ofcol0598.html
www.off-road.com/~oldfart
JWillm600
<The biggest thing wrong with America is that most people won't <put a $150
<handlebar system on a $600 dirt bike.
and a close second is the 15 year old kids shooting each other at school
maico...@juno.com
>---=== Posted via: Off-Road.com * http://www.off-road.com ===---<
old...@off-road.com (OldFart) wrote:
>For the life of me I cannot understand why everyone picks on ME.
Mike,
You know what really hurts - when you spend $6500 on your new bike and
the guy you sold your old bike to whips you every ride. There is a
well known phenomenon in Mountain Bike circles that only the fattest
- slowest guys have the really trick bikes. I had to give up mountain
biking because while I had a high capacity gas tank, my engine lacked
top end overrev capability.
Happy Trails
MACE
Geevax Ltd - Rob Andrews
____________________________________________________
OldFart wrote in message <6k27tg$k...@nntp02.primenet.com>...
>Pro Tapers are worth every penny
__________________________________________________
Come on guys. This is a pair of handlebars we're talking about here. I
feel you've all been sucked into the Pro-taper hype.
If they dont bend then that is good, but shock-absorbing capabilities?
Anti-vibration? Greater controlled flex?
Come on. Do you really think that the Answer bars flex in such a way that
it will be a) noticeable and b) honestly make a difference to your riding?
If someone told you that flex was bad and stiffness was good (remember the
USD fork sales pitch) then you would all be going out and buying the most
solid 'bars you could find.
It's advertising, boys.
Rob
OldFart
In article <896446941.3896.0...@news.demon.co.uk>, "Geevax Ltd - Rob Andrews" <randrew...@geevax.com> wrote:
>____________________________________________________
>OldFart wrote in message <6k27tg$k...@nntp02.primenet.com>...
>
>>Pro Tapers are worth every penny
>__________________________________________________
>
>Come on guys. This is a pair of handlebars we're talking about here. I
>feel you've all been sucked into the Pro-taper hype.
You are wrong.
>
>If they dont bend then that is good, but shock-absorbing capabilities?
>Anti-vibration? Greater controlled flex?
Yes, Yes, Yes
>
>Come on. Do you really think that the Answer bars flex in such a way that
>it will be a) noticeable and b) honestly make a difference to your riding?
a)Yes b)yes
>
>If someone told you that flex was bad and stiffness was good (remember the
>USD fork sales pitch) then you would all be going out and buying the most
>solid 'bars you could find.
I would probably try them and find that they did not work for me.
I have tried ProTaper and other similar bars. The feel better.
>
>It's advertising, boys.
You don't know what you are talking about. If you don't want them, then don't
buy them. I bought them with my very own money and like them and don't feel
anyone has a right to question how I spend my money.
Old Just Got Off Of Another Long Night Of Work And Feeling Shitty Fart
OldFart
www.off-road.com/dirtbike/ofcol0598.html
www.off-road.com/~oldfart
Corny
Obviously he has never ridden a bike with pro-tapers. For as fast as you
go through cheesy steal bars or some other aluminum bars. Pro-tapers are
worth every penny. Plus when my friend installed them onto his CR 125... the
bike lost all vibration into the bars, and normally he would have renthals
tweaked right now.. but his pro-tapers (couple months old, many hard crashes
later) are still perfectly straight.
That person feels pro-tapers are equal to other bars because he hasn't
taken his bike off the bucket yet :)
--
Later!
Corny
Email: YZc...@crash.interwan.net
Remove YZ to reply.
92 YZ 250
89 XR 250
OldFart wrote in message <6kmd34$6...@nntp02.primenet.com>...
Patrick Riley
Geevax Ltd - Rob Andrews wrote:
>
> ____________________________________________________
> OldFart wrote in message <6k27tg$k...@nntp02.primenet.com>...
>
> >Pro Tapers are worth every penny
> __________________________________________________
>
> Come on guys. This is a pair of handlebars we're talking about here. I
> feel you've all been sucked into the Pro-taper hype.
>
> Anti-vibration? Greater controlled flex?
>
> it will be a) noticeable and b) honestly make a difference to your riding?
>
> USD fork sales pitch) then you would all be going out and buying the most
> solid 'bars you could find.
>
>
> Rob
I hate to tell you... but many riders do report a very noticable
difference. The Pro-Taper bars don't seem to transmit as much vibration
to the hands. Plus, they are definitely very strong. Great
combination.
Pat Riley
Bruce Buhr
I have had the same set of Protapers on my bikes since '94 and haven't bent
them yet and have had many hard crashes. I am a believer in these bars!!
The feel is incredible and they are strong! I think they are worth every
dime!
OldFart
In article <HyAb1.104$Bw6.5...@proxye1.nycap.rr.com>, "Corny" <YZc...@crash.interwan.net> wrote:
Sorry for my previous crappy post on this subject. I shouldn't come home after
a crappy night of work and post replies.
OldFart
www.off-road.com/dirtbike/ofcol0598.html
www.off-road.com/~oldfart
Darcy Brockbank
"Corny" <YZc...@crash.interwan.net> writes:
>
> Obviously he has never ridden a bike with pro-tapers. For as fast as you
> go through cheesy steal bars or some other aluminum bars. Pro-tapers are
> worth every penny. Plus when my friend installed them onto his CR 125... the
> bike lost all vibration into the bars, and normally he would have renthals
> tweaked right now.. but his pro-tapers (couple months old, many hard crashes
> later) are still perfectly straight.
> That person feels pro-tapers are equal to other bars because he hasn't
> taken his bike off the bucket yet :)
I'd agree that perhaps different models will have different resistance
to wear and damage, but if Pro Taper has got some magic ability to
absorb all vibration, then they should make a full bike out of the magic
stuff and we'd all be happy :-).
Really though, vibration is being transmitted to the bars from the
mounts. Where they attach to the mounts, they are vibrating. If no
vibration is felt at the hands, this can only imply that the metal is
flexing to the exact frequency of the vibration at the mount.
Thing is, the bars have their own natural resonant frequency, and as the
engine's RPM changed, they'd not be able to stay in this perfect damping
state. Hence, even if they could be in that perfect damping state, they
would come in and out as the RPM changed.
Probably the best way to avoid sending vibration into the bars would
be to absorb it at the mounts. This would imply mounting on some
kind of soft material though.
I suppose there's a couple high tech ways of damping vibration of the
bars inside them, but it seems to me like this could only stop their
natural frequency vibration. The other vibration is just stuff they're
transmitting from the engine, so again, the "lack of vibration" would
imply perfectly synchronized vibration with the frame, if indeed that's
where the source of the vibration was.
Whew.
If you like it, go with it though! If it makes you feel better, you will
ride better, no matter what the science says one way or another.
Others are entitled to their skepticism :-). There was a good editorial
in Dirt Bike a couple months ago about mentality... some guy was
borrowing a bike about which he had complained that the suspension was
harsh and unridable. The owner of the bike talked in depth about the
suspension tuning the bike had been through, and how it was a totally
different bike now, and the rider got on, rode it, and complimented the
brand new wonderful suspension (which of course hadn't changed at all,
but this was all just BS being dumped on the poor guy).
- darcy
--
"All riiight. Flaaame on! Ow ow ow ow ow! Flame off! Flame off!" - Dexter
Subscribe to the Kawasaki owner's mailing list by sending email to
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the message. [Ob.Motorcycle.List.98.Ducati.Monster.900.97.Stroker.KLX.331]
Corny
Lack of vibration going to the hands is one reason people use Pro-tapers..
but people use them because they do not bend/tweak when you fall. You say
we purchase these expensive bars because of all the fake propaganda, so be
it.. You ever ride with a steel bar? It is horrible... With my XR, I had
some cheezy steel bar on there when I got it.. I went over a log and
crashed.. I tweaked the bar a good 3 inches into the tank.. so I bought a
pair of renthals for it... I have crashed worse then that and still havn't
tweaked the bars yet.
I also capped a 30 foot table top with a friends KX which he has
Pro-tapers on... Broke my thumb, his clutch lever and perch and ripped his
grip off, bars didn't even bend. Thats all I need to make me understand
that pro-tapers are a far superior bar.
I might just put pro-tapers on my YZ, but I only bent 1 pair of renthals,
so I am happy with renthals. Like I said before. My friends stock bars
lasted him 1 ride, his renthals lasted him 1 month, he is now on pro-tapers
for 2 months and he loves them.
--
Later!
Corny
Email: YZc...@crash.interwan.net
Remove YZ to reply.
92 YZ 250
89 XR 250
Darcy Brockbank wrote in message ...
John Duffy
Rob - Try this simple test and then decide.
Hold onto your throttle side grip lightly with one hand. Have someone tap on
the clutch side of the bars with a hammer. Not hard, just enough to set up a
little vibration. You will feel each and every tap completely.
Now try it with Pro Tapers. You will feel nothing. Then decide if Pro-Tapers
reduce vibration.
John Duffy
Alevelrdr
You folks who think protapers are a gimmick I one again submit this
testimonial. I have NOT bent mine in nine rides. The record last year for
Renthals (Then ones made in GB not China) was two rides.
I'm no engineer of orbital mechanics but I can cipher pretty good. The
Protapers have paid for themselves and the mounts.
Harvey -
WLAboyz
I must not be riding hard enough, I haven't bent stock bars yet!
also I've never broken a bone while riding (knock on wood)
Oh I forgot to mention:
1: I don't do triples
2: I don't do doubles
3: I try not to catch alot of air
I'm just one of those guys that likes to ride and ride and ride!
and still get back to camp and have a beer,relax and enjoy this woderful sport
with my two sons.
Fred/IT250
Tim /KX80
Chris/XR75