Handle Bars and riding position
Thread Starter
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Road Master
Joined: May 2021
Posts: 780
Likes: 933
From: North Carolina
Handle Bars and riding position
Im having new bars installed on my 2013 Electra Glide.
What is the starting point to determine the most comfortable riding position? Should the bars be set so that Im sitting pretty much straight up or leaning forward slightly? Any bend in the elbows?
I like to be sitting pretty much straight up. After long rides with the stock bars I tend to get sore/tight in my upper back/low neck area between my shoulder blades. I always felt like the bars should be brought back closer to me.
Thanks in advance,
Mark
What is the starting point to determine the most comfortable riding position? Should the bars be set so that Im sitting pretty much straight up or leaning forward slightly? Any bend in the elbows?
I like to be sitting pretty much straight up. After long rides with the stock bars I tend to get sore/tight in my upper back/low neck area between my shoulder blades. I always felt like the bars should be brought back closer to me.
Thanks in advance,
Mark
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 24,728
Likes: 9,234
From: Snow Hill, NC
For me I like my hands close to the height of my shoulders or a bit lower. A slight bend in my elbows ,,, Do you use a backrest? I like to sit on the bike and put my hands where I feel would be the most natural position then look a bar that would closely fit that. For me the 2x2 klockwerks works for me on my trike. Previously on my 07 Electra Glide i had Paul Yaffee 14”classic apes and I could go all day. I asked some guys at dealership events or on weekends if they liked theirs and most would let me sit on their bike to try the fit.
Thread Starter
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Road Master
Joined: May 2021
Posts: 780
Likes: 933
From: North Carolina
For me I like my hands close to the height of my shoulders or a bit lower. A slight bend in my elbows ,,, Do you use a backrest? I like to sit on the bike and put my hands where I feel would be the most natural position then look a bar that would closely fit that. For me the 2x2 klockwerks works for me on my trike. Previously on my 07 Electra Glide i had Paul Yaffee 14classic apes and I could go all day. I asked some guys at dealership events or on weekends if they liked theirs and most would let me sit on their bike to try the fit.
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Feb 2013
Posts: 3,072
Likes: 1,727
From: Dallas, Texas
Yer looking for answers without all the information. NO, I don't use a backrest. It's a SEAT issue. I'd say remove the backrest and try some 50's technology. A KIDNEY BACK SUPPORT.
Grand HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2022
Posts: 4,470
Likes: 3,852
From: Florida
This varies per person apparently. I need to be slightly leaned forward to the bars for performance riding. When cruising if you set things up right I can adjust from slightly leaning forward to slightly slouching pushing my heels on the forward pegs. This gives me the ability to handle aggressively and Bing able to shift my body weight to slouching back changing the weight distribution. NEVER would I have my hands as high as my shoulders.. that would be a third back surgery real fast and no chance of performance control. It would have my back straight up receiving the poundings of the road and all the vibration.. less control of body position.
think of your thighs and back like this < going down the road. Now your hips adsorb allowing you to hinge or flex with the bumps and vibration.
You need a little slack in your arms to feel lose, be able to counter steer, and stay loose through tight curves. Allowing you to tense and pull yourself to shift. I go from my foot center on the pegs and tight into the carb and gas tank for hard launches and cornering.. and then sit wide and relaxed for mile after mile.
think of your thighs and back like this < going down the road. Now your hips adsorb allowing you to hinge or flex with the bumps and vibration.
You need a little slack in your arms to feel lose, be able to counter steer, and stay loose through tight curves. Allowing you to tense and pull yourself to shift. I go from my foot center on the pegs and tight into the carb and gas tank for hard launches and cornering.. and then sit wide and relaxed for mile after mile.
Last edited by Rains2much; Jan 27, 2025 at 07:31 AM.
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Thread Starter
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Road Master
Joined: May 2021
Posts: 780
Likes: 933
From: North Carolina
This varies per person apparently. I need to be slightly leaned forward to the bars for performance riding. When cruising if you set things up right I can adjust from slightly leaning forward to slightly slouching pushing my heels on the forward pegs. This gives me the ability to handle aggressively and Bing able to shift my body weight to slouching back changing the weight distribution. NEVER would I have my hands as high as my shoulders.. that would be a third back surgery real fast and no chance of performance control. It would have my back straight up receiving the poundings of the road and all the vibration.. less control of body position.
think of your thighs and back like this < going down the road. Now your hips adsorb allowing you to hinge or flex with the bumps and vibration.
You need a little slack in your arms to feel lose, be able to counter steer, and stay loose through tight curves. Allowing you to tense and pull yourself to shift. I go from my foot center on the pegs and tight into the carb and gas tank for hard launches and cornering.. and then sit wide and relaxed for mile after mile.
think of your thighs and back like this < going down the road. Now your hips adsorb allowing you to hinge or flex with the bumps and vibration.
You need a little slack in your arms to feel lose, be able to counter steer, and stay loose through tight curves. Allowing you to tense and pull yourself to shift. I go from my foot center on the pegs and tight into the carb and gas tank for hard launches and cornering.. and then sit wide and relaxed for mile after mile.
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Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 17,148
Likes: 6,170
From: SE Michigan
Im having new bars installed on my 2013 Electra Glide.
What is the starting point to determine the most comfortable riding position? Should the bars be set so that Im sitting pretty much straight up or leaning forward slightly? Any bend in the elbows?
I like to be sitting pretty much straight up. After long rides with the stock bars I tend to get sore/tight in my upper back/low neck area between my shoulder blades. I always felt like the bars should be brought back closer to me.
Thanks in advance,
Mark
What is the starting point to determine the most comfortable riding position? Should the bars be set so that Im sitting pretty much straight up or leaning forward slightly? Any bend in the elbows?
I like to be sitting pretty much straight up. After long rides with the stock bars I tend to get sore/tight in my upper back/low neck area between my shoulder blades. I always felt like the bars should be brought back closer to me.
Thanks in advance,
Mark
HDF Community Team
Joined: Nov 2012
Posts: 6,190
Likes: 2,419
From: USA
A semi decent place to start is to have the bike upright, sit on it, with your eyes closed, and hold your hands out in a roughly comfortable position. Now open your eyes snd look at your hand position, including wrist position. See if you can find bars that will roughly get you there.
Where you start from that may not be where you end up. I tend to reach out further and higher doing that than I actually find comfortable, especially for long day rides.
Youll also likely find yourself having to compromise things. My wrists prefer a lot more pull back angling for comfort, but I find I prefer a straighter, more dirt bike bar for control.
Where you start from that may not be where you end up. I tend to reach out further and higher doing that than I actually find comfortable, especially for long day rides.
Youll also likely find yourself having to compromise things. My wrists prefer a lot more pull back angling for comfort, but I find I prefer a straighter, more dirt bike bar for control.