Yep, they need to be comfortable. I took the buckhorn bars off a nice special I bought a couple of weeks ago.Replaced them with some solid aluminum MX bars I've had for 35 years. It makes it into a different bike. I went for a long ride with the wife yesterday and it felt just like a friend's Bonneville Scrambler. I've never had a completely stock xs-I may leave it for a while as I have four or five more to work on.
To the original poster, it doesn't sound like the xs is the bike for you. Maybe something more modern. I LOVE my ZRX Kawasaki, too-no need to tinker, and fast and smooth.
John