Half dead bird! 86 Swallow ptarmigan (re re model...page 11)

[27motorhead]

I've never been a fan of riser bars, but they are everywhere these days and I have just become so use to seeing them. None of my bikes have them except for our cargo bike that came fitted with them. However my wife won't let me change them as she loves them, although she's not really riding it anymore since moving to a much hillier place!

It's certainly not how your bike was meant to look in 1986, but it's not bad by any means and I'm surprised how acceptable it looks! I think it look a lot worse if you chucked a modern shortie/BMX stem that a lot of people seem to do. And the fact that the components are still all period correct then that's great.

I'm sure Geoff Apps (RIP! ) would think what you have done is spot-on!

Looks like the long marriage will continue...

 

[Tootyred]

Oddly, it had risers when new! And strangely tommaselli trials bike levers....so with the hub rear brake, and a u brake front it was a pretty oddball arrangement.

 

[narcotitlan]

Love the bike, and I think it looks pretty good with the high rise braced bars, like those Nitto stems too - bombproof!

For me risers are quite mysterious - hard to know what they’ll suit before fitting.. I have Nitto b802 on my 88 RM avalanche - looks like in the first two pics that’s what you’ve got fitted?
. I’ve never loved the bars although they’re on my daily rider. I think I the reason is that they have quite a lot of bavksweep giving them that shopper vibe…

The Nitto B801 riser has much less of a back sweep making it more aggressive - looks better on a racier bike imo. Though for me it means I’d need an even shorter stem. I’ve spied a Japanese website that has NOS b801 in case you’re interested:

https://chouchincycle.shop-pro.jp/?pid=175559212

 

[Tootyred]

B801 are only 2 degrees less. Its 15o on the 802. or 13o on the 801.

The original 80s ones (steel) were less at a guess 10 ish degrees, but also had a different upsweep...they were frankly uncomfortable.

Tbh, its more the whole long gangling stem and risers that does the damage!

Im actually trying the nittos on my marin tourer...they are very comfortable and my hands had no ill effects even after several hours in the cold. The back sweep is far better than the 10o on the azonic risers i was using.

 

[narcotitlan]

I guess comfort as well as looks are pretty subjective, a little more upsweep or backsweep can play a big part.

I’ve just got a pair of the 80s steel b801s on a 80s Overburys pioneer, haven’t measured the angle but it definitely looks better on that bike. I remember last riding them on a Raleigh Avanti, that also had that Nitto 4 bolt stem, nice ride for me at least. But yeah definitely agree with you that the stem makes all the difference!

 

[narcotitlan]

Anyway, bloody nice bike!