2013 Road King
Club Member
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 45,429
Likes: 2,898
From: Bedford UK
Many members have suggested changing bars, but the question mtdrifter asked is can the stock ones be rolled back?! To which the answer quite plainly is YES!
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 9,384
Likes: 1,776
From: Central Texas
Well since were on the subject of bars how much difference is there,
between the old heritage bars and the reduced reach bars?
Here it is seven years after, I bought my bike, and replacing the original
bars with the old heritage bars, I'm still looking for comfort.
between the old heritage bars and the reduced reach bars?
Here it is seven years after, I bought my bike, and replacing the original
bars with the old heritage bars, I'm still looking for comfort.
Road Master
Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 925
Likes: 15
From: So. Fla.
"Old" Heritage bars
The "old" bars are narrower and taller than the newer Heritage "style" bars. More like mini-apes. I don't think my signature pic demonstrates it very well. I "think" but I'm not sure that back-in-the-day, Road King Classics came with the Heritage bars, and the regular Road Kings had the stock bars. Mine came with the bike that I purchased used so I just don't know. They are very different from hubby's stock Road King bars that were on his 2001 Road King.
He bought the Heritage style bars for his bike, and they are wider and lower than the "old" Heritage bars on my bike.
ETA: I have had my indy adjust the tilt for my comfort, and he recommends replacing the cheapo-plastic bushings with the aftermarket ones made out of poly-something or other.
He bought the Heritage style bars for his bike, and they are wider and lower than the "old" Heritage bars on my bike.
ETA: I have had my indy adjust the tilt for my comfort, and he recommends replacing the cheapo-plastic bushings with the aftermarket ones made out of poly-something or other.
Last edited by CBud; Jan 16, 2014 at 08:36 AM.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 9,384
Likes: 1,776
From: Central Texas
OK thank you CBud that just pulled the heritage style bars off of my
"to try list." Now if I can find some knowledge comparing the old heritage
bars to the reduced reach bars I'll be one step closer to comfort.
"to try list." Now if I can find some knowledge comparing the old heritage
bars to the reduced reach bars I'll be one step closer to comfort.
Extreme HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 12,653
Likes: 18
From: Broken Arrow, Oklahoma
Every dealer should offer that service to a customer! Anyone finding themselves uncomfortable should go back to the dealer, to see if their bars can be adjusted to a more comfortable position.
Many members have suggested changing bars, but the question mtdrifter asked is can the stock ones be rolled back?! To which the answer quite plainly is YES!
Many members have suggested changing bars, but the question mtdrifter asked is can the stock ones be rolled back?! To which the answer quite plainly is YES!
Club Member
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 45,429
Likes: 2,898
From: Bedford UK
Viewed from beside the bike they move through an arc. They are currently too far away, if they are also high (which I suspect), they will come closer as well as lower. Hopefully we will learn the outcome before long!
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Extreme HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 12,653
Likes: 18
From: Broken Arrow, Oklahoma
Okay, here is what I'm talking about. In the below picture my RK (2011) is like 3 days old. As you can see in the picture, moving the bars in any direction is not going to bring the grips closer to the rider. Maybe moving them forward might, but then the grip angle is going to be weird. Moving them down, is certainly not going to do anything except make the issue worse.
Here's another view, from the front. As you can see, grips will be at a weird angle if moved forward (or up).
These are the stock handle bars on pre-2014 Road Kings (Classics may be different, I don't know).
For comparison, here's a side view of the bike a few weeks later with the Heritage Style bars installed. Not the shoulder and elbow positioning compared to the pic with the stock bars..
Here's another view, from the front. As you can see, grips will be at a weird angle if moved forward (or up).
These are the stock handle bars on pre-2014 Road Kings (Classics may be different, I don't know).
For comparison, here's a side view of the bike a few weeks later with the Heritage Style bars installed. Not the shoulder and elbow positioning compared to the pic with the stock bars..
Last edited by DannyZ71; Jan 17, 2014 at 12:51 AM. Reason: add picture
