Need help with handlebars, gone through so many already...
Thread Starter
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Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 6,673
Likes: 502
From: Orange County
Need help with handlebars, gone through so many already...
Looking for some recommendations for my 2001 Road King - gone through these bars:
Beach Bars - came on the bike, way too wide and wrong wrist angle.
Chubby WO610 - nice rise, however, reaching too far.
Chubby WO508 - too low, wrong wrist angle, too much like beach bars.
Chubby WO513 - good wrist angle, just a bit out of reach, when I turn the bars it feels like I am not in control, due to "reaching" or stretching.
99594 00 Harley High Handlebar - From the feel of these off the bike it seems like they would work, however, haven't tried these on the bike since they are not drilled. Does anyone know if there is a drilled version of this handlebar?
I'm 5-7, with a 32/33 sleeve. Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Beach Bars - came on the bike, way too wide and wrong wrist angle.
Chubby WO610 - nice rise, however, reaching too far.
Chubby WO508 - too low, wrong wrist angle, too much like beach bars.
Chubby WO513 - good wrist angle, just a bit out of reach, when I turn the bars it feels like I am not in control, due to "reaching" or stretching.
99594 00 Harley High Handlebar - From the feel of these off the bike it seems like they would work, however, haven't tried these on the bike since they are not drilled. Does anyone know if there is a drilled version of this handlebar?
I'm 5-7, with a 32/33 sleeve. Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Last edited by Road Star; Jan 26, 2013 at 05:07 PM.
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 2,379
Likes: 226
From your post, it looks like you want bars that have the right amount of pullback for you to be comforable with a decent amount of rise. Mabey see if you can get a set of cheap, used, Heritage Softail bars to mock up. It's a bolt on for the RK and does not require cable changes. They are a higher with some more pullback than the stock RK bars.
I run a 11 SG now and just went with a pair of Khrome Werks Sweeper +2 bars. For me, they are perfect ( 6' and 32/33 reach). They are 2" higher and have 1" more pullback than the stock electraglide bars. They make them for the RK as well and they cost less than 100 bucks.
Most any bar can be drilled for wires and even notched for the newer bikes with TBW. Best of luck.
I run a 11 SG now and just went with a pair of Khrome Werks Sweeper +2 bars. For me, they are perfect ( 6' and 32/33 reach). They are 2" higher and have 1" more pullback than the stock electraglide bars. They make them for the RK as well and they cost less than 100 bucks.
Most any bar can be drilled for wires and even notched for the newer bikes with TBW. Best of luck.
Thread Starter
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Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 6,673
Likes: 502
From: Orange County
From your post, it looks like you want bars that have the right amount of pullback for you to be comforable with a decent amount of rise. Mabey see if you can get a set of cheap, used, Heritage Softail bars to mock up. It's a bolt on for the RK and does not require cable changes. They are a higher with some more pullback than the stock RK bars.
I run a 11 SG now and just went with a pair of Khrome Werks Sweeper +2 bars. For me, they are perfect ( 6' and 32/33 reach). They are 2" higher and have 1" more pullback than the stock electraglide bars. They make them for the RK as well and they cost less than 100 bucks.
Most any bar can be drilled for wires and even notched for the newer bikes with TBW. Best of luck.
I run a 11 SG now and just went with a pair of Khrome Werks Sweeper +2 bars. For me, they are perfect ( 6' and 32/33 reach). They are 2" higher and have 1" more pullback than the stock electraglide bars. They make them for the RK as well and they cost less than 100 bucks.
Most any bar can be drilled for wires and even notched for the newer bikes with TBW. Best of luck.
I read that the WO575s might be good; 2" more pullback than I have now with the WO513, and an inch or so narrower. Wish I would have seen that before I got the WO508s. Now I gotta sell bars again!
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 3,078
Likes: 0
From: Iowa
I'm running the Khrome Werks +2 sweepers. A bit higher then stock and more pullback. I am 5'6". They also are a bit wider and have less wrist angle. I now have a slight bend in my elbows and don't seem to be leaning forward anymore. Have not taken a long trip yet the weather has been nasty in Iowa. I also know a lot of short ppl that run the WO575's and like them as well.
I have an 02 RK, and I'm 5'6". I was just talking to someone today telling them how changing the bars was the best upgrade I ever did on that bike. I have the Chubby 502's (12.5"). At first I thought "I don't want 'apehangers, especially that tall'. I was wrong! They brought my arms up to about level, and the tech that suggested them was right on as I was able to pull them back a bit. I love them. Check them out, I noticed they weren't in your list of bars you've tried.
I know this is stating the obvious, but I'll do it anyway. While you need to be comfortable and safe with the bars and their reach in turns, the majority of the time you're turning the bars lock to lock is in very slow manuevers and in parking the bike. 95% of the time you barely turn them crusing down the road. I went back and looked and I noticed you tried the 8.5" (WO513). With the 12's you can pull them back a bit more, and might help with the reach in turns.
I probably have more pictures if you want to see more. Hell, it's in the garage, I can take more.
New bars for my SG is on the list . . .
My .02 worth.
I know this is stating the obvious, but I'll do it anyway. While you need to be comfortable and safe with the bars and their reach in turns, the majority of the time you're turning the bars lock to lock is in very slow manuevers and in parking the bike. 95% of the time you barely turn them crusing down the road. I went back and looked and I noticed you tried the 8.5" (WO513). With the 12's you can pull them back a bit more, and might help with the reach in turns.
I probably have more pictures if you want to see more. Hell, it's in the garage, I can take more.
New bars for my SG is on the list . . . My .02 worth.
Last edited by SoCalMike; Jan 26, 2013 at 07:07 PM.
Road Warrior
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 1,593
Likes: 35
From: South Carolina-First to secede and hopefully the next.
Another nod to the Khrome Werks sweepers, although I did the 2+2 on my Road Glide. 2" higher and 2" back. I can actually use my backrest now. Very comfy and my hands don't go to sleep like they used to. And I'm also 5'7.
Road Warrior
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 1,863
Likes: 55
From: Sedalia,Missouri
I'm also 5'7 with a 34 sleeve and I have Wild One's 577's which are 12 1/2 inch apes. I checked the amount of pullback on all the different bars and found Wild One's to have about the most. I wanted a lot of pullback so that was my choice of bars. You can pull these back where your able to lean into a riders backrest. I use to get a lot of muscle strain in my neck and back with the stock bars. Once I went with these bars my neck and back pain went away.
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Thread Starter
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Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 6,673
Likes: 502
From: Orange County
I have an 02 RK, and I'm 5'6". I was just talking to someone today telling them how changing the bars was the best upgrade I ever did on that bike. I have the Chubby 502's (12.5"). At first I thought "I don't want 'apehangers, especially that tall'. I was wrong! They brought my arms up to about level, and the tech that suggested them was right on as I was able to pull them back a bit. I love them. Check them out, I noticed they weren't in your list of bars you've tried.
I know this is stating the obvious, but I'll do it anyway. While you need to be comfortable and safe with the bars and their reach in turns, the majority of the time you're turning the bars lock to lock is in very slow manuevers and in parking the bike. 95% of the time you barely turn them crusing down the road. I went back and looked and I noticed you tried the 8.5" (WO513). With the 12's you can pull them back a bit more, and might help with the reach in turns.
I probably have more pictures if you want to see more. Hell, it's in the garage, I can take more. New bars for my SG is on the list . . .
My .02 worth.
I know this is stating the obvious, but I'll do it anyway. While you need to be comfortable and safe with the bars and their reach in turns, the majority of the time you're turning the bars lock to lock is in very slow manuevers and in parking the bike. 95% of the time you barely turn them crusing down the road. I went back and looked and I noticed you tried the 8.5" (WO513). With the 12's you can pull them back a bit more, and might help with the reach in turns.
I probably have more pictures if you want to see more. Hell, it's in the garage, I can take more.
New bars for my SG is on the list . . . My .02 worth.
Thread Starter
|
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 6,673
Likes: 502
From: Orange County
I'm also 5'7 with a 34 sleeve and I have Wild One's 577's which are 12 1/2 inch apes. I checked the amount of pullback on all the different bars and found Wild One's to have about the most. I wanted a lot of pullback so that was my choice of bars. You can pull these back where your able to lean into a riders backrest. I use to get a lot of muscle strain in my neck and back with the stock bars. Once I went with these bars my neck and back pain went away.
THESE BARS WERE DESIGNED TO CONFORM TO THE FARING
ON THE FLHX, FLHT, FLHTC & ULTRA CLASSIC.
I think the 14" base is too wide, it would look weird on a Road King.
I think the 14" base is too wide, it would look weird on a Road King.