Need advice on risers vs. new bars!!
#1
08-23-2009, 07:29 PM
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Need advice on risers vs. new bars!!
Being somewhat vertically challenged, I need to get my bars a bit closer to me on my '09 Heritage. I've narrowed my choices down to two:
1) New bars (Wild One Chubbys 12" Ape) that I can pull back towards me to get about the same height as stock (10-10.5") which should put them closer to me by a couple of inches. Downside is cost, and the new bars are 3" wider which might be a bit much and make it handle differently.
2) Put the 4" curved risers on with my stock bars. They should raise them about 2" and bring them forward 1". I can pull them towards me to be about the same height as currently, and gain a total of several inches closer to me. Downside is how the stock bars will look being attached to the 4" risers since they are mini apes.
I hope some of you might have some suggestions or can lead me as I am pretty confused as to which way to go. I guess I am leading to the risers due to cost.
1) New bars (Wild One Chubbys 12" Ape) that I can pull back towards me to get about the same height as stock (10-10.5") which should put them closer to me by a couple of inches. Downside is cost, and the new bars are 3" wider which might be a bit much and make it handle differently.
2) Put the 4" curved risers on with my stock bars. They should raise them about 2" and bring them forward 1". I can pull them towards me to be about the same height as currently, and gain a total of several inches closer to me. Downside is how the stock bars will look being attached to the 4" risers since they are mini apes.
I hope some of you might have some suggestions or can lead me as I am pretty confused as to which way to go. I guess I am leading to the risers due to cost.
#2
08-23-2009, 08:11 PM
Ultimate HDF Member
Best solution imo is to find a setup on another bike that fits you and ask what it is.
I have a similar situation with my bike. I have the bars pulled toward me which for the most part solves the reach problem. But it lowers the rise and I don't particularly like the look.
Been looking at all sorts of cruiser bars with tons of pullback. Main problem is that the more pb you get the more wheelbarrow effect you get with the grips which it seems could be uncomfortable, especially on long rides. Never considered Apes because I figured they were for the more younger riders.
Happened to come across a used Heritage at a dealer. Sat on it and the bars fit me perfectly. Guess what?12.5" wild1 Apes. They were about 4" wider than my Heritage but still comfortable. Most importantly the handgrip portion was 14" long I think, as opposed to the 10" on my Heritage bars which of course gave the much needed pullback. And even if I had to pull them back a bit more I'd still have a comfortable rise and they wouldn't look so......well,.... pulled back.
I have a similar situation with my bike. I have the bars pulled toward me which for the most part solves the reach problem. But it lowers the rise and I don't particularly like the look.
Been looking at all sorts of cruiser bars with tons of pullback. Main problem is that the more pb you get the more wheelbarrow effect you get with the grips which it seems could be uncomfortable, especially on long rides. Never considered Apes because I figured they were for the more younger riders.
Happened to come across a used Heritage at a dealer. Sat on it and the bars fit me perfectly. Guess what?12.5" wild1 Apes. They were about 4" wider than my Heritage but still comfortable. Most importantly the handgrip portion was 14" long I think, as opposed to the 10" on my Heritage bars which of course gave the much needed pullback. And even if I had to pull them back a bit more I'd still have a comfortable rise and they wouldn't look so......well,.... pulled back.
#3
08-23-2009, 08:20 PM
R.I.P. BROTHER
First off if looks arent important to you? Just go buy some big tall risers and be done with it. Personally I totally dig the short Heritage risers, Run them on my Night Train cuz' they are so uber cool and have even seen them on the latest Sucker Punch Sally bikes. So you have a good looking riser now for sure.
If you want to spend some time and money to really make it you? You may not want or be comfy with the wild 1 12" ape...You should buy the bars that fit you!! Dont force yourself into a bend that isnt working for ya Bro.
Take yer' old lady or significant other, buddy, brother, sister whoever out to the garage with you along with a tape measure.
Sit on your bike for about 60 seconds with yer' eyes closed.....Now reach out to where you feel the bars should be.
Dont move. Dont open your eyes or the exsisting bars will influence your hand placement.....
Whilst not moving or being unduly influenced by the uncomfortable crap bars that you have now have the helper measure the distance difference from your hands to your currnet bars. How far up or down? How far back? How much wider or narrower?
Once you have those 3 measurements you can look up the stock HD bar measurements and come up with what you need based off that.
So if your stock bars have 10 of rise and your hand end up below where those bars are? If your stockers have 10" of pullback? If they are say 33" wide?
You get the idea? You can use the current bars to base where you really need wanna end up.... BTW 3" is a big change in width.
You can get the actual measurements on those stockers yourself by using this graph to show you how bars are measured.....Or just call the dealers parts dept in the AM. Then start looking at all the different bends out there cuz' there are thousands and one is sure to fit your criteria and comfort zone.
If you want to spend some time and money to really make it you? You may not want or be comfy with the wild 1 12" ape...You should buy the bars that fit you!! Dont force yourself into a bend that isnt working for ya Bro.
Take yer' old lady or significant other, buddy, brother, sister whoever out to the garage with you along with a tape measure.
Sit on your bike for about 60 seconds with yer' eyes closed.....Now reach out to where you feel the bars should be.
Dont move. Dont open your eyes or the exsisting bars will influence your hand placement.....
Whilst not moving or being unduly influenced by the uncomfortable crap bars that you have now have the helper measure the distance difference from your hands to your currnet bars. How far up or down? How far back? How much wider or narrower?
Once you have those 3 measurements you can look up the stock HD bar measurements and come up with what you need based off that.
So if your stock bars have 10 of rise and your hand end up below where those bars are? If your stockers have 10" of pullback? If they are say 33" wide?
You get the idea? You can use the current bars to base where you really need wanna end up.... BTW 3" is a big change in width.
You can get the actual measurements on those stockers yourself by using this graph to show you how bars are measured.....Or just call the dealers parts dept in the AM. Then start looking at all the different bends out there cuz' there are thousands and one is sure to fit your criteria and comfort zone.
#5
08-23-2009, 09:28 PM
Cruiser
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: Jefferson,GA.
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I have an 08 heritage and I too have tried many set ups. First was a 4" pull back riser and then I got some risers off on an 08 Deluxe, they were beefier and looked better with the wind shield off. However they would bring them too close to me, I could rotate them up and be much more comfy...NOW i have gone back to the stock risers and moved the bars back towards me which puts them down a bit, but none the less its comfortable. I have bought a set of bars that were on a roadking...I have had trouble trying to install and gave up and went back to stock. SO if you want to try a 4" pullback I have a set that you can have for just shipping if you like..
Tim
Tim
#7
08-23-2009, 11:18 PM
Road Warrior
Here is more information from BR Bars on how to measure for handle bars:
This is how we measure our custom bars to fit your bike
"RISERS SPACEING
We will need the center to center of the risers
Harley: 3 1/2" ctc
VTX: 5 1/8" ctc
Victory: 4 7/8' ctc
Also need the outside measurement of risers"
"APE HANGERS
1) Hold stick in hands over bike where you want your bars to be.
Then measure from the stick down to the risers that will be your
height or rise.
2) You still have the stick in your hands. Now measure from your
ring finger to ring finger. That will be your width of your bars.
3) Most of the apes we make have 5" of pull back in them .
4) We will go over the bars with you to ensure the proper fit"
"APES SIDE VIEW"
"Bars that have a lot of pullback"
1) Chopper bars, Daggers, Z bars, V Bars, ( NO APES )
"1) Hold your stick over your bike where you want your hands
to be when the bars are done and on your bike.
2) We will need to know the rake of the triple tree and neck of
your bike that the bars are going on.
3) You will need help to measure up your bars .
4) Put the end of your level at a riser hole in your triple tree.
The other end will be near you and your stick.
5) How measure from the stick down to the bottom of the level.
This will be the rise you will need in your new bars .
6) Now where you measured down to the level at that point
measure to the riser hole. This will be the pull back in your bars .
7) Measure from your ring finger to ring finger for the width of your bars.
8) WE will go over the bars you to ensure the proper fit ."
This is how we measure our custom bars to fit your bike
"RISERS SPACEING
We will need the center to center of the risers
Harley: 3 1/2" ctc
VTX: 5 1/8" ctc
Victory: 4 7/8' ctc
Also need the outside measurement of risers"
"APE HANGERS
1) Hold stick in hands over bike where you want your bars to be.
Then measure from the stick down to the risers that will be your
height or rise.
2) You still have the stick in your hands. Now measure from your
ring finger to ring finger. That will be your width of your bars.
3) Most of the apes we make have 5" of pull back in them .
4) We will go over the bars with you to ensure the proper fit"
"APES SIDE VIEW"
"Bars that have a lot of pullback"
1) Chopper bars, Daggers, Z bars, V Bars, ( NO APES )
"1) Hold your stick over your bike where you want your hands
to be when the bars are done and on your bike.
2) We will need to know the rake of the triple tree and neck of
your bike that the bars are going on.
3) You will need help to measure up your bars .
4) Put the end of your level at a riser hole in your triple tree.
The other end will be near you and your stick.
5) How measure from the stick down to the bottom of the level.
This will be the rise you will need in your new bars .
6) Now where you measured down to the level at that point
measure to the riser hole. This will be the pull back in your bars .
7) Measure from your ring finger to ring finger for the width of your bars.
8) WE will go over the bars you to ensure the proper fit ."
Last edited by DragonSlayer08; 08-24-2009 at 05:54 AM.
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#9
08-24-2009, 07:15 AM
Join Date: Nov 2007
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#10
08-24-2009, 08:02 AM
R.I.P. BROTHER