Ed

I never found my SV that uncomfortable. I now ride a Daytona 650, which if anything has a more acute rising position. You shouldn't be putting weight down on the bars - your wrists should be as near parallel as you can get them so you can push the bars as appropriate. To get them at 90 degrees does require some contortion. As stated above, trick is to develop the knee grip. You need to flop on the bike, grip tank with knees, shoulders relaxed, use stomach muscles to support body. You should be able to flap your elbows like chicken wings - if you can't, you're too tense. Oh yeah, and have your toes or the balls of your feet on the pegs, not flat footed. You soon get used to it.

Ed