I want to do the same as the OP, except avoid the complication of changing bars. Is it possible to install 2-4" risers on the RK triple tree instead of new bars in order to raise them up a little? I'd like to avoid re-wiring completely.

Thanks all...

 

Exactly.

The bars you have are not designed for internal wiring.

 

Those 1/4" holes are drilled there to hold the wires in place with the stock clips. There is no way the wire bundles will fit thru 1/4" holes.

The HD Heratige bars are not designed for internal wiring.............they are not drilled, and are not a large enough diameter.

Steve

 

Thanks for all the info guys. I guess I will still swap out my original bars and use these Heritage style since I already have them. I will just run the wires outside like the originals. If they are as comfortable as everyone says that will make me happy. If they are not comfortable I will make it a winter project next year to replace them with bars like the Wild1 bars. I just liked the Heritage style because I did not want to replace my clutch cable, that sounds like a real PITA with removing the exhaust.
It is still cold here in Cincinnati so maybe before I install these bars some one will come up with a "How I drilled my Heritage Style bars". One can only dream.

 

If you really want to run the wiring internally on those bars drill at the front of the indentation. You'll see the reason for the indentation when you pull your stock bars apart. You'll also see how large the wire bundle is & be able to size the hole from that. At the center of the bars drill two holes near each other & remove the material between them with a cutoff wheel on a die grinder.

The stock wiring is long enough, but you'll have to either pull the pins out of the connectors, or splice & extend. As others have said, de-burr the holes, but good wrap on the wire is enough to prevent chaffing. There's not much movement once their on the bike.

Internal wiring is nice if you're goin' for a show look, but not really necessary for a good lookin' ride. I also know a couple of people that have used Heritage or Wide Glide bars & the stock clutch cable, but if I were going to pull the exhaust to change the cable I'd also change to a hydraulic clutch. It's easy & one hell of an improvement!

 

Well at least I would not have to mess with drilling the center holes because my bars are already cut out like that from harley. That is cut out becuase my FBW throttle wires come through that hole. Sounds more and more like I will have to be satisfied with leaving the wires on the outside like they are now.

 

Well I trial fitted my new heritage style bars on my bike and they were pretty comfortable. I guess I am going to go ahead and drill my bars myself so I can run the wires internally.

 

if you look on the wildones site the wow515 bars are the same as the heritage bars and does not require new clutch cable or brake line to install them and they are predrilled for internal wireing and are the inch and a 1/4 bars

 

Save yourself time and agony and save up $200 bucks for handlebars that are designed for internal wiring. You will have one hell of a time drilling the holes, let alone running the TBW AND the housing wires through those stock bars. Where the bars curve there is an indent for a "clean look" wires on the outside. Inside those bars at that point you have a 1/2 inch opening. Those holes on the bars already are exactly what the others have said on this post. A few people have done it on this site and I've only heard of them say its a PITA! I just installed internally wired bars and that was a process in iself on my 09 RKC. Good luck in whatever you chose!

 

I Went to the Wild 1's web site and checked out the wow515 bars and when they did their compairison pics it looked like the 515 grip position is more like a wheel barrow handle. I don't think I would like that.

As far as running the wires internally I understand your heads up about the 1/2" clearance inside the bar at the bend but the only wire going through that bend is the throttle wires. The other wires would enter the bars in the hole that I drill which would be in the end of the dimple in the bar. I already have the heritage style bars so I have nothing to loose by drilling them and trying to run the wire internally. The money is not a factor for my trying my heritage bars, I just have not seen any other bars that I liked the hand grip position.