You can use the admin bar by adding:
define(‘BP_USE_WP_ADMIN_BAR’, true);to the wp-config,
above where it says:
“That’s all, stop editing! Happy blogging.”
For added customization install the ‘Custom Admin Bar’ plugin. This will give you full control over the Admin bar including the BuddyPress features.
Thanks @nilssvz
Your advice to add: define(‘BP_USE_WP_ADMIN_BAR’, true); to the wp-config file along with a customizing plugin such as ‘Custom Admin Bar’. Have made it really easy to customize my admin bar and retain all the needed functionality of Buddypress and S2Member. Awesome!