Installing handle bars... how hard can it be?
Installing handle bars... how hard can it be?
so I'm looking at putting on some apes on my '09 Deluxe. I'm gonna have to get different risers as the stock ones look too high, and I've seen different companies sell kits that include the cables that are to the length you need for your specific application. There's a local shop here that has a good rep, and I just saw them instal 17" apes on a fat boy, to the tune of over $700! (included the bars and cables).
1. How hard could it be?
2. Is it worth doing yourself for the $200+ savings you get with the bar kits that cost around $500?
1. How hard could it be?
2. Is it worth doing yourself for the $200+ savings you get with the bar kits that cost around $500?
Former Sponsor
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 19,364
Likes: 40
From: Los Angeles, CA
$200 for the isntall is extremely inexpensive. Most places charge at least $400 if not $600-$800 just for the isntall above and beyond parts. You can do the install. It is just time consuming.
Drew
Drew
Road Master
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 762
Likes: 1
From: mission bc canada
not hard just time consuming.if your going internal wiring then it gets even longer ,but if you buy a pre wired set then it will be quicker .you may have to remove the fuel tank to get at the signals wiring connector under tank on right side of bike ..
if you have your manual you will be fine i wouldnt do the job without one ..
if you have your manual you will be fine i wouldnt do the job without one ..
Former Sponsor
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 19,364
Likes: 40
From: Los Angeles, CA
Regular tools should do it with a soldering iron for teh wiring extensions. A bottle of brake fluid and maybe tranny oil if you insist, but if you leave the bike on the side stand you will only lose a few drops of tranny oil.
Drew
Drew
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Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 520
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From: East Coast
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Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2007
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From: NJ
Lot of work and aggravation but not rocket science. I figure if I had been getting paid to do mine I would've made about a nickle an hour 
. I'm a die hard DIYer so saving money wasn't my primary motivation for doing the job myself.
. I'm a die hard DIYer so saving money wasn't my primary motivation for doing the job myself.
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Tools needed:
-Snap ring pliers (large ones for the ring in the transmission cover and small ones, or a flathead screwdriver for the snap ring holding on the clutch cable)
-Standard wrench set (open and closed end, the whole set up to, I believe, 3/4")
-Allen wrenches (a pretty large one for the transmission fill plug and smaller ones for various other parts. I had a set that used a 3/8" drive so I could use my socket wrench)
-Standard set of sockets
-Torx set (I used ones that had a 3/8 drive so I could use my socket wrench)
-The trusty old crescent wrench (just for convenience)
I believe this is all. Like everyone else said, its not a hard job. I did it by myself this weekend. There are just some frustrating things at times (I fought the damned throttle cable while trying to get it out of the housing for almost 30 minutes!) but for the most part, everything is simple if you take it step by step.
THE MANUAL IS YOUR FRIEND! You'll have to do some flipping back and forth between pages but everything is basically spelled out for you.
If you need any help, hit me up or any of the other guys on here who has done it. Good Luck!
I did my own because I'm sure I like my bike more than the guy at the shop. With that being said, $200 for 6 to 8 hours work isn't bad.