ok so here is another question . i have looked and asked but have gotten nothing. it seems to me that the only diffrence between pre 82 and 82 up bars is the dimple. am i correct to say if i just drill for internal wiring it wont matter? because i see a lot of this no dimple bars for newer bikes. just wondering. i can get either or, but i have found a really good deal on a set of 15in pre 82 bars.

 

Handlebars are not year specific unless you're doing a full restoration, where it would matter.

Buy the bars you want. If you plan on internal wiring them, then get the bars with a dimple. I might think that drilling bars would create a possible area of rust and corrosion, due to the exposed metal.

 

then why are there specific bars? It dosnt make sense to me. My dad told me its the dimples. But I have heard you don't need the dimples if you drill for internal wiring.

 

the dimple is the only difference. If you are keeping all your electrical handlebar controls and are going to internally wire them you might want to get the 82 and up with the dimple.

 

It won't matter. I've used dimpled bars and drilled bars, enlarged drilled bars for dimpled applications, etc. If rust is any concern, then put some paint or nail polish on the cut area. Just smooth things up first, so that the wires don't have a sharp place to get cut.

 

Ummm, aren't the dimples intended for EXTERNAL wiring? Correct me if I'm wrong, but aren't holes needed for internal wiring? As in the wires being run inside the bars.

 

the difference is with the old switch housing VS the new ones. the old ones have a notch on the lower side to run the wires out and if i remember correctly they are shorter too. the new housing don't have the notch. they dimpled the bars.

 

correct , and with the later style housing , you need that dimple even if you wire internal

 

How are you gonna get your wires into the post-'82 control housings?

The dimples are there to give space for the control wiring to run into the housing, internally or externally. '82 and earlier control housings were notched for the wires with the bars being solid, post '82 the control housings are solid and the bars are dimpled.

Thats where it matters.

 

The '09 SB mini apes I put on my '07 SB don't have dimples and are just drilled.