Handle Bar Question
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Road Captain
Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 603
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From: Tennessee
Handle Bar Question
I am on a 09 Street Glide...Still Running stock bars...several people keep telling me to go with a taller bar..not ape hangers but taller then stock...10" or 12"...they all claim once you do it you will never ride stock again...it has always looked to me to be uncomfortable ...Just seems to be harder to turn the bike and I have always thought my arms would get numb being higher up...but they tell me it will take the pinch out of your back...Thoughts, Input..pro's and cons
Road Captain
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 636
Likes: 1
they had apes on a superglide when I bought it, took them of and put on a set of roadking bars, some people like there hands in the air I'm not one of them, all depends on what you prefer. the apes were uncomfortable to me and the roadking bars felt better.
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 6,532
Likes: 132
From: SoCal
They are full of it. They like the way they look and truly believe they are more comfortable but have you ever seen anyone walking around holding their arms above their shoulders? Driving a car with their arms above their shoulders? Watching TV with their arms above their shoulders? Yes I had them on a rigid briefly because everyone said how bitchin the bike would be with them. Yeah I took em off and put proper bars on.
Tourer
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 280
Likes: 10
From: Botha,Ab,Canada
I have back issues and can't ride with stock bars. I've got 12-1/2" Carlini's on my Deluxe and would NEVER go back to stock bars. Yes,your hands will generally go numb IF your hands are above the point of your shoulder but mine are level with my shoulders and I have ridden 11 hrs in one push and have never had an issue.
Advanced
Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 65
Likes: 0
From: ottawa
I have 12 1/2" Wild One apes on my road king much more comfortable than the reduced reach bars I had put on when I bought the bike. I am 5'8" and could have gone 14" and the bars still would have been below my shoulders but I didn't want to take the chance they were too high. I think it is a combination of being taller,wider and with reduced reach to the bars. I can now actually lean against my backrest, so much more comfortable. I wish I put them on from the start. I think most (not all) who say apes suck have never tried them.
Road Master
Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 819
Likes: 2
From: shelby twp MI
I switched to higher bars on my old FatBoy and they were leaps and bounds more comfortable. They weren't hangers, just higher. It sits you up into a more comfortable position. Don't know how tall you are, but go to the dealer and sit on a Heritage or new Road King (they went to higher bars on the 14) and see how it fits. The police Road Kings had higher bars than the stock RK's. They wouldn't do that just to make cops look cool, it's done for a reason. I'm planning on going with Wild One's on mine, just need to decide on 10's or the 12.5's. Leaning towards the 12.5's.
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Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Dec 2013
Posts: 6,044
Likes: 336
Different strokes for different folks - are you comfortable with your current bars position?... does any of these people have a set of 10/12" set-up on their scoot that you could try them for fit?
Personally I would stay put until you had a chance to try out the others and find something you like - bars with all of their wires and parts is not something you want to do & undo too often unless your pretty comfortable doing so.
Personally I would stay put until you had a chance to try out the others and find something you like - bars with all of their wires and parts is not something you want to do & undo too often unless your pretty comfortable doing so.
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Road Warrior
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 1,301
Likes: 7
I am on a 09 Street Glide...Still Running stock bars...several people keep telling me to go with a taller bar..not ape hangers but taller then stock...10" or 12"...they all claim once you do it you will never ride stock again...it has always looked to me to be uncomfortable ...Just seems to be harder to turn the bike and I have always thought my arms would get numb being higher up...but they tell me it will take the pinch out of your back...Thoughts, Input..pro's and cons
And by back never gets sore during long rids.
I have no cons to mention.
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 6,186
Likes: 6
From: Gray's Creek NC
They are full of it. They like the way they look and truly believe they are more comfortable but have you ever seen anyone walking around holding their arms above their shoulders? Driving a car with their arms above their shoulders? Watching TV with their arms above their shoulders? Yes I had them on a rigid briefly because everyone said how bitchin the bike would be with them. Yeah I took em off and put proper bars on.