When we discover an excellent product, especially one that deals with motorcycle safety, rest assured we'll be letting you know about it. In this case it's Rox Speed FX's handle bar risers for the BMW R1200GS Adventure (although they make risers that will work for Suzuki, Kawasaki, Triumph, KTM, and many other brands.)
How do bar risers affect safety? The ergonomics between you and your motorcycle not only tie into how well you respond to the demands of the terrain ahead and abilty to avoid hazards, but your riding comfort as well. A rider's overall comfort is directly related to fatigue, and fatigue? Well, there's no need to explain how fatigue plays a role in safe motorcycle riding. As Rox Speed's adjustable bar risers offer more precise fitting to your ideal riding position than standard "block" style risers, there isn't a better option on the market (at least not that we know of.)
- Use your bike's original handlebar clamps to add what is essentially a 2nd pair of clamps to reposition or rise your handlebar. See pictures shown, and understand that these are very easy to install if you have a few basic tools.
- Once installed but before tightening, sit in your optimal riding position and wiggle the bars forward and aft until the fit is right. Especially if you'd like to improve your standing riding position, an extra 2" of reach can go along way. Compared to just block-type risers that push your bars up on the same line as your forks, the Rox risers allow you to adjust your reach perfectly.
- Depending on how much original cable and wire your bike's manufacturer originally gave you, some rerouting or adjustment of your brake cables and electrical lines might be necessary to accomodate the extra rise you'll be getting. On the R1200GS Adventure for example, we just re-routed the clutch line to the outside of the left fork, a simple task that takes about 3 minutes. Again though, the Rox risers give you the best in adjustability to make sure everything is fitted properly.
Some riders have suggested that having 2 "pivot points" ends up being a liability in the event of a crash. (Because there's more than 1 point that can be twisted out of alignment if your bike goes down.) Think about that another way: Would you rather have your bars twist out of line in the clamps, or bend and break the bars or clams themselves? By having a 2nd point of impact absorption, the chances of ending your ride because of a crash are reduced, as with the Rox risers where you'll likely be able to just move them back into place with a few tools. While such metal-on-metal contact under high pressure will certainly marr otherwise pristine surfaces, that's a small sacrifice to make compared to bending your handlebars into a pretzel. In short: The Rox bar risers might very well save your bike in the event of a crash.
So it's an easy to install product that puts your arms in the optimal riding position and contributes to better, safer riding. Rox Speed FX even makes Anti-Vibration Bar Risers now, and at the very lease, all of these Rox Speed FX bar risers look great!
