Hey All! Gonna put a set of stockWG bars#56079-93Tand ISO grips on my Road Glide tonight. Re-using my stock cables, brake line, controls, etc.

For those of you that have done this already,are there any tips, or pitfalls I should watch out for going in? Did you have to remove any bodywork, besides the speedo/tach housing? In bending the brake line, where will I have to bend it and is it difficult? Last thing I want to do is crack a brake line or fitting.I just want to confirm that this is a possible direct swap using my stock parts.

Thanks in advance!

MV

 

Come on guys! I'm gonna start this in a few minutes. It should be pretty simple, (I did a full ape conversion on my SG before). I just wanted to touch base with ya'll before I start.

Thanks!

 

There is some slack in the brake line in the nacelle area, so don't forget to use it for easing the straightening process. Just take your time and do it right, no worries!!!

 

Ok. Cool! Thanks buttman!

 

Straight swap it is. I used a dremel to make a couple of small notches in order to access the lower clamp bolts. Brake line staightens easily, had to work a little slack into the wiring to get it to reach correctly. Also had to reroute the clutch cable behind the engine guard, alongside the neck.
Good Luck!

 

Piece of cake, just be sure to reroute the clutch cable around the crash bar...

 

Cool! Thanks guys. Already did the Dremml notchin and have the right controls off. Taking my time and stopped to eat some pizza for dinner. Now back to it.

MV

 

Well, first I would like to say thanks guys for the quick advice earlier.

Second, I want to say I finished a little while ago, and took it for a test ride. Me likey! This was a very worth while mod for those of you with the RG and stock bars.

Lately I have been getting slight pinching pain in my left shoulder blade and it now seems to not be a problem. The steering is very positive in the corners and very relaxed positionwhile both going straight and turning. Before, I had adjusted the bars slightly to try and alleviate the shoulder pain which put my arms straight, like reaching for the bars. With these WG bars, my arms have a slight break in them, again both going straight and turning. Very comfortable, controlled, and positive.

The ISO grips are also a recommendation, so far. They are thiner than the grips I had on before, and thinner than my old WG Skull grips. The pads on them are cushioned,comfortable, and slightly tacky. This now enables me to easily grab the brake with a full four fingers, but my thumb does not slip on the throttle at all, unless I let it. They look good too. I did not like the look before, but on the bike, I think they look sharp. It now has me thinking about keeping my black controls and installing chrome switches to coincide with the grip style. Plus they come with an adjustable throttle boss. Bonus!


On the install...it was a very simple job. Take your time, keep track of your fasteners as you take them off. I use baggies.

When I did the Dremml notching on the plastic necalle tabs covering the handlebar clamp lower bolts, I used the thin Dremml cutting wheel. It worked very well and easy. Draw yourself a little guide line with a Sharpie and the cuts come out very clean. Don't cut down too far, or they will show after you put your speedo housing back on. Use locktitewhen reassemblingyour handlebarclamp bolts.

Don't forget to buy a 4pk of the handlebar zip clips at HD when you buy the bars.

Count your threads on your throttle and clutch cables before you loosen them up. It helps to get them back relatively close when putting it back together. Then the adjustments are very easy.
Do your left side grip last, after everything is finished, andgetitpositioned quickly...the glue really does set up immediately. You can position it on the bar, without the glue, while installing everything else, to get a set up idea.

The brake linetook me a little bit of time. It will bend with pressure. Don't make sharp or large bends. Make them in small steps, freeing up needed slack to fit the master cylinder on the bars.

The clutch I fed up from below, in front of left down tube, behind crash bar, through the small hole in the necalle, and in front of the bars to the perch. It was the best route I could find after trying others, and it does no seem to bind at all (see pic below).

I can't think of anything else to mention right now. If you do this and have questions, feel free to PM me and I will be happy to lend advise, if I can.

$50for the WG bars, $80for the ISOgrips, and a couple of hours of simple labor in the garage...this upgrade is hard to beat in my book.

Between the IDS I installed last weekend, and these WG bars/ISO grips I installed today, these mods have really made a vast improvement on an already great riding bike. I am very happy.

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I was at the dealer this past weekend comparing the Wide Glide bars to that of the Heritage.
I like the rise of both over the RG's, but looks like the Heritage, being wider might be more comfortable, any thoughts?

 

Ya know, I did not even look at the Heritage bars. I had heard it mentioned that they would fit the RG just like the WG bars do. I like the hand width on the WG bars right where it's at (I'm only 5'8"), and the angle is the best improvement of all. But if the bottom center width on the Heritage bars is wider, then they may look slightly better on the FL bike, due to its fat looking front end. Let me know what you think and please post up some pics if ya do it.