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short version: don't think i'll keep using them! they are fun, but unfortunately quite uncomfortable for me
long version: hey guys, thought i might as well put up a little review since a few others have gotten these. originally i kind of wanted just a cosmetic change, like putting some cool tracker bars on or something, but decided to go for something lower to make highway runs more comfortable, since i have to use the highway to get just about anywhere from my house. went for the fat swallows since i know someone who put swallows on another bike, and i saw a few people on here liked them. was really unsure about whether to go for them or the hurricane fat condors (less extreme change), but pulled the trigger because i hadn't seen anyone talk about the condors, and just went for it
pros
+ they look fantastic! even made me like the look of the stock mirrors a lot! i really wasn't a fan of how they looked on the stock bars
+ feels much more connected to the road, planted, more feedback
+ less wind buffeting at high speed
+ can use the kedo speedo bracket! original speedo location is horrible and i have no idea why it's like that. got the kedo one knowing i would need lower bars to fit it, but i just like the offset look so much i thought i'd take the gamble
cons
- low speed handling and stability is way down. maybe i could get used to it but the narrowness makes the steering much, much heavier and slower, i feel the need to take low speed corners much slower than usual. could have something to do with the weight distribution too? it just feels much clunkier. i knew this would happen, but didn't think much of it
- legs feel cramped! this one was a little unexpected, but something in the ergonomics does this i guess
- the biggest drawback for me is that the position being approx 120mm forward and 50mm down (according to hurricane) does not vibe with my back at all! the forward lean was very uncomfortable on my lower back even at high speeds with the wind pushing me up. and i'm only 23! this may be less of a problem for shorter people, who i imagine won't have to lean as much. i'm fairly tall, and fat too which might not help
overall, wish i had gone with my first instinct and gotten the hurricane condor bars, or some of the other ones i see like renthal street lows or whatever they're called
oh well!
i don't regret buying these, because i've learned a lot through the process, and it will be nice to have them if i ever want to try a change again later
i'll include some pictures i took when i first put them on, because what would this be without them? please note that this is before i adjusted the controls and everything properly, and before i secured the wiring. since taking the pictures i've also adjusted the angle to be much higher/closer to me at several increments, and even though it lessened the issues i had, i think the cons still outweigh the pros
hope this helps anyone looking for new bars. i know some people love them, and i thought i would too! i don't recommend against them at all, but at least for now, they aren't right for me
edit: i plan on trying them again at a point when i'm not having back pain, and will be thinking more consciously about my positioning then too. i suspect i may have been sitting incorrectly due to pre-existing back pain. i'd like to be able to use them! but for now, it's the stock bars for me
long version: hey guys, thought i might as well put up a little review since a few others have gotten these. originally i kind of wanted just a cosmetic change, like putting some cool tracker bars on or something, but decided to go for something lower to make highway runs more comfortable, since i have to use the highway to get just about anywhere from my house. went for the fat swallows since i know someone who put swallows on another bike, and i saw a few people on here liked them. was really unsure about whether to go for them or the hurricane fat condors (less extreme change), but pulled the trigger because i hadn't seen anyone talk about the condors, and just went for it
pros
+ they look fantastic! even made me like the look of the stock mirrors a lot! i really wasn't a fan of how they looked on the stock bars
+ feels much more connected to the road, planted, more feedback
+ less wind buffeting at high speed
+ can use the kedo speedo bracket! original speedo location is horrible and i have no idea why it's like that. got the kedo one knowing i would need lower bars to fit it, but i just like the offset look so much i thought i'd take the gamble
cons
- low speed handling and stability is way down. maybe i could get used to it but the narrowness makes the steering much, much heavier and slower, i feel the need to take low speed corners much slower than usual. could have something to do with the weight distribution too? it just feels much clunkier. i knew this would happen, but didn't think much of it
- legs feel cramped! this one was a little unexpected, but something in the ergonomics does this i guess
- the biggest drawback for me is that the position being approx 120mm forward and 50mm down (according to hurricane) does not vibe with my back at all! the forward lean was very uncomfortable on my lower back even at high speeds with the wind pushing me up. and i'm only 23! this may be less of a problem for shorter people, who i imagine won't have to lean as much. i'm fairly tall, and fat too which might not help
overall, wish i had gone with my first instinct and gotten the hurricane condor bars, or some of the other ones i see like renthal street lows or whatever they're called
oh well!
i don't regret buying these, because i've learned a lot through the process, and it will be nice to have them if i ever want to try a change again later
i'll include some pictures i took when i first put them on, because what would this be without them? please note that this is before i adjusted the controls and everything properly, and before i secured the wiring. since taking the pictures i've also adjusted the angle to be much higher/closer to me at several increments, and even though it lessened the issues i had, i think the cons still outweigh the pros
hope this helps anyone looking for new bars. i know some people love them, and i thought i would too! i don't recommend against them at all, but at least for now, they aren't right for me
edit: i plan on trying them again at a point when i'm not having back pain, and will be thinking more consciously about my positioning then too. i suspect i may have been sitting incorrectly due to pre-existing back pain. i'd like to be able to use them! but for now, it's the stock bars for me
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