2014 Low Rider
Road Warrior
Joined: Jun 2014
Posts: 1,354
Likes: 766
From: north Carolina
Who has changed their bars and what did you go with? After doing demo rides I realized how much I dislike the stock handlebars. Thinking some kind of apes or z-bars. I have seen very few t-bar setups that don't make me throw up in my mouth. But I'm looking for comfort so I'm keeping all options open.
Thread Starter
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Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: May 2014
Posts: 15,460
Likes: 14,352
From: Illinois
Who has changed their bars and what did you go with? After doing demo rides I realized how much I dislike the stock handlebars. Thinking some kind of apes or z-bars. I have seen very few t-bar setups that don't make me throw up in my mouth. But I'm looking for comfort so I'm keeping all options open.
Tourer
Joined: Dec 2017
Posts: 391
Likes: 176
From: Leicestershire, United Kingdom
Who has changed their bars and what did you go with? After doing demo rides I realized how much I dislike the stock handlebars. Thinking some kind of apes or z-bars. I have seen very few t-bar setups that don't make me throw up in my mouth. But I'm looking for comfort so I'm keeping all options open.
Road Warrior
Joined: Jun 2014
Posts: 1,354
Likes: 766
From: north Carolina
When I first got my 2015 FXDL I felt that the bars were a bit too low and a bit too far forward. I would even suffer from some neck/shoulder ache after a long ride. Rolling back the bars as far as possible without hitting the tank (while being careful to not damage the internal wiring in the bars) brought the bars slightly closer and eased the situation. After a few weeks, I'd adjusted to the bike: I no longer feel that the bars are in the wrong place and I no longer get neck or shoulder ache. I've found that adjusting to any new vehicle takes a while, and this bike was no exception. I've even found that the triangular posture created by the bars, the seat, and (in my case) forward controls, enables me to shift around during a long ride, which helps prevent discomfort. By pushing on the pegs, I can push myself back against the step in the stock seat, and so lift myself off it a little; I can even pull myself up a little on the pegs using the bars when going over bumps in the road. Obviously, a lot depends on body shape, but personally I wouldn't rush to make expensive changes until I'd ridden a few thousand miles at least.
Tourer
Joined: Dec 2017
Posts: 391
Likes: 176
From: Leicestershire, United Kingdom
thanks for the info, I bought mine new 7 years and 25k miles ago so Ive got plenty of time on the stock bar setup lol. Ive got mine adjusted height and pullback where I want it but Ive just never cared for the complicated look of the adjustable riser. Couple that with angle the bars put my wrist and the overall width of the bars compared to some of the other bikes I demoed, namely the heritage softail, and I found getting back on mine just didnt feel as nice.
When I first got my 2015 FXDL I felt that the bars were a bit too low and a bit too far forward. I would even suffer from some neck/shoulder ache after a long ride. Rolling back the bars as far as possible without hitting the tank (while being careful to not damage the internal wiring in the bars) brought the bars slightly closer and eased the situation. After a few weeks, I'd adjusted to the bike: I no longer feel that the bars are in the wrong place and I no longer get neck or shoulder ache. I've found that adjusting to any new vehicle takes a while, and this bike was no exception. I've even found that the triangular posture created by the bars, the seat, and (in my case) forward controls, enables me to shift around during a long ride, which helps prevent discomfort. By pushing on the pegs, I can push myself back against the step in the stock seat, and so lift myself off it a little; I can even pull myself up a little on the pegs using the bars when going over bumps in the road. Obviously, a lot depends on body shape, but personally I wouldn't rush to make expensive changes until I'd ridden a few thousand miles at least.
Thread Starter
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Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: May 2014
Posts: 15,460
Likes: 14,352
From: Illinois
Have not rode for 10 days. Heading out to IL SOS to get my new plate sticker tomorrow.
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