FX Springer Handlebar questions
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Cruiser
Joined: May 2008
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FX Springer Handlebar questions
Anyone else not too happy with the bars on their FX Springer? I am looking for some with less buck horn to them. More like a Heritage bar, or maybe the bars off of the Cross Bones if I can get them in chrome. Mini-apes I guess. I just noticed, as I looked through some catalogs that the riser spacing, being specific to Springers, has narrowed my choices considerably, unless I go with the Bad Boy bars.
Thanks,
Next question is exhaust. The pipes on my bike sound great, but, rashed before I bought it. I have a soft spot for thunderheaders, but a couple I have had and a few I have installed have had chrome issues.
Thanks,
Next question is exhaust. The pipes on my bike sound great, but, rashed before I bought it. I have a soft spot for thunderheaders, but a couple I have had and a few I have installed have had chrome issues.
Elite HDF Member
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 3,891
Likes: 54
From: Mansfield, MA
RE: FX Springer Handlebar questions
Cruiser
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 154
Likes: 1
From: Mobile,Al
RE: FX Springer Handlebar questions
Arlen Ness & Carlini make adapter trees to mount standard size bars. You wlii have more selections to choose from. That's what I did when I went to apes on mine.
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 2,272
Likes: 10
From: Orange VA
RE: FX Springer Handlebar questions
I have an 06 FXSTS and have worked with both the handlebars and exhaust mods. I'll give you my experience and hopefully that will help some.
Springers have a 4.75" center spacing on their risers. Everyone else is 3.5". That makes for limited choices for you when looking at bar swaps as you no boubt have seen. But, it's not insurmountable. There are conversions available, as mentioned, to change your spacing to the more common 3.5". It's a solution but it adds cost. If you can find Springer specific bars then that's all you need. If you buy the conversion then you have the cost of the conversion plus the cost of bars. And standard 3.5" center bars aren't necessarily cheaper than Springer bars.
I didn't want to spend the extra money on a riser conversion nor did I want to mess with any issues that might have come up with the mod. I was still able to find some decent bars. I first went with some Wild1 Chubby Springer apes in 12.5" on the stock risers. In hind sight the 10.5" might have been a more modest fit (and closer to the Crossbones setup) but the 12.5's were still great bars. I rode with those for quite a while and really liked them.
Then I had the opportunity to ride another Springer that had the Wild1 Springer pullback drags (with integrated riser). I'm not a drag bar fan at all but these don't have the look or feel of what you would think of when you think drag bars. I can still maintain a very comfortable riding position and profile. I don't look like a hunchback or the guy in the old Maxell cassette tape commercial. So I decided I really liked the pullback drags and subsequently bought them for my bike, swapping out the apes. Like I said, I really liked the apes. The main reason for the change was that the bike was transforming from a 2-up laidback cruiser to more of a muscle-bike stance and feel. The apes didn't quite fit that look. Anyway, there are a few options for you without having to swap your risers or use a conversion kit. If you are partial to apes and want something about the size of the Crossbones apes, look for the Wild1 Chubby Springer Apes in 10.5". With the risers added in you are looking at about 14-16" of total rise. As far as pricing, check out Dennis Kirk's Ebay store (dktrader). They often have scratch and dent bars and other parts at huge discounts. I got my pullback drags from them for less than half of what they cost from Wild1 or Drag Spec and the blemishes were minimal. I think I put more scratches on them installing them than what caused the price reduction.
As for the exhaust, Thunderheaders are highly regarded by a lot of people and I hear a lot of tuners here swear by them for good power and tuning. However, I hear equal numbers of reports that the chrome and show quality of them fades fast. I'm not sure on cost for them.
On my bike I ran Cycle Shack slipons for a long time. They were very inexpensive and provided good power and sound with minimal tuning (I did it all DIY with a SERT). I recently replaced them with some VH Short Shots Staggereds. We put a set of Big Radius 2-2 on the wife's. I saw a CVO Springer recently with them installed and they looked really good. In hindsight I wish I had gone with the Big Radius too. Having said that, both sets of pipes perform and sound very good. Cost will obviously depend on your preference for long or short pipes. I bought mine from a local shop and got good prices. Expect to pay $500-550 for Big Radius and $350 for the Short Shot Staggereds.
Springers have a 4.75" center spacing on their risers. Everyone else is 3.5". That makes for limited choices for you when looking at bar swaps as you no boubt have seen. But, it's not insurmountable. There are conversions available, as mentioned, to change your spacing to the more common 3.5". It's a solution but it adds cost. If you can find Springer specific bars then that's all you need. If you buy the conversion then you have the cost of the conversion plus the cost of bars. And standard 3.5" center bars aren't necessarily cheaper than Springer bars.
I didn't want to spend the extra money on a riser conversion nor did I want to mess with any issues that might have come up with the mod. I was still able to find some decent bars. I first went with some Wild1 Chubby Springer apes in 12.5" on the stock risers. In hind sight the 10.5" might have been a more modest fit (and closer to the Crossbones setup) but the 12.5's were still great bars. I rode with those for quite a while and really liked them.
Then I had the opportunity to ride another Springer that had the Wild1 Springer pullback drags (with integrated riser). I'm not a drag bar fan at all but these don't have the look or feel of what you would think of when you think drag bars. I can still maintain a very comfortable riding position and profile. I don't look like a hunchback or the guy in the old Maxell cassette tape commercial. So I decided I really liked the pullback drags and subsequently bought them for my bike, swapping out the apes. Like I said, I really liked the apes. The main reason for the change was that the bike was transforming from a 2-up laidback cruiser to more of a muscle-bike stance and feel. The apes didn't quite fit that look. Anyway, there are a few options for you without having to swap your risers or use a conversion kit. If you are partial to apes and want something about the size of the Crossbones apes, look for the Wild1 Chubby Springer Apes in 10.5". With the risers added in you are looking at about 14-16" of total rise. As far as pricing, check out Dennis Kirk's Ebay store (dktrader). They often have scratch and dent bars and other parts at huge discounts. I got my pullback drags from them for less than half of what they cost from Wild1 or Drag Spec and the blemishes were minimal. I think I put more scratches on them installing them than what caused the price reduction.
As for the exhaust, Thunderheaders are highly regarded by a lot of people and I hear a lot of tuners here swear by them for good power and tuning. However, I hear equal numbers of reports that the chrome and show quality of them fades fast. I'm not sure on cost for them.
On my bike I ran Cycle Shack slipons for a long time. They were very inexpensive and provided good power and sound with minimal tuning (I did it all DIY with a SERT). I recently replaced them with some VH Short Shots Staggereds. We put a set of Big Radius 2-2 on the wife's. I saw a CVO Springer recently with them installed and they looked really good. In hindsight I wish I had gone with the Big Radius too. Having said that, both sets of pipes perform and sound very good. Cost will obviously depend on your preference for long or short pipes. I bought mine from a local shop and got good prices. Expect to pay $500-550 for Big Radius and $350 for the Short Shot Staggereds.
Tourer
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 254
Likes: 1
From: Miami County, Ohio
RE: FX Springer Handlebar questions
I have a pair of drag bars on mine. I am 6'4" and with the bars and forward controls, I am very comfortable.
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