This is a thread about my latest round of mods that I said I would do after I laid down some miles. We often do our mods, show pictures and then that's that. We hear little in the way of the outcome, what we think afterwards and then evaluate them. This is probably more for those considering any of these mods. It may not appear this way in my pictures but this was a pretty extensive round of mods.
1) 14" Carlini Gangster apes and the 1 1/2" Carlini bra riser. With what I did along with these apes which I will go into later, was my biggest concern because in 40+ years of riding I had ZERO ape experience. This also turned out to be my biggest surprise. I was going for a look and I was thinking I might be sacrificing comfort, I was dead wrong. For my age and old war wounds I never thought they would be this comfortable. I can never see me going back to standard bars after this. I ran everything through the bars for a cleaner look too.
2) Hydraulic clutch set up, Harley brand. I had to switch to this in order to run it internally. This thing blows my mind. I don't know how to describe it other than it is very sensitive, very precise, very exact. There is no jerking around off the line and shifting is smooth as silk. Had I known this I would have switched to this set up long ago even if I stayed with standard bars, it's that nice, and that sweet.
3) Exile internal throttle. This too is smooth as silk, it rolls on and off like nothing. It rolls on bearings and I have never felt a throttle so sweet. I highly recommend going internals to anyone even thinking about it. For effect, I capped these bars with chrome and white handgrips to accent the colors of my bike. These 3 mods ran me in the neighborhood of 1600.00 and the entire set up was worth every penny. There is also questiones concerning this if it only works on carbs? It works on both EFI and carbs.
4) Samson 39" cholos with removable baffles and tips. When I ordered them I also ordered the chrome mounting brackets and head flanges. I would suggest the Samson head flanges as they are thinner and mount up better, IMHO. I have yet to get it lined out on a Dyno and to have the baffles cut down. I can tell it needs it as I feel a slight hesitation and "pop" every now and then off of the line or when I "goose" it. I have also heard that a lot of people have "Decel popping" issues. I have found that there is a way to ride to avoid that altogether. I have none of that. I got these straight from Samson and it was close to 1200.00 and I am figuring at least 2 hours on a Dyno at 100.00 an hour.
5) Chrome ceramic coated head pipes. I have had many ask me about this and I can now comment. There is no getting around heat off of an exhaust system but this is not a "radiation" heat. If you stick your hand on the heat shield, guess what? Your still going to get burned but riding it, sitting at lights, stop signs and in traffic? I feel NO heat under my left thigh from the left side crossover pipe. Whats as nice is the exposed areas of the pipes where it is not covered by heat shields is still chrome looking, like brand new. There is NO pipe discoloration whatsoever. This may be the best 125.00 spent on this round of mods.
6) My seats and backrest. This is something I HAD to do, I just wasn't sure which way to go. I have seen where guys have gone through 2, 3, 4 seats before they found what they wanted and liked so I decided to stay with my stock seat and just have it reworked. I had my stock seat and passenger seat cut down an 1 1/2" and replaced with 1" of the new gelfoam for a little lower profile and I had it pushed back as far as it could go. I then had them covered in a Black and White to match the colors of the bike. I also have a quick connect padded sissy bar and I had that done in Black and white too. With this combination and how the apes repositioned me I have NO, ZERO, tailbone pain anymore. Cost, right at 1,000.00
7) Chrome teardrop toolbox. I had the upholsterer line this with auto truck padding so that I hear nothing in there bouncing or rattling around as I go down the road. I know I could have gotten the liner but I wanted something more permanent. The cost of this was included with all the other work that the upholsterer did.
8) All fresh Amsoil synthetic fluids and filter changed out while it was down. 20/50 Motor and primary, 75/90 tranny gear oil.
9) Chrome Ness fork boots. I had a lot going on in all my front end and bar work so I felt I needed something to "break" it up a bit. I was not sure about these until I seen them on my bike. I think it did exactly what I wanted it to do. Cost 300.00 I believe they were. On the Deluxe, I also had to remove my light bar to make them fit. I can grind the bar down a tad and put them back on, if and when I want too.
10) Added chrome work. I had my EFI mounting bracket, my old pipe mounting bracket and my rear 2 floorboard mounts sent out to Cali. this winter for chrome. This guy "gouged me BIG TIME, IMHO! 4 pieces? 750.00.

All in all? Everything came together much better than I ever imagined it would. Counting labor? Right at 6K and not sorry for 1 of those pennies spent, except those 4 pieces of chrome. I hope there are those who reads this that finds this informative if you are in any way, shape or form considering any of these mods. If your not I hope I at the very least provided all of you with some good reading material!!!

 

Looking at the pics you posted in your original "Done" thread, it looks like there were holes drilled into the bars to route the cables through.

Was this done to route the brake and clutch cable? Does the throttle cable route inside the bars like switch wiring would? Can you give some detail on how the internal wiring was done? Can you give the part number you used for the hydraulic clutch? I tried searching the parts catalog online for one that would fit the Slim, but didn't have any luck. Thanks in advance.

 

There are holes drilled for the Hydraulic clutch hose, a wire cable won't go through and work. I also have the front hydraulic brake hose through the bars into the other drilled out hole. The throttle cable is totally internal, you see none of that. All other electrical wiring is also run through the holes drilled into the bars. My bike came with a 5 speed but that was removed and a SE 6 speed has been put in it's place so it is the side tranny cover of a SE 6 speed that accepts a hydraulic clutch and hydraulic hose set up, not a stock tranny cable or hydraulic set up. When I get home I will dig that receipt out and see if the part numbers are on it.

 

Hey Tony no mention of the Shotgun? lol...

Hydraulic clutch is that good, hmmm another mod to do.
Thanks for the info.

 

Ramboamt, it is as far as I am concerned. I could never see myself going back to the "old cable" style clutch. No mention id the SS this time around. It wasn't part of this latest round of mods. It is my opinion though that to run these pipes it is a must have. I am considering looking into changing, modifying or doing away with the bump stops. I know little to nothing about that yet, if it's doable or if it's even smart to do but I am going to start asking questions. Anybody have anything to offer on the subject? It's not a must do type of thing.

 

Nice write up I recently got an 07 fatboy and am torn between the apes and beach bars, after looking into the threads it seems to be quite a weekend project, and would a shame not to have the internal lines after all that work. How tall are you and are you happy with the exact height of bars you chose?

 

Danimal85, I'm 56, 5"10", 225. I had originally ordered and got the 16" Gangsters then I had the chance to sit on a bike that had the same thing and I knew they were to tall for me. Carlini allowed me to exchange them for the 14" Gangsters because I had not installed them yet. The 14" with the their bra riser fits me perfectly. I am VERY glad I made that swap. As I am sure you have read before, Carlini's run a little tall and the angle and width of the bars fits me like a glove. I am surprised how much I like them given the fact I have never had or used them. I don't think I would ever own or ride another bike without them. I also didn't think the bike would handle as well in tight places but I find just the opposite to be true. It adds leverage which means the weight distribution makes it much easier to navigate in tight spaces. As for going with internals? I would do it with either, apes or beach bars. I know it's not cheap but you will love the look once it's done. It's doesn't matter where I go. When I get there everyone gets out their camera phones and are standing around snapping pictures of my bike. I won't lie, I'm proud of that!!!

 

tbone, bike looks great big change in look dont regret it and neither do I on mine worth it

 

tbone looks good man nice set up,cholos are next for me also,im with ya on the apes very comfortable for me too.