Hi Broook,
The bar location of John Swift's 79 looks proper. In fact - if the handlebars are correct CBX Sports Kit parts - it is not possible to mount them "backwards" without removing the locating pins. And I would strongly recommend against such a modification since the pins are a safety feature. A quick snapshot of a right-side bar (Honda P/N 53120-422-000 for the '79 Z Model):
I have seen bars on eBay represented as "CBX Sports Kit" components but are from another Honda model (possibly a VFR). And while the shape is very similar to the proper CBX bars - the dowel pin location is much different. The pins have been removed to allow fitment on a 79/80 CBX triple clamp (less critical - the bar casting thickness also seems a bit thinner). Without these pins - a parking lot tip-over could be enough to pivot a bar into the fuel tank (even with the single pinch-bolt properly torqued). Having the bar move while riding could certainly be more costly.
A photo of the correct Sports Kit bars installed on my '80 Marysville CBX (note the pinch-bolt location from front to back at roughly a 45 degree inward angle - identical to the standard bars (this is also different on the "alternative" bars being marketed as CBX parts).
All the best,
John
San Jose, California