Hoping that somebody can clear something up for me. I bought a 2021 Road King Standard in August. My second Road King. The handlebars were perfect for me. According to Harley the part number is 55800099 and the specs are:

• Base width: 12.25"
• Tip-to-tip: 31.75"
• Pull back: 5.25"
• Base width: 12.25"
• Knurl width: 3.5"

I never measured them but I'll take MOCO's word for it.

Two weeks ago I had a wreck on my Road King and instead of waiting months on parts I decided to trade it for a 2021 Road King Special (Black). The bike is great except for the handlebars. I have to stretch to reach the bars and the angle is different. However, according to Harley, the stock handlebars for the 2021 FLHRXS is 55800734 and the specs are:

• Base width: 12.25"
• Tip-to-tip: 31.75"
• Pull back: 5.25"
• Base width: 12.25"
• Knurl width: 3.5"

So according to Harley the only differences are that the Road King bars are chrome and 1" and the Road King Special bars are black and 1.25". That is just not right. When I measure the FLHRXS bars I get a rise (mid base to mid of top bend) of 8 inches not 12.25 inches. The grip is over 35 inches, not 31.75 inches.

The reason that this matters is that I am going to replace the bars with KST Pioneers. Given the price, (I know they are worth it), I want to get it right the first time. If I used the Harley specs I would need at least the 14 inch bars for extra reach but based on mine I can go with 10 inch bars. That's a big difference. I don't want apes, I just want something close to what I had on my Road King Standard.

Anybody have any ideas about why my measurements are so far off from the Harley specs? I measured them three times so while I may be off a quarter inch but not 4 inches of rise.

Any help would be appreciated.

Jim

 

Do you realize the RKS seat sits back further than the a standard? Probably sets you back 1-1/2"s further.

The Special seat also sits lower and the back of the Special sits 1" lower. Before worrying about bars go back to the seating position you're used to!

Sorry can't help with the bars.

 

I wasn't, but that could explain part of the problem. I still think there is more difference between the two OEM bars than just the thickness of the tubes.

Jim

 

Any chance on getting your original seat back if the dealer still has it? Could always measure the bars on a RK standard, or roll your RKS bars back a little more for better reach.

 

From the parts the top pic is the RKS bars (#22) and the bottom pic is the RK standard (#18). Drawings can be deceiving, but looks different.


RKS Bars

RK Standard

 

The measurements that you are missing is Height & Wrist angle, which are different.

 

The bars are totally different, and you're right the RKS bars measure 36" tip to tip. I am getting KST 12" Straight Jackets for my RKS.

​​​​​​https://www.kstkustoms.com/collectio...nt=32227278348

 

You are so correct I recently purchased a new roadking special and the handlebars are 2in to short.I to am looking at a 10in bar don’t want a 12in bar.I’m glad I wasn’t the only one who saw that looking at KST or LA CHOPPERS twin peaks if you have any suggestions please let me know.

 

The Standard and Special bars are indeed different.

You have to be careful with the measurements Harley gives you (and any other bar manufacturer as well). The pullback, and height numbers especially.

I have some Road King standard bars here (what Harley calls "Heritage Style"), and when you lay them flat on a table (the front of the bars), and measure from the table up to the end of bar, it matches Harley's pullback number. But if you look at the parts pictures posted earlier, you can see the ends of the bars sweep up substantially from the second bend, and as a result, you have to roll them back in the clamps to get the grips to sit level, which means the plane of the vertical portion of the bar is back significantly from the plane of the forks, which greatly increases the pullback, as well as reduces the height.

Harley claims the Heritage Style bar height is 12", but with the bars installed the way they were meant to be installed, it's more like an actual height of 8"-9". The Road King Special bars are lower.

 

Stock 2022 RKS bars vs 12" KST Kustoms Straight Jackets.
Stock bars are crap,...KST is so much better for comfort and wrist angle.