Road Glide Handlebars Compared

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Feb 2, 2009 | 04:45 PM

#81

gdkenoyer

Tourer

Joined: Jun 2007

Posts: 293

Likes: 0

From:

Quote:

Originally Posted by steveh326

actually, my heritage bars were a huge improvement for me over stock, and I would rate them "good" or even "better", I am just looking for "best"

Yep, I second that. I am currently running with the Heritage bars having tried, in order:

Code:

Bar				  PN		  Comment
RG stock bar			56571-98	had to lean forward too much
Heritage Chrome			56623-98	best of all, back on after trying next two
Wide Glide Chrome		56079-93T	uncomfortable,  not really clear why
Custom Handlebars-Road Glide	56570-98	horrible, 'slight buckhorn' my a$$

I put the HD specs of the above (and a few more) into post #61, fwiw. Looking at the HD Heritage vs. KhromeWerks 300504, it appears that the sweepers have ~2.5" more pullback and ~1.1" less rise...

Quote:

Originally Posted by steveh326

(best for me, unless you are built exactly like I am, ymmv)...

Which brings up something most everyone forgets to post, your specs. Handlebar comfort is going to be pretty personal, but I'd bet that folks with similar height and similar inseam will find more agreement in a given bar's comfort.

I'm 5'9" with a 32" inseam; you...?

Feb 2, 2009 | 05:10 PM

#82

steveh326

Road Warrior

Joined: Dec 2006

Posts: 1,548

Likes: 163

From: Mt. Airy, MD

Quote:

Originally Posted by gdkenoyer

I'm 5'9" with a 32" inseam; you...?

There is no one right answer for everyone when it comes to handlebars, just like exhaust/windshields/whatever, a lot of it is subjective.. Just cause 99 people here love something, it may not work for me. There's a lot of variables that make each person's handlebar search different... I am using a Mustang seat, which I think slides me back a little and makes my fit different than someone using a different seat.

things like this forum are good to let people know about the different options out there, but in the end each person has to decide whats right for them, which for some things requires trial and error.

Feb 2, 2009 | 08:42 PM

#83

Bilboy

Advanced

Joined: Feb 2009

Posts: 52

Likes: 0

From: Southeast Missouri

Just Wondering

I just purchased an '09 RG and like y'all I need new handlebars(at least I will when this snow and ice melts). I was wondering, if I purchase 1 1/4 bars will all the wires fit inside and do you think it's worth the effort?

Feb 3, 2009 | 11:43 AM

#84

gdkenoyer

Tourer

Joined: Jun 2007

Posts: 293

Likes: 0

From:

Quote:

Originally Posted by steveh326

There is no one right answer for everyone when it comes to handlebars ... a lot of it is subjective.

Absolutely, but didn't I sort of cover that with:

Quote:

Handlebar comfort is going to be pretty personal

People who like buckhorns will not agree with people who like extreme apes will not agree with those who like really wide beachbars. But then there is the vast middle ground of folks who just want a “comfortable touring bar”, no?

My point was, from a strictly ergonomic standpoint, the triangle formed by the line drawn from your hips to your shoulders to your hands (grips!!) and back to your hips will be similar for people with similar measurements.

For these similar people, how far that first line (hips to shoulders) inclines forward (lean) will be determined by the rise and pullback of the bars.

Now consider that one of the primary complaints regarding the stock RG bars seems to be "I lean too far forward".

There is a much higher chance that I and someone with similar measurements would agree on a set of bars than there is that an orangutan and I would agree. 8^)

So if I see a review "the absolute best bars I've ever had" but it comes from someone 4'3" or 6'11", I'm pretty dam sure that it doesn't apply to me! Which is why I like to know, and why I ask!

Last edited by gdkenoyer; Feb 3, 2009 at 11:59 AM.

Feb 3, 2009 | 11:58 AM

#85

gdkenoyer

Tourer

Joined: Jun 2007

Posts: 293

Likes: 0

From:

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bilboy

I was wondering, if I purchase 1 1/4 bars will all the wires fit inside [an '09 RG] and do you think it's worth the effort?

They'll fit. As to the effort, a search will give you these threads (and more):

Feb 3, 2009 | 12:12 PM

#86

rrsjs5

Road Captain

Joined: Mar 2008

Posts: 629

Likes: 0

From: Ca.

Let me see if I can help here,I'm about 5'10",220,short legs,wear a 30 length in jeans,arms kinda short (dont matter will get to that in a minute) 07 Road glide completly stock with fixed backrest,leaned forward and got the "Burn" between my shouler blades and the wife got the butt burn "seat",so first thing was a Mustang Tour seat "compy" for both!..but moved me back alittle cramped the wife,next George Anderson Pack relocator,wife happy now and I'm really stretch,next +2 sweepers bars,you can push them forward or back to get the arms just right.I can lean back against the backrest on the slap,elbows bent alittle,hands alitte higher,highway pegs turned in just alittle,knee bent or heel on top to really stretch.Everthing is PERFECT now for both of us,took alittle to get it just right,but is is now.The sweepers are by FAR the best mod I've done for comfort for me!!...hope this helps!

Feb 3, 2009 | 12:34 PM

#87

BCguy

Road Captain

Joined: May 2007

Posts: 674

Likes: 0

From: Vancouver Island

Excellent points made about different bars fitting different body types. I'm 5'7", 29" inseam with 32" sleeve length and definitely found the stock bars on my RG to be a bit of a 'stretch' no matter how I adjusted them. Long trips gave me the shoulder/back pain big time.

I've followed every thread on replacing RG bars and bought a set of Heritage bars (56902-08) the other day. From trial fitting they look pretty good and should allow a slightly more relaxed posture. Gonna get them mounted as soon as I have a chance and see how they really work.

Feb 3, 2009 | 12:52 PM

#88

gdkenoyer

Tourer

Joined: Jun 2007

Posts: 293

Likes: 0

From:

Quote:

Originally Posted by rrsjs5

...07 Road glide completly stock with fixed backrest,leaned forward and got the "Burn" between my shouler blades ..., so first thing was a Mustang Tour seat "compy" for both!..but moved me back alittle

so you initially went from bad to worse, right?

Quote:

Originally Posted by rrsjs5

+2 sweepers bars,you can push them forward or back to get the arms just right

that brings up another kink -- the Heritage bars can only lean so far back before they hit the console. This got my HD dealer mildly exicted back when I was still under warranty, so they put the bars back 'up' a bit.

How do the sweepers and the console 'get along'?

Last edited by gdkenoyer; Feb 3, 2009 at 12:56 PM.