latest pics I'm behind, there's some awesome rides here, but ill get there.. is everyone powder coating the fender struts?

 

If you can make this solution work, it did have a big impact. My temperature on the ride today stayed no less than 20-30° cooler in all riding conditions. Through town was a considerably bigger difference than that. My peak temperature for today was 234° and that was including through town, prolonged idle, and a slightly warmer ambient temperature than it's been. Cruising on back roads, my temperature stayed stable between 215-225°. The bike also cooled much more quickly. Using the thermostat, the temperature dropped from ~225° to below 150° in the time it took me to pump gas.

 

This is stock..

 

Only took an hour. Everything works fine, just make sure you cut all the zip-ties to readjust. The brake line looks like its bottomed out, but there is a little play even when the bars are maxed out to the left. I put new zip-ties on to clean everything up and re-checked all clearances. Lastly, took it for a ride, best thing I could have done to keep the OEM bars!

 

That looks sweet. I just ordered a set of 1.5" chrome risers as well. I can't wait to bolt them on.

Can you give detail on how the ride improved?

 

Absolutely! First thing I noticed was the reach, I actually sit more upright now, and my arms are bent at the elbow, instead of locked out, so I'm in a much more relaxed position. So I would say it pulled the bars back a couple inches? It also rose the bars enough to where I can now actually use my stock mirrors and see what's behind me, not just my shoulders lol You will love it!

 

How did it affect the handling, is it harder to dip into a turn now, or was that not affected too badly?

 

Feels like I have more control, was able to get more lean even though my forks are stock and love to dive as soon as I touch the front brakes. Did a few tight U-turns and practiced a few emergency swerves and I have to say it's much better than stock

 

Nice, one thing to consider if I may suggest- Take your stock seat to a reputable upholstery shop and have them shave it down 1.5"-2" by re-sculpting the foam. The stock seat is really flat, thick and sort of pushes you up and forward. For about the same amount of money as risers, you can get the seat modified to suit you and keep the stock riser / sleek setup. I'm 5' 10" and am planning on having a shop scoop the seat out a bit lower in the middle to forward portion so I "sit down more in it". Sometimes when I punch it from a light I'm sliding out of the seat.

Anyway a good seat shop can do this and retain the stock look of the seat by using the exact same cover, just pulling it tighter. An aftermarket seat like Danny Gray will work too, but cost a whole lot more

 

Thanks Dog, I've been looking around for a good seat, cuz like you said I've caught myself sliding out when I goose the fun switch... So until I get a better fit, I have to keep my pillion on. I really want to run solo, love the look when the pillion is off.