Softail Models Standard, Custom, Night Train, Deuce, Springer, Heritage, Fatboy, Deluxe, Rocker and Cross Bones.
Sponsored by:
Sponsored by:

Sore wrists with stock Fatboy bars?

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Apr 4, 2011 | 01:13 PM
  #11  
Jaburg1's Avatar
Jaburg1
Road Master
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 784
Likes: 10
From: SE Pennsylvania
Default

Make sure when you set them up that you're not leaning back when you ride, either. That'll really make your arms tired when riding at speed.
 
Reply
Old Apr 4, 2011 | 03:02 PM
  #12  
Forge's Avatar
Forge
Road Captain
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 520
Likes: 3
From: East Coast
Default Bars

My right wrist would bother me with the stock bars (01 Fatboy)....installed 16 in Apes from HCC and the problem has not returned...very comfortable.
 
Reply
Old Apr 4, 2011 | 03:16 PM
  #13  
Dixie Dreg's Avatar
Dixie Dreg
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 6,186
Likes: 6
From: Gray's Creek NC
Default

Your wrists hurt because your palms aren't facing forward. Try some Carlini pull back bars.
 
Reply
Old Apr 4, 2011 | 04:08 PM
  #14  
DR. V-TWIN's Avatar
DR. V-TWIN
Former Sponsor
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 19,364
Likes: 40
From: Los Angeles, CA
Default

I have to have my knuckles facing forward. I got my ride used with apes on it already but I test rode a few fatboys with stock bars and all I could think is that bars were going to be the first change. After having 3 different sets of apes I have found them all to be infinitely more comfortable than those stock fatboy bars. It was explained well above, if your wrists are turned out to the sides it puts extra pressure on them. As far as your back, leaning forward to grab low bars puts a lot of stress on your back. That does nto wkr for me either. My wife has a set of t bars on her sportster and it is pretty comfoprtable as well, but they are too low for my taste. Much better than the stock buckhorn crap that was on there.

My conclusion is that stock bars on the fatboy suck for comfort. Period. It is all marketing on Harley's part. Uncomfortable bars on a stock bike will hopefully have the customers come back to the dealer and buy a set of their bars that are actually comfortable and pay to have them put on.

Drew
 
Reply
Old Apr 4, 2011 | 05:59 PM
  #15  
Yoric's Avatar
Yoric
Thread Starter
|
Intermediate
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 47
Likes: 0
From: Ottawa, Canada
Default

Thanks for all the great advice, guys.

I'll try some of the adjustments first before spending any cash. Maybe this way I can afford to buy a FatCat from Drew!

-Rob
 
Reply
Old Apr 4, 2011 | 06:13 PM
  #16  
spydyr's Avatar
spydyr
Road Captain
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 705
Likes: 8
From: southern IL
Default

I felt some wrist & lower back issues when I first got my 09 FB. Adjusting the bars just a bit made the wrist issue go away & putting on a Mustang seat TOTALLY changed the comfort of my lower back. I can now go on long rides where before I was done after like an hour.
 
Reply
Old Apr 4, 2011 | 07:24 PM
  #17  
Dawg Rider's Avatar
Dawg Rider
Road Warrior
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 1,443
Likes: 3
From: Sasser, GA
Default

I put the newer Heritage bars on the low budget '93 project I'm just finishing up (pics coming this weekend). Didn't like the stock position and liked the older Heritage bars (pre-'09 I think it is) even less, but the newer Heritage mini-ape style bar is perfect for me. And no need to change any wires or cables either, which was a big part of why I went with them.
 
Reply
Old Apr 4, 2011 | 07:51 PM
  #18  
kkiley's Avatar
kkiley
Road Master
15 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 1,114
Likes: 28
From: Kokomo, IN
Default

Just goes to show you that everyone is different. I have the stock bars on mine and have put almost 50,000 miles on it over the last 4 years. Never a pain, adjusted them and left them alone. I sit on softails with beach bars and said not for me. To each his own...
 
Reply
HD Forum Stories

The Best of Harley-Davidson for Lifelong Riders

story-0

7 Times Harley-Davidson Chucked Tradition Out the Window

 Verdad Gallardo
story-1

7 Surprising Harley-Davidson Products that Are Not Motorcycles

 Verdad Gallardo
story-2

8 Best Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-3

10 Worst Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-4

Killer Custom's Jail Break Is The Breakout That Refused to Blend In

 Verdad Gallardo
story-5

Crazy Bunderbike Build Looks Amazing, But Is It Impossible to Ride?

 Verdad Gallardo
story-6

Harley-Davidson Reveals Super Cool Cafe Racer Concept

 Verdad Gallardo
story-7

Engraved Rebellion: Inside Bundnerbike's Glam Rock II

 Verdad Gallardo
story-8

10 Motorcycles You Should Never Buy

 Joe Kucinski
story-9

10 Things Harley-Davidson Needs to Fix in 2026

 Verdad Gallardo
Old Apr 4, 2011 | 07:51 PM
  #19  
Johnny11's Avatar
Johnny11
6th Gear
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 11
Likes: 0
From: Lafayette, Louisiana
Default

The first thing I did was change the stock fatboy bars. I felt like I was leaning back with them. Went with the lo bars. I did about an hour and a half straight highway riding this weekend around 75-80 mph. I felt like a big sail just holding on and my shoulders and tail bone were killing me. Once I got down below 60 no problems. I think the seat will be my next mod.
 
Reply
Old Apr 4, 2011 | 08:16 PM
  #20  
STLFLSTF_Mike's Avatar
STLFLSTF_Mike
Road Master
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 1,120
Likes: 4
Default

Still have stock bars.......just rolled them back a little and it worked great.
 
Reply



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 12:50 PM.

story-0
7 Times Harley-Davidson Chucked Tradition Out the Window

Slideshow: Harley-Davidson built its reputation on nostalgia, but every so often, the company took a hard left turn into the future.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-20 11:18:19


VIEW MORE
story-1
7 Surprising Harley-Davidson Products that Are Not Motorcycles

Slideshow: The bar-and-shield logo shows up on far more than motorcycles, some of the company's most unexpected products have nothing to do with riding.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-04-29 16:50:35


VIEW MORE
story-2
8 Best Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

Slideshow: Not every Harley gets it right, but these are the ones that genuinely earned their reputation.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-04-15 14:23:21


VIEW MORE
story-3
10 Worst Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

Slideshow: From the troubled AMF years to modern misfires, these bikes earned reputations for reliability issues, questionable engineering, or disappointing performance.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-04-01 20:01:09


VIEW MORE
story-4
Killer Custom's Jail Break Is The Breakout That Refused to Blend In

Slideshow: Killer Custom's "Jail Breaker" build focuses more on stance and visual aggression than mechanical overhaul.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-18 19:20:32


VIEW MORE
story-5
Crazy Bunderbike Build Looks Amazing, But Is It Impossible to Ride?

Slideshow: The Swiss custom shop has taken a Harley Softail and stretched it into something so long and low that it looks closer to a rolling sculpture than a conventional motorcycle.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-07 16:15:30


VIEW MORE
story-6
Harley-Davidson Reveals Super Cool Cafe Racer Concept

Slideshow: Harley-Davidson's new RMCR concept revives the café racer formula with modern hardware-and it may be exactly the reset the company needs.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-04 12:23:37


VIEW MORE
story-7
Engraved Rebellion: Inside Bundnerbike's Glam Rock II

Slideshow: A standard cruiser becomes an intricate metal canvas in the hands of a Swiss custom house known for pushing Harley-Davidson platforms far beyond their factory brief.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-02-24 18:19:44


VIEW MORE
story-8
10 Motorcycles You Should Never Buy

Slideshow: There is no shortage of great motorcycles to buy, but we would avoid these ten.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-02-19 14:50:51


VIEW MORE
story-9
10 Things Harley-Davidson Needs to Fix in 2026

Slideshow: Harley-Davidson's challenges aren't abstract; they show up in dropping shipments, shrinking dealer traffic, and strategic decisions that aren't yet translating into growth.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-01-13 18:33:17


VIEW MORE