Contours VS SE (Pro Taper)

Looking at new handlebars and have settled on Pro Taper - KX High.

But, just curious what the Contours would buy me over the SEs.

My understanding is that the Contours will resist getting bent a little better. But, you need different clamps in order to attach them.

SEs (7/8"") sounds like they might bend a little easier, but they fit just as the stock handlebars do.

Is that correct for the most part? Any other pro/cons I'm not thinking of?

Will probably get some sort of risers too - but will deal with that later.

Thanks!

unless you do a lot of jumping or stuff like that the SE should be fine. then you dont have to bother with the oversize clamps and such.

granite4brains wrote:

Looking at new handlebars and have settled on Pro Taper - KX High.

But, just curious what the Contours would buy me over the SEs.

My understanding is that the Contours will resist getting bent a little better. But, you need different clamps in order to attach them.

SEs (7/8"") sounds like they might bend a little easier, but they fit just as the stock handlebars do.

Is that correct for the most part? Any other pro/cons I'm not thinking of?

Will probably get some sort of risers too - but will deal with that later.

Thanks!

I've read quite a few posts (mostly in the KLR websites) saying that the bigger bars help get rid of some vibes.

I have no first hand knowledge to back that up.

I went with SE (Henry/Reed bend) on my bike for exactly the reasons you stated. I figure our bikes don't have a lot of vibes (not like most KLR's!), so less of a concern even if true.

I've heard that the SE's are a lot harder to bend than stock steel bars, but just as you say, not quite as stout as the fatter bars.

I have the SE's. My bike has fallen off a 15 foot cliff, twice. I've dumped it 100+ times, crashed hard 50+ times, cased a double, and it's also fallen out of my truck once. Possibly twice. I had the same exact same set of bar's on my KLR before I got the WR, and I also lowsided at 45 on a gravel road. Took them off the KLR, and put them on the WR.

The point is, the bar's haven't bent, not even one bit. Just make sure you get handguards.

EDIT: Man, that makes me sound like an awful rider.

Btw, the bars do reduce vibes, a ton.

kjharn wrote:

I have the SE's. My bike has fallen off a 15 foot cliff, twice. I've dumped it 100+ times, crashed hard 50+ times, cased a double, and it's also fallen out of my truck once. Possibly twice.

The point is, the bar's haven't bent, not even one bit.

Yep, those bars sound pretty solid

Thanks guys! SE bars it is!

"EDIT: Man, that makes me sound like an awful rider. "

Naw. Just a knarly adventurer!

Seriously, thanks for the info. Glad to know they're stout.

I dumped my bike (low speed but fairly hard drop) a couple weeks ago and no damage. But that's only the third time it's been down.

Don't know how your knees can take it. This last time tore up some ligaments in my right knee.

Maybe they can make some SE ligaments for my crummy knee!

BTW, I had a sprocket alignment issue causing added vibes and didn't know it. So I did the BB mod (a KLR thing) in the ends of the SE bars and that took the vibes down. Though I was masking another potential problem by doing so.

I'm gonna leave the BB's there and carry a slingshot for survival purposes.

No, I can't be serious.

Thanks again for the info, though. Good to know.

LS

BigFeet wrote:

Don't know how your knees can take it. This last time tore up some ligaments in my right knee.

I'm 20.

I've grown up with the mantra, "If you ain't dyin', you ain't tryin'."

kjharn wrote:

BigFeet wrote:

Don't know how your knees can take it. This last time tore up some ligaments in my right knee.

I'm 20.

I've grown up with the mantra, "If you ain't dyin', you ain't tryin'."

'k. That'd explain it.

I was indestructible once upon a time. I have the plastic and metal parts to prove it.

Now that my warranty has run out, I do the best I can - for an old croaker.

L

I had protaper evo's on the first bike and se's on the current. Slightly, inconsequentially lower vibes on the Evo's, but SE's are just as durable if not more as I've beat and dropped the current bike harder and more often.

The bend matters more than the bar.

i have beat the crap outta the SE bars on heavier bikes than the wrr with no bending.

kjharn wrote:

I'm 20. I've grown up with the mantra, "If you ain't dyin', you ain't tryin'."

Seriously ? Soooo... You're tryin to die ?

You may want to re-think that mantra. Quickly.

Maybe think about the mantra of trying to put it all in the back of the truck when you're done riding for the day and maybe riding the next three decades (or more).

You'll get more miles in.

X-Racer wrote:

kjharn wrote:

I'm 20. I've grown up with the mantra, "If you ain't dyin', you ain't tryin'."

Seriously ? Soooo... You're tryin to die ?

You may want to re-think that mantra. Quickly.

Maybe think about the mantra of trying to put it all in the back of the truck when you're done riding for the day and maybe riding the next three decades (or more).

You'll get more miles in.

I'm not trying to literally die. My point is that I believe you can't become a better rider if you're not pushing your limits. The only area I do this is offroad. On the road, I commute to and from work, run errands, and that's it. No wheelies, no hooliganism, nothing. I've done 18,000 street miles with nary a wipeout, save one on a gravel road. Not even a speeding ticket.

I keep the stupid stuff to closed courses and OHV parks. Chill out.

Ahhhh.... Got it. Off topic I realize, but I have a 20 year old and I want her and her 24 year old brother to live to ride her entire life (they've both been riding since they were 4).

I agree to what you said. I ride a LOT better when I'm riding on the edge than when I tell myself I'm going to back off and take it easy.

I think that's just a mental acuity state of mind that makes you think quicker. A good thing...

...and there's nothing wrong with a lil hooliganism. I wrote the book way back when and several editions afterwards. * chuckle *

Good luck on keeping the bars straight ! Out...

X-Racer wrote:

Ahhhh.... Got it. Off topic I realize, but I have a 20 year old and I want her and her 24 year old brother to live to ride her entire life (they've both been riding since they were 4).

I agree to what you said. I ride a LOT better when I'm riding on the edge than when I tell myself I'm going to back off and take it easy.

I think that's just a mental acuity state of mind that makes you think quicker. A good thing...

...and there's nothing wrong with a lil hooliganism. I wrote the book way back when and several editions afterwards. * chuckle *

Good luck on keeping the bars straight ! Out...

Also off topic, but thought it was funny. I'm 20, my sister is 24. Opposite your kids. Kinda neat.

I wish my parents would have plopped me on a minibike or something when I was that young. I'd me a much better rider now. You sound like a cool dad.

Is your last name Kneivel?

kjharn wrote:

I have the SE's. My bike has fallen off a 15 foot cliff, twice. I've dumped it 100+ times, crashed hard 50+ times, cased a double, and it's also fallen out of my truck once. Possibly twice. I had the same exact same set of bar's on my KLR before I got the WR, and I also lowsided at 45 on a gravel road. Took them off the KLR, and put them on the WR.

The point is, the bar's haven't bent, not even one bit. Just make sure you get handguards.

EDIT: Man, that makes me sound like an awful rider.

Btw, the bars do reduce vibes, a ton.