My wife purchased the new XL1200T and has been riding it for sometime and has ask about moving the handlebars closer to her, about 2". Her Heritage rolled back enough to accommodate her. Adjusting the XL didn't work so I went around trying to find a fit for her. The local HD shops quoted me 7 hrs labor plus parts, (cables, wiring, etc.) My question is, does anyone know of a custom fix handlebar manufacture that I could contact. If I'm going spend that kind of money I want it to be one of a kind, not off the shelf. Or doesn't anyone have any ideas. I thought of risers but one has to change the triple tree in order to make that work. The Mustang seat I purchased didn't move her any closer to the controls. Stumped!

 

Personally your best option if she likes the look and she is happy with the bars in general is to look into a reduced reach seat. I'll bet your local dealership even has demo seats you can try out. That would be your fastest and easiest route by far. Something like this?
http://www.harley-davidson.com/store...-16-5438511--1

Second would be to get taller bars you can angle back. Ill bet if you get a couple inch taller bars you could get away with the same cables you have now and do it yourself. Just reroute a couple to make it work. There are plenty of videos on youtube you can watch to get the idea.

(deleted section, I was wrong about the riser type.)

 

Try the Harley Super reduced reach solo seat. It moves you forward 3 inches and lowers you an inch. I've used it on both the sportsters I've had now. Try that before handlebar change. Most of the major seat manufacturers don't move you up, as you found out with the Mustang seat.

 

7 hours?! Tell us you laughed out loud at them! I bought a reduced reach bar from HD, got them to ordered cables from drag specialist at a fraction of the cost of "HD" cables and had my trusty independent put them on for an hour's labour charge.

 

Would something like these work?
http://lonerindustries.com/1-inch-superlow-risers.html
I assume the top tree doesn't have rubber mount risers , so it's like a 48 solid setup.
Mick

 

My riding companion had a real problem getting her 1200T to fit. She felt her arms were too high and the reach was a bit much. Since the T comes with a reduced reach seat she tried the Sundowner. Didn't like it.

Switched the Mini-apes for the bars off of an 883 Iron - didn't work.

So we ended up with these:





These are NOS Harley bars vintage 80's that a local dealer had in the back. They may not be for everybody but they worked for her. Brought her hands back and down to a much more comfortable position. She put the reduced reach seat back on & we swapped the shocks for 13 inch Progressive 412s. She's pretty happy with the ride now. Only issue we had was the brake line. Had to order a custom brake line ($70).

Seven hours to swap bars? They must have been charging for lunch breaks too. I think the way they come up with these outrageous numbers is they factor in having to switch out all of the cables. Only thing I'll say in their defense is they may have to do that for liability reasons.

If you don't have to replace any cables or brake lines swapping bars takes about an hour. I'd buy a new set of grips so you don't have to screw around trying to get the left grip off the original bars.

The brake line will likely be the first place you will have an issue with length, followed by the clutch cable. However, the cables that come with the mini-apes are reasonably long.

The parts guy at Cowboy Harley in Austin had the patience of a saint. He worked with her for at least an hour and half, bringing bars out of the back and taking them out to her bike so she could sit on it and get an idea as to how they would feel. When he came up with the Buckhorns he even took her into the service area where she could sit on an 80's vintage Sportster with the same bars to see how they would really feel. Customer service at its best - and she had bought the bike from the other dealer in town!

If the Heritage bars fit her you may be able to buy a set of them and put them on the Sporty (don't know how they would look).

I'm sure you can find an independent dealer in your area that specializes in suspension and fit. They will work with you to get the best fit for your wife. Of course it may not be cheap. I found one in Austin, but my friend was hellbent to solve the problem on her own.

The problem is easily solvable with the right help (and money).

 

Those are commonly referred to as "Buckhorn" bars, I believe. They were stock bars on Sportster Huggers.
You'll probably want bars that are "knurled" (the cross-hatch engraving on the bars where they clamp to the risers - to prevent slippage) and "Dimpled" (a concave space created in the grip area of the bar, permitting the wires to pass through to the switch housings).
I would hope 7 hours included all new cables/lines and internally wired switches. It can be done in half that time, while drinking beer, if you know what's up.

 

Ah - takes me way back in time to my first Harley, a new '74 Super Glide!

 

I just received the Buckhorn style bar from J&P for $49 and shipped free. They are for my 1200T. I have not started the install yet but placing them along side the existing bars it appears that the cables will fit.

I have always been a fan of the Buckhorn bars for comfort since I had a new Norton Commando Fastback in 1969.

The stock bars will go on my Street 750 since the stock bar is too narrow for the mirrors to see past my arms. Two mods to correct problems for $49. Fun working in the garage on motorcycles this winter. Life is good.

 

Love the AMF oil stains & puddles