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‘21 Iron 883 Handlebar Help

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  #1  
Old 08-07-2021, 09:37 PM
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Default ‘21 Iron 883 Handlebar Help

My wife doesn’t like the stock bars do to the lean angle. She wants to sit more upright and arms more level. I found some 8” bars that she likes but not 100% sure that will work. I will probably need all new cables I assume. She really likes the position when she sits on the streetbob. Are the stock bars 1 1/4”? Any help and guidance is very appreciated.
 
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Old 08-08-2021, 12:01 AM
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Sportsters use 1" bars, as do the Street Bobs/Standards. Any bar will fit with knurling and 1" dia. How tall/wide you go only depends on how much you wanna spend.
 
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Old 08-08-2021, 06:24 AM
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Make sure you check the slack in the cables and wiring. You may be able to get a decent rise out of stock.
 
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Old 08-08-2021, 08:07 AM
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The 1200 Iron comes with the taller bars. I'm pretty sure they have the same wires/cables as the 883, so you should be good.

Not sure the bars on the Street Bob, but they have internal wiring, so most likely 1 1/4" bars. Not sure the diameter at the bar clamps though, but could ask the dealer service guys to confirm. Also note the seating position on the Bob is different than the 883 and the Bob has taller risers to begin with. Might have the wife sit on the 1200 Iron with the taller bars and compare with the Bob.

I have 1 1/4" bars on my '11 XL1200C with the 1" diameter at the clamps, so should be the same as your new Iron. My bars are +2 rise and +2 pullback from the stock bars and I sit upright. My stock bars are in-between the current 883 and 1200 bars.
 
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Old 08-08-2021, 08:16 AM
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Do yourself a favor & make this a "happy wife...happy life" moment. Measure this bar upgrade correctly (to wife's specs), order "all" the correct parts (including cables) and make it look/work 100%. So many riders ask "what height" & try to stretch stock cables, only to end up w/ issues (riding position, slipping/gremlins, etc.). Bar swaps aren't a hard project, if you take the time to do it right.
 
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Old 08-08-2021, 08:26 AM
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I took the bars from a 2014 Superlow and put them on a Custom keeping the riser. To keep the same amount of slack in the clutch cable at the bar end I needed about 4" longer cable so went with a 4" over kit. It worked out real well.

The cables follow the same path as they do on a Superlow. I doubt very much the stock cables would of fitted.

The brake hose is one piece flexible from end to end. That could be slightly shorter perhaps but not by much.
 
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Old 08-08-2021, 11:54 AM
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Great advice by all, just what I needed. Thank you
 
  #8  
Old 08-08-2021, 11:54 AM
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Roland Sands design makes a nice Moto series bar and they have a low bar, which is what I got. I wanted more level too, maybe slightly downward reach. But it also created more distance/reach for me, so I ended up with 2" spacers and the clamps (Joker Machine) with a 2" rise built into it (4" total rise). It all fit, but the front brake line was tight. Now I have a Magnusen Shielding brake line on the way. 6" longer, but I ordered a 90 degree bend coming out of the master cylinder, so the brake line will route towards the center of the forks, vs straight down toward the ground. If I was going straight down with the line out of the master cylinder, I would have gone with 4" longer than stock. I also got a Joker master cylinder cover and their steering nut "trim" with bolt. All black, but all the Joker Machine stuff comes with cadmium/gold colored hardware on all of it, including the bar clamps, steering nut, master cylinder cover. That's 7 pieces of hardware jewelry. Keep in mind my speedo is relocated to the side, so the bar clamps, master cylinder, etc are very prominent on my bike, plus its all at least 2" higher than it used to be.

HD website has a nice looking bar with "Chiseled" in the title. Looks good but may not be low enough to get a level arm reach. btw- I have average to long arms for my avg height. Its all about fine tuning the reach and height. .5 to 1 inch can make a big difference. Then there's the seat selection which can change the height of the bars in relation to the rider.
 

Last edited by Iron_1200N; 08-08-2021 at 01:02 PM.
  #9  
Old 08-27-2021, 08:29 PM
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I know of someone who installed Biltwell "Chump" bars on a Sportster, they have a 10" rise and all the stock cables reached fine. The only modification was to straighten the bend in the metal upper brake hose, that was on a 2009 Sportster, I believe the 2014 - up brake hose is braided instead of the old rubber and rigid bundy tubing type, so the new hose type might not need to be altered.
 
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Old 08-27-2021, 08:33 PM
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We took the bike to our Harley guy and he did some measurements and sweet spot was a 4 1/2 riser. Getting installed next week. Happy wife.
 


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