Chip Beck Spec Low Handlebar/Mirrors Mod.

[ChipBeck_imp]

I'm also planning to do this mod. Would someone who has done it be willing to post measurements of tip to tip handlebar widths, old vs new?

I've looked carefully at Chip Beck's photos and can't tell from them how much narrower the black bars are. Hondapartshouse.com shows the parts but no dimensions.

My local Honda dealer doesn't have a CB500F in stock, otherwise I'd ride over with a tape measure.

I'm guessing the black bar is 2" - 3" narrower than the stock bar. If so I can compensate for the reduced leverage if need be by moving my hands farther out on the grips.

Greg,

Ask and you shall receive. I went out to my garage and measured both sets of bars. My new bars are 3/4 inch narrower than the stock CB1100 bars. That's less than .4 inch per side. Every one is different but the steering on my CB is so light and I'm not sensitive enough to tell any difference in leverage from such a small fractional change in width.

I'm 5'11" and 195 lbs. My seat is a stock height Corbin. At parking lot speeds or around town at 35 mph or less the stock bars were functionally fine. Above that the bolt upright seating position's wind blast was very tiring and hard on my back. In the absence of wind a completely upright seating position is very comfortable. Out on the road with a 65 mph wind hitting you in the chest it wasn't comfortable for me at all.

I've been riding my CB with these bars for about a year now. I've got three seats, four sets of bars, 3 sets of mirrors, etc. I'm not afraid to swap out what I don't like. These 2" lower and 3/4 inch narrower bars are far more comfortable for me than the stock bars. They are not as low as my sons Ducati Monster, they don't put pressure on my 58 year old wrists, and I really like it. If you have these parts and don't give it a try you are missing out on a setup you will probably like as much as I do. Cheers.

Chip