Motorcycle handlebars can be stylish but must be safe. Engineering custom handlebars is not an activity you should do in the back of your garage.
It requires precise measurements, an accurate distribution of efforts and mass, a lot of testing in real situations, and a good understanding of rake and trail, gyroscopic effects, and the laws of dynamics.
It may sound like stating a self-obvious truth that your handlebars are the one of the primary instruments of control of your motorcycle. But when I see some of the after-market handlebars mounted on customized bikes, I'm thinking after all that it may not be so obvious to every rider out there they run serious risks of losing control of their bike.
So I thought it'd be cool to compile a short list of useful technical resources to help everyone to understand the laws of dynamics behind the art of steering a motorcycle. I hope they can be useful to you.
Ride within your limits, and adopt a riding position that's comfortable at all times.
Greg Rice
TECHNICAL RESOURCES COVERING MOTORCYCLE HANDLEBARS AND STEERING
WIKIPEDIA - Countersteering: A bit technical, but for you geek riders.
WIKIPEDIA - Motorcycle Safety Foundation: Not strictly handlebars, but so topical to safety I could not overlook it.
WIKIPEDIA - Motorcycle safety: In this article, this is a number of data regarding single vehicle crashes involving motorcyclists losing control of their bikes due to undercornering (taking too wide a turn). This is relevant as far as your riding position and the freedom/constraint of movement allowed by your handlebars.
David HOUGH - Proficient Motorcycling: In the opinion of thousand of bikers and MSF instructers, the ultimate guide to precision riding.
Summary of the Hurt Report: The Hurt Report is the reference as far as motorcycle risks and accident causes are concerned. This is a summary of findings. Easy to digest.
Tiller effect and undercornering: in the SHeldown Brown glossary, there is an entry on the tiller effect. This tells you why designing motorcycle handlebars is just not only an art, but a science too.
I'll expand this list as I find more interesting articles on the topics of motorcycle handlebars, motorcycle safety, and riding position.
