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Making the jump to new RGS just not sure which bars to go with. I am 6'3" and need to upgrade from stock. Dealer recommended tall boy bars or 14" chiseled. Just that the 14" would put hands up in the wind and I do a good bit of cold weather riding. Any thoughts on bar options from personal experience?
You need to go with is the most comfortable for you. I run 12 inch bars, and they are so much more comfortable than the stock bars on my 15'. I also run heated gloves and love those in the winter.
Even with your hands "behind" the fairing with lower bars, I don't see that it blocks too much of the wind because anything over stock height puts you over the speaker grills. I'd stick with whatever will be most comfortable and worry about what gloves will work. If you want to stay with 12" or 13" bars so they don't stick way above the fairing, you could always get your stock seat modded or get an aftermarket seat that will lower you down to gain that little bit of arm angle back.
I went with 12" Factory 47's because I liked the look better than the 14's. Went with a C&C solo to sit me down a bit which put my hands just under shoulder height. I'm 5'-11".
Here's a shot to show you how my hand position is. (Windshield is a 11" Long Ride Shields Stingray in med tint)
Last edited by Cygnusx51; Aug 30, 2017 at 06:43 PM.
I put the HD apes for Road Glide on mine (15"?) ended up going back to stock, due to some shoulder pain from them. I didn't really notice much of a difference in how cold my hands got with the apes.
If you decide on the HD ones, I have a set I can sell.
Your height you'd be fine with 14s if you can stand the tall bar look over your fairing. I went with 12s because I don't like the look of the bars that tall. I also added the P&A CVO style solo. Down and back an inch at least. And you do not need and extensions up to 14" bars so don't let them sell you things you don't need. And the bar swap on a RG is tops 2 hours. That's taking your time. Drinking and talking.
just from my experience....stay away from any HD bars, stock or aftermarket.... most if not all have terrible wrist angle..... carlini 12" evil apes are on my sig pic awesome bars... also wild one chubbies ...
Making the jump to new RGS just not sure which bars to go with. I am 6'3" and need to upgrade from stock. Dealer recommended tall boy bars or 14" chiseled. Just that the 14" would put hands up in the wind and I do a good bit of cold weather riding. Any thoughts on bar options from personal experience?
Matt, shoot me a PM and I can point you to a set of 14" Factory 47 Signature bars for a very good price (if you want black).
I'm a tall guy myself and have been on a Rushmore RG since they released in 2015. I can tell you a few things;
At your height you'd probably be more comfortable with at least a 14" bar (and frankly 16" wouldn't be out of the question).
And all of this talk about hands being in the wind between the stock bars and tall apes is almost a non-issue. It wasn't when I swapped out to apes two years ago and it still isn't today. It is really the very last thing you need to worry about. Wrist angle and shoulder position, arm height and just how comfortable the bars are for the longer rides are the most critical considerations IMHO.
Once you get taller than aftermarket 14" inch bars you're likely going to have to extend the hydraulic clutch line, brake line and possibly switch/tbw wiring if cost is a consideration. I've read that if you go with Harley 14" bars then it's mandatory to change out that stuff if the dealer does the work. Something else to consider if cost is part of the equation.
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RGS Handlebars
