handlebar risers - Snowmobile Forum: Your #1 Snowmobile Forum

1979 arctic cat · 04-15-2011, 01:25 PM

im looking on getting handlebar risers for my 94 xlt just looking for some insight on what size to get

lescarpentier · 04-15-2011, 02:49 PM

3" seems to be about as high as you can go without extending your cables..

cocopuff · 04-19-2011, 09:17 AM

how tall are you ? i'm 6'3", i use a 6" riser and bars with a 2" rise

1979 arctic cat · 04-19-2011, 12:43 PM

im 6 foot

Renagade · 04-19-2011, 02:37 PM

im 6'11" and am going 9in this summer!!

that sounds weird!!! haha.

xc sp 500 rider · 04-19-2011, 08:18 PM

I'm 6 ft and i have 6" risers on mine and its decent for sitting and decent standing, its hard to get one thats great for both sitting and standing.

Renagade · 04-19-2011, 09:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by xc sp 500 rider

its hard to get one thats great for both sitting and standing.

agreed^^
u cant see your guages as well either.

**BC_Dan** · 04-20-2011, 12:50 AM

If you go 9", consider doing something to beef up the steering column. With that much leverage, it's very likely that you will bend/break something if you don't.

Renagade · 04-20-2011, 07:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BC_Dan

If you go 9", consider doing something to beef up the steering column. With that much leverage, it's very likely that you will bend/break something if you don't.

how would i do that??
never done it, please educate me.

**BC_Dan** · 04-20-2011, 10:26 AM

On some of the Polaris sleds, there were aftermarket brackets that gave additional bracing above the hoop. There are also after-market steering columns made of stouter material. Some steering columns are hollow at the top. I have read about putting additional bracing inside the column to strengthen it. Some guys have even cut the top of the column off, added bracing, then rewelded the top.

When I had an Edge RMK, I did the first; added a bracket with an additional bearing above the hoop. It worked awesome, but the company that sold those no longer sells 'em. I have a Rox 5" on my 700 and am sometimes nervous because I have not done anything extra to strengthen the column.

I'm definitely not a Ski-doo guy, and only ride with one guy that rides one (a Summit 1000), so I don't see a lot of broken ones. But with 9" of rise, that's a ton of leverage to be adding, so it would be a good idea to ask around and see how well the steering column handles the additional torque. Just my humble opinion

Renagade · 04-20-2011, 10:30 AM

i see, thanks alot.
good info!!

1979 arctic cat · 04-20-2011, 11:53 PM

should i get straight bars if i would go 6 inches?

**BC_Dan** · 04-21-2011, 12:19 AM

For your xlt, you can unbolt the bars from the steering column and put a piece of wood in there to mock up the height of a riser so you can see how it is going to fit. You will be able to see how far you can go before the cables need to be replaced. As mentioned, 2-3" is almost always ok without modifications, if you go higher, you will have to extend the brake line and throttle cable/oil line, and extend the wires to all the controls. I soldered the ends and used shrink tubing to seal them. there are a bunch of wires for the ignition kill switch, grip warmers, brake switch, and headlight switch to lengthen if you go too far.

It will depend on how you want to ride, if you do a lot of standing up, you may want to go at least 5". I hate bending over! It's harder on the back, especially for us old farts

1979 arctic cat · 04-21-2011, 11:54 AM

yeah i do a lot standing up and it kills my back!!!!!!

lescarpentier · 04-21-2011, 12:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BC_Dan

If you go 9", consider doing something to beef up the steering column. With that much leverage, it's very likely that you will bend/break something if you don't.

My 99 rmk has always had a 3" riser and lately it has developed an unnerving flex in the hoop that I need to diagnose this off season.Enough to be obviously visible with noticeable movement of the console.I think long term durability should also be considered and of course how hard you ride your sled is an important factor.However,this machine has been ridden very hard.I can only imagine how much worse it would be if I had an extra 3 or 6 inches of fulcrum.

wheadman66 · 02-13-2012, 01:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cocopuff

how tall are you ? i'm 6'3", i use a 6" riser and bars with a 2" rise

Gonna poke some new life into this thread. I am 6'4, have a 94 xlt and would like to find a riser. Im leaning towards 3" as to not have the extend the wiring/cables and I mostly sit when I ride so it is more for not hitting my knees while leaning/turning.

I guess I dont know what the difference between a riser and bar riser?

What are the thoughts about changing the handlebars too?

nate_9ers · 02-19-2012, 08:12 PM

Just yesterday I broke my steering columb right on the very top plate(not a problem since I am a welder). I also thought about putting a piece of roundstock down my columb till the bend in it just to for a little more strength. My sled only has a 2" riser I find it pretty good for myself, I am only 5'9".

mep222 · 03-09-2012, 08:32 PM

im 6' 3" right now but im only 16 so i might still get taller and i have the stock four inch risers on my firecat and i want to ge bigger ones. im looking for some suggestions should i go with 6 or 8 inch risers. i like to sit down because i trail ride but i stand up about 25 to 40 percent of the time. being as tall as i am when i stand it is not a good feeling on my back to slotch over like that. any imput would be nice. i do understand i will need to extend cables

POLARIS600XLT · 01-29-2013, 02:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cocopuff

how tall are you ? i'm 6'3", i use a 6" riser and bars with a 2" rise

Hey
I'm 5'11" and I have a 94-96 600 polaris xlt and I would like to put a handlebar riser on it. I would like to put a 6" on my sled tell me what u guys think. thanks

99Polaris500 · 01-29-2013, 03:07 PM

I'm 5'10" and I find that a 3.5" pivot riser is ok for standing, and I didn't have to buy any cable extensions.

The main thing is that you get a pivot style, so they go straight up, instead of angling back some.