Tag Archives: adjustable handlebars

FJR Feedback: From the Mailbag

16 Tuesday Sep 2014

Posted by in FJR1300, Yamaha

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Dear Mr. & Mrs. ‘Heli-Bars’:

Over a year ago, I visited you at Daytona Bike Week where you installed a set
of Heli-Bars on my 2013 Yamaha FJR.  At that time, you encouraged me to ride
for a year and then let you know how I liked the bars.

When I initially bought the bike, I was aghast to learn that I had acquired a
bike that was somewhat uncomfortable for me to ride due to the pressure on my
arms, wrists and back.  I loved the bike but could only ride it for short
distances and was desperate to find a solution.

I learned about Heli-Bars but was unwilling to risk jeopardizing my new bike
by letting just any mechanic down here in FL perform the installation.  As a
result, I called your company in Maine at which time you told me you travel
to Bike Week to perform installations.  Thus, I came to visit you in Daytona
and two hours later, I had a set of Heli-Bars.

In brief, Heli-Bars were my salvation.  In fact, I just completed a 5,084
mile, three-week trip around the USA (FL to Sturgis to Michigan to FL) which
would not have been possible without them.  I was entirely comfortable
throughout the entire trip due mostly to your Heli-Bars (… and a
comfortable seat!).

They are the best accessory I could have possibly bought.  On my recent trip,
I spent many happy hours riding my bike without a minute of discomfort.  Some
days, I spent anywhere from 6 to 10 hours on the bike.  None of that would
have been possible with Heli-Bars.  In fact, had I not found out about Heli-
Bars, I probably would have sold the bike and started all over again.

In a separate but related matter, I would also like to thank you for being so
friendly and polite to me when I came to visit you in Daytona.  Also, whoever
answers your phone in Maine when I first called, was friendly, patient,
helpful and courteous.  She thoroughly explained everything and answered all
my questions.  In sum, my experience with your company exemplified superb
customer service.

In conclusion, after a year, I love my Heli-Bars and heartily recommend them
to anyone who might be considering a set.  Should you have any  other
questions about my experience or wish to confirm the veracity of this
particular testimonial, you have my permission to e-mail me.  Thank you
again.

With kindest regards, I remain
Gratefully yours,

Robert H., Gainesville, FL

Customer Feedback from Daytona Bike Week – March 2014

05 Thursday Jun 2014

Posted by in Events and Rallies, Harley Davidson, Horizon

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One of our rituals at the rallies is to ask our customers to come back and see us, and sign our “autograph book”. We invite them to let us know what they like (or don’t like!) about their HeliBars. Here are some of the comments from customers who came back to visit us in March during Daytona Bike Week…

March 7, 2014:  Just got my second set for my 2014 Ultra Limited. First pair was last year on my Road King. These bars are awesome. I can’t imagine owning a bike without them. You guys are great. Tony is awesome 2 times!                  Doug,  IL

March 8, 2014: One year later (we installed ours at Daytona Bike Week 2013) and 15000 miles later…We LOVE them – my wife’s 2004 FLTR and my 2013 FLTRU. What a difference. Handling, comfort, no back pain after a long ride. Thank you for the bars!               Tom & Jodi, FL

March 9, 2014: 6 months later. Didn’t need to ride but 6 mins. to know this was the best thing I had done to a motorcycle in 50 years of riding. Fabulous, awesome, well worth the money. Don’t delay! Get yours now.                                        Paul, GA

March 10, 2014: 2 years and many miles later, we wouldn’t trade these bars for anything. We have two bikes with these, RoadGlide & ElectraGlide Classic. HeliBars improve both handling and rider comfort. Thank you so much for this high quality product. We are also happy to tell anyone who notices our handlebars to get the bars on their bikes. You will never regret your purchase. They are worth every cent!                                                                                                                                              Tom & Vicki, OH

March 11, 2014: This is my third set of bars. I had them on a 2005 Ultra, 2012 Ultra, and today a new 2014 Street Glide. By far the most comfortable bars and riding position for long haul mileage comfort. I have ridden over 100,000 miles with these bars, and by far they are the Best.                                                                                                                                                                             Al & Claire, MA

HeliBars: Standard Equipment on New Motus Motorcycles

30 Wednesday Oct 2013

Posted by in Helibars - Other Handlebars, Other Engineering Projects, Uncategorized

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Handlebar movement2HeliBars has been working diligently with Motus Motorcycles since March of 2012 to complete the handlebar portion of the new MST & MST-R motorcycles.  We are so pleased to be the chosen manufacturer for this ground breaking motorcycle.

Check out the press release here:

https://ultimatemotorcycling.com/helibars-standard-equipment-motus-mst-mstr-motorcycles/

Group ride2

Goldwing Multi Adjustable Handlebars: The wait is (almost) over.

26 Thursday Sep 2013

Posted by in F6B, GL1800, Goldwing, Horizon, Uncategorized

≈ 6 Comments

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Since I started working at HeliBars nearly 6 years ago, I have gotten phone calls and emails weekly looking for a solution to make the Honda Goldwing Riding experience more comfortable.  We have had a bike in house since 2007 and the design team has been diligently working trying to come up with the most affordable way to make the ‘Wing as comfortable as possible.  The design was nearly complete in 2012 and then they had to figure out: how do we produce this masterpiece and make it affordable for the masses.  (First prototype’s would have made the bars $3200!)  So they went back to the drawing board and looked at production methods and TADA!  They are done!  First production units will be shipping out the door December 16th, 2013.

It’s been a long wait, yes, but it will be well worth the wait when those riders get their bars and can not only ride in superior comfort, as only the Goldwing can provide, but also with increased control & handling without having to change out the suspension.

Thanks for the patience, thanks for believing in us and enjoy the ride.  We KNOW you are gonna love it!

~ Jennifer Pettengill, G.O.T.O.

HeliBars = Life Saver

09 Thursday May 2013

Posted by in Helibars - Other Handlebars, Kawasaki, Uncategorized

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Here at HeliBars we often hear moving tales of how our product has “saved” the day by allowing riders to ride longer.  To be more passionate about their sport.  To feel the wind whipping by them as they hit the open road.  Some as they enter their golden years of 70, 80 and beyond.  Others as they hit the open road for the first time.  It’s heart warming to hear their stories.

This story brought our hearts to our throats and tears to our eyes and we want to share it with you.  Please allow us to introduce to you Officer Jamie Bernau of the Mesa Police Department Traffic Unit.  Below is an email we received from Officer Bernau on April 8th:

“I just wanted to give you an update. Some good news, some bad. The bars I had on my police motorcycle did an excellent job. The other two officers that are testing them praise them as well. I love the bars and I have on my own personal motorcycle.
Unfortunately, back on Feb. 16th, I was involved in a serious on-duty collision with a motor vehicle. The other driver was being inattentive and pulled into the roadway, directly in front of my path. I struck the vehicle head on and was launched from my motorcycle 49 feet. I lost consciousness and tumbled an additional 59 feet on the ground. I sustained an “open book” pelvic fracture, broken right foot, right hand, and some road rash to my face, legs, and hands. I underwent surgery and was in the hospital for two weeks. I’m currently bound to a wheel chair and will have a long recovery.
The investigators on scene noticed the HeliBars rotated to the front and collapsed. They also believed the bars helped me catapult from the motorcycle. My motorcycle was engulfed in flames from the impact.
Currently, Probity Cycle is in the process of building a replacement PD bike. It will be a few months until I can get back on the bike, but I would like to have the same handle bars available when I’m back on duty.
Sincerely,
Officer Jamie Bernau
Mesa Police Department
Traffic Unit”
Officer Bernau -1hospital photo 2 photo 3 photo 4

Helibars Helps Make the Most Comfortable Walker in the World

16 Thursday Feb 2012

Posted by in Disabled Riders, Helibars - Other Handlebars, Other Engineering Projects

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On November 8, 2011 we received a phone call from a customer looking to buy parts of our Horizon Sport Touring multi-adjustable handlebars for the Kawasaki C14 so he could fabricate a set of handlebars for his walker.  I didn’t answer the phone, but once I heard the question I had to talk to this gentleman.  Turns out, he was an avid motorcyclist and even a previous Helibars customer.  Unfortunately he was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis (MS) and it eventually progressed to the point he could not ride a motorcycle anymore.  Despite this fact he was not going to give up and started to concentrate on his other passion, photography.  Nature is the primary focus of his photography and, being confined to a walker, getting the best shots was difficult at best.  So, instead of giving in to the limitations of his walker he decided to make the walker fit his needs.  After making many modifications he found the handlebars just were not as comfortable as he would like.

I am looking for a what I call a natural angle of my wrists. So looking from the top the wrists would angle out from the centre line and with a slight drop instead of the straight back it has now.

Stock Handlebar

The old handlebars provided only height adjustment and offered little comfort

Looking for alternatives he found the market for walker handlebars to be non-existant, so he turned to the motorcycle market.  From his days as a motorcycle rider he remembered Helibars as the most comfortable handlebars in the world.  Surly Helibars would have something that met his need.  That’s when he saw our Horizon multi-adjustable handlebars for the C14 on the front page of the website and decided to call.

After hearing the whole story I decided the best thing to do was not to sell him a selection of parts, but make a complete set of custom handlebars designed for his walker.  The design borrowed elements from our Horizon ST multi-adjustable handlebars for the Honda ST1100 and also included a new tool-less adjustment.  The Horizon ST multi-adjustable handlebars were a great basis for this project.  The design was already set up for 7/8 handlebars and had roughly the right range of motion.  The most import aspect of this design is safety.  The Horizon design incorporates hard stops to limit rotation if a pinch bolt loosens or falls out.  In such an event the pivots can not come apart and will only rotate as far as the stops allow.  The safety of the design makes it the perfect choice for this application.

Using SolidEdge 3D CAD software I created the model you see below.  Pictures of the design were sent to the customer for appoval.

CAD models allow engineers and customers to "see" the product before cutting metal.

He loved the new design, so I started on building the real thing.  Final prototypes were machined from billet aluminum, just like the current Horizon motorcycle handlebars.

Adjustable Walker Handlebars

Using the latest CAD and CAM software we can produce fully functional prototypes very quickly.

We were able to ship the new multi-adjustable walker handlebars just before Christmas and got his response shortly after install:

I received the bars today. I don’t want to blow too much smoke up your kilt but what a difference they make. I have them on and they really make it easier on the hands and wrists, just as I had hoped.

Adjustable Walker Handlebars

The most comfortable walker handlebars in the world!

Success!  We just created the most comfortable walker in the world!

-Helibars Engineering