How big a job is it to change to a new set of handle bars? I am not a mechanic but able to do some of the simpler things. My guess is that the wiring through the bars is the big thing.
Can anyone shed some light on this so I can decide if I want to attempt it or.......how much would it cost to have the dealer do it?

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Easy enough, just be patient, have a service manual handy & take your time!

 

Piece of cake, get a manual and take your time. Dealer charges way too much and you will be more proud doing it yourself.

Internal wiring is a pain, your call on that one but again it can be done. Just a bar swap should take a newbie about 2 hours max. I can do an electra glide in about 2.5 hours and it has a lot of removal before getting to the risers.

 

I'm going to go against what the above posts said.

You admit that you're not a mechanic. If you doubt you can do it, you are better off to spend your time at something you are good at. Your job! Make the money and have the dealer install them for you. There is a reason they charge what they do. The job takes time to do it right. If you do it yourself, many things can go wrong. Do a search here and you will hear a lot about that.

OK, if you decide to do it yourself, take the advice to get a manual. If you can't understand the directions in the manual, let your dealer do it.

I changed mine. I worked as a mechanic for 20 years so I have all the correct tools plus the knowledge to complete the job. I still had a few choice words to say during the job. It can be a PITA to do by yourself.

If you buy certain bars, you will also need to extend your wiring, change your throttle cables and clutch cable. This is not a job for a "non-mechanic". Believe me, your life could depend on it.

OK, have is thoroughly discouraged you yet? I just want you to go into this job knowing what you are getting yourself into.

Does anyone else agree with me? Or am I completely full of it?? Maybe I'm just one of those ahole mechanics who thinks he knows more than anyone else??? You tell me.

Steve L.

 

I'd almost have to agree with you siflarson If you don't think you can then likely you can't. If its just to change a chrome set out same size and style then ok but to do the complete, and if you are changing out to a nice set of bars you are going to want to do internals and unless you have ever seen or done that before you will get nothing from the service manual to show you how, therefore you will be on your own as to how to do it. I guess first off would be to look in your tool box and see if you even have a T-27 most people don't who have never worked on a Harley before. Just my .02

 

I agree with Steve, I am mechanically inclined and have a service manualso I decided to attempt the change out on my RG myself, after four hours of cursing up a storm I called one of my HD mechanic buddies to bail me out. Pay the $$ for the piece of mind andno aggravation. Just my 2 cents.

 

I have to agree with sifularson, it is not as easy as it sounds. The safety issue is aBIG one, especially if you not too sure about your ability. It is expensive for a dealer, but if you have a local guy that you trust with your bike they might give you a better deal. All told to put apes, with braided cables and hiding the other ones it'll cost between $700 TO $1000.I watched the guy do it on my 06 RK and he removed the tank, headlight,and a few misc other things. Keep in mind that with a RK it has a split handlebar clamp so you will also need a different clamp, and the wiring can either be soldered, or you can get the ones that clip to the exisiting ones. The braided cables(clutch, throttle, brake) run around $200. I adjusted mineforward and it took about an hour.If you decide to go ahead and do it yourself take your time and be very patient, give yourself a day with no interuptions. Anyway hope this helps

 

Wow, on a bike without a fairing its super simple unless your running the wires through the bars and that isn't hard at all either. Just have a service manual there just in case. On my SG the bars I put on were not dimpled for wires so I had to run the wires through them andI have never done it in the past but it only added a hour and a half of time to the job but it was well worth it. Just take your time and protect the gas tank and you'll be fine...dont forget to post pictures afterwards also.

 

Your right, sifularson, It's not as easy as it looks for a Weekend Warrior to dothis job.Parts being equal my down time from work is worth alot more than the $278 in labor my indy charged to do the job. I have the tools and skills to have done it and a couple of decades back when I had more time than $$$ there would be no question .

 

Handle bars only on your RK... remove the headlight...7 screws under the headlight to get to the nacelle rib on top of the light housing.... unbolt the bars.... easy if you have an manual....

Later

Hogback