Chinese risers vs "name brand"
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Tourer
Joined: Apr 2020
Posts: 490
Likes: 271
From: PNW
Chinese risers vs "name brand"
Wondering if anyone has tried Ebay or Amazon risers. There are a ton of options that are much cheaper than fancy brands. Reasons I'm curious are below:
1. I want some apes eventually ($1k or more) but not willing to blow tons of money initially until I find the right height, width, pullback, etc.
2. Like the idea of riser swap since I can test 2, 4, or more inches without the bar hassle (tear down bike)
3. Fancy brands (USA) charge at least 300-500 for just risers. Seem way overpriced.
4. There are no reviews on these chinese brands. There are tons of sellers but no one tried them yet?
5. Will they really snap off and kill me or work properly?
The risers I'm considering are 8" and clamp on stock 1.25 bars. Easy swap. If I don't like them, oh well, they were only 90 bucks.
Bike is 2017 Wide Glide. I already have 2" spacers on stock risers. Need more height since my back isn't happy.
Is it worth the chance for supporting the commies?
1. I want some apes eventually ($1k or more) but not willing to blow tons of money initially until I find the right height, width, pullback, etc.
2. Like the idea of riser swap since I can test 2, 4, or more inches without the bar hassle (tear down bike)
3. Fancy brands (USA) charge at least 300-500 for just risers. Seem way overpriced.
4. There are no reviews on these chinese brands. There are tons of sellers but no one tried them yet?
5. Will they really snap off and kill me or work properly?
The risers I'm considering are 8" and clamp on stock 1.25 bars. Easy swap. If I don't like them, oh well, they were only 90 bucks.
Bike is 2017 Wide Glide. I already have 2" spacers on stock risers. Need more height since my back isn't happy.
Is it worth the chance for supporting the commies?
Road Master
Joined: Sep 2016
Posts: 750
Likes: 200
From: WNY
I am in the same boat for some risers as well. Really want the Kraus kickbacks. $600+. But I will eventually get them. In my opinion, the risers are not where you want to test a cheap made part. Saddlebags, tour packs, lowers, maybe. But nothing that has to do with control over the bike. I'll buy ones that are proven. Good luck either way.
Road Warrior
Joined: Jun 2013
Posts: 1,976
Likes: 1,880
From: SF Bay Area
Will they snap off or break off causing you to crash? NO
WILL they allow you to try different setups cheap to find what you are looking for? YES
Having said that:
- They WILL most likely not be a nice with fit and finish.
- Some of the "black" finishes end up looking purpleish over time.
- Bolts will be lower grade Home Depot type and could rust and strip the hex heads.
I tend to shy away from the cheap Ebay stuff for the above reasons. There is an old saying "Good, Fast, Cheap . . . you only get to pick two"
If money is a concern I would try to find used name brands on Ebay, Facebook, here in the classifieds, etc. Many guys go through different setups until they settle and you can find used risers and bars heavily discounted some never mounted.
Good luck!
WILL they allow you to try different setups cheap to find what you are looking for? YES
Having said that:
- They WILL most likely not be a nice with fit and finish.
- Some of the "black" finishes end up looking purpleish over time.
- Bolts will be lower grade Home Depot type and could rust and strip the hex heads.
I tend to shy away from the cheap Ebay stuff for the above reasons. There is an old saying "Good, Fast, Cheap . . . you only get to pick two"
If money is a concern I would try to find used name brands on Ebay, Facebook, here in the classifieds, etc. Many guys go through different setups until they settle and you can find used risers and bars heavily discounted some never mounted.
Good luck!
Last edited by Calif Fat Bob; Sep 30, 2022 at 12:48 PM.
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2020
Posts: 2,246
Likes: 2,163
From: West Coast
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Club Member
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 66,126
Likes: 51,455
From: Niles Canyon Ca.
China short ones maybe but a tall set like that, no way.
Problems with china stuff like that is the materials they use is **** poor particularity pot metal castings, caps will deform over very little time allowing the bars to move and you will strip the threads out trying to tighten them enough, their tapping clearances are generous so the threaded holes tend to be sloppy fits and the hardware that comes with are not any better. I've had to helicoil a few sets of them and took material off the clamp caps to get them to cinch down, bars would still move after time, owners eventually tossed them for US made.
Problems with china stuff like that is the materials they use is **** poor particularity pot metal castings, caps will deform over very little time allowing the bars to move and you will strip the threads out trying to tighten them enough, their tapping clearances are generous so the threaded holes tend to be sloppy fits and the hardware that comes with are not any better. I've had to helicoil a few sets of them and took material off the clamp caps to get them to cinch down, bars would still move after time, owners eventually tossed them for US made.
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HDF Community Team
Joined: Oct 2018
Posts: 4,347
Likes: 3,392
From: Seattle
WIth all do respect here, let's be honest with ourselves. 1. Would you want to buy a Harley from someone who had installed a bunch of Chinese parts? 2, do you really want your life to potentially depend on Chinese parts that are notorious for being low quality knock offs that are only made to flood the market for quick and easy product.
I would never buy anything Chinese origin for my bike unless no one else had something like it, and it was for the most part, meant for vanity, or does not have a high risk for it's failure.
I buy everything I can from American or European manufacturers and when it comes to goods produced in Asia, I'll accept Taiwanese, and Thailand made, but Chinese made is almost always going to be manufactured out of bottom of the barrel raw materials, because Chinese companies do not care to adhere to standards unless forced too by a bigger entity.
I would highly suggest not buying anything aftermarket for your bike that is Chinese origin. I would not gable my life or risk an Injury and my bike to save a few bucks over a genuine aftermarket made part by a company that knows what they're doing.
I would never buy anything Chinese origin for my bike unless no one else had something like it, and it was for the most part, meant for vanity, or does not have a high risk for it's failure.
I buy everything I can from American or European manufacturers and when it comes to goods produced in Asia, I'll accept Taiwanese, and Thailand made, but Chinese made is almost always going to be manufactured out of bottom of the barrel raw materials, because Chinese companies do not care to adhere to standards unless forced too by a bigger entity.
I would highly suggest not buying anything aftermarket for your bike that is Chinese origin. I would not gable my life or risk an Injury and my bike to save a few bucks over a genuine aftermarket made part by a company that knows what they're doing.
