Originally Posted by
BlazingPedals
Yep, longer stem, possibly with more rise, is an option for the bars. That's probably a quill stem given the other construction details. Keep the stem pointing rearward. You're going to have a lot of tiller effect no matter what you do, but you can at least get those bars out of your knees. Best arm position for 'ape hanger' style bars is a couple inches short of full extension - you want your elbows in front of your torso not alongside.
which is why a picture of him on the bike would be helpful. If his knees are hitting the bars, I'm wondering how much closer he needs them. Maybe just a touch of forward rotation. Yes it means a little bit more stretch but I want to see for myself that the present amount of stretch is unreasonable. I don't think it is ( I don't know that, mind you) just based on guesses.