Best way to get handlebars back to driver? : V-Twin Forum: Harley Davidson Forums

Harleyduo · 09-07-2009, 03:57 PM

OK, here's our problem. We have a female rider that is trying to get her best fit on a Sportster. Since it's a 1200Low, we're all set on the leg reach situation, but now we need to address how to get the handlebars back further to her so she doesn't have to lean forward while riding. To make matters more complicated, we'd like to try to achieve this without having to replace all the cables. There seems to be a bit of 'play' with the standard cables, so we're hoping somebody else has already faced this situation and can recommend a 'solution' that will do exactly what we need to do. One parts guy suggested a pair of curved risers, but since the speedometer fastens to the riser area we fear that would also tip up the speedo to almost vertical. Another solution offered was mini-ape hangers and tilt them down so they come backwards, but it seems that would turn the part you hold onto downward also and it might become almost vertical and would not be acceptable..
Has anybody faced this and found a workable solution? Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks,

hbmc · 09-07-2009, 04:33 PM

Pull back risers..... I think the smallest is 2 or 3 inch so you may have to get a new clutch cable but I think you may just have to re route it to cheat it as it has some slack....

Karsten · 09-07-2009, 08:29 PM

I tried the Drag Specialties 1.5 inch pull back risers on my 1998 and found they positioned the tach/speedo in an almost heads up display that was hard to read.

Newer models most likely wont have that issue as I believe the speedo is mounted differently.

I went back to the stock riser and ordered a set of HB's for a 1200 Sport that have 4 inch lift and 8 or 9 inch pull back over the 3 inch lift and 6 inch pull back the original bars had.

Drag Specialities also has a great selection of HB's with pull back riser all in one piece as well.

Karsten

Batting8th · 09-08-2009, 12:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Karsten

I tried the Drag Specialties 1.5 inch pull back risers on my 1998 and found they positioned the tach/speedo in an almost heads up display that was hard to read.

Newer models most likely wont have that issue as I believe the speedo is mounted differently.

I went back to the stock riser and ordered a set of HB's for a 1200 Sport that have 4 inch lift and 8 or 9 inch pull back over the 3 inch lift and 6 inch pull back the original bars had.

Drag Specialities also has a great selection of HB's with pull back riser all in one piece as well.

Karsten

Appreciate all this, HOWEVER:

I'd bow to the guy (or gal) who could come up with an innovative way to extend handle bars just two inches!
The cost of the bars I can handle. But, replacing cables gets expensive. I'd rather spend that money on gas.
I've thought of cutting the end covers off my grips and jerry-rigging a three inch extension into the bars. Then, clean the look up with a leather wrap of some kind. Ya, I know the end result would keep me from putting the bike in a show. And I could care less! I just want a bit more comfort on long rides.
Any feedback would really be great!
(I'd like to think I not cheap, just frugal).
Stay safe,
Medford, Oregon rider.

Karsten · 09-08-2009, 10:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Batting8th

Appreciate all this, HOWEVER:

I'd bow to the guy (or gal) who could come up with an innovative way to extend handle bars just two inches!
The cost of the bars I can handle. But, replacing cables gets expensive. I'd rather spend that money on gas.
I've thought of cutting the end covers off my grips and jerry-rigging a three inch extension into the bars. Then, clean the look up with a leather wrap of some kind. Ya, I know the end result would keep me from putting the bike in a show. And I could care less! I just want a bit more comfort on long rides.
Any feedback would really be great!
(I'd like to think I not cheap, just frugal).
Stay safe,
Medford, Oregon rider.

For 2-3 inches your stock cables/hoses should be okay and have the need play. When I switched my bars I was told to get a 4 over brake hose and everything else was fine. Well the 4" Over has about 12 inches of excess brake hose I have to put up with for the time being.

Karsten

Harleyduo · 09-09-2009, 03:17 PM

Here's an update to my own dilemma. We went to our local HD shop and was asking what they suggested and it turned out that another woman had an almost identical problem recently and had installed some 2.5" pullback risers from Drag Specialties and her bike just happened to be at the dealership at the time. So we checked out her 'solution' and decided to go with it. An even bigger stroke of luck is that they just happened to have that very set of pullbacks in a clearance bin for 50% off, so we snatched them up.

Like I had feared, the speedo became tilted almost perpendicular to the tank, because of their angle, but we were able to reroute all the cables and make those work without having to buy a single one. Now, the lady who rides the bike was at work when all the wrenching was being done, so whether or not it's a total solution won't be determined for a bit, yet, but at least it's done. It looked like it was going to be an extremely easy swap out (risers exchanged for pullback risers) but as it turns out the HD risers were threaded and the Drag Specialties had a place to hold a nut on the end of the allen bolt, so we had to round up some nuts for that and also a bit longer allen bolts because of the difference. On the other hand the 1/2" bolts that fasten the risers to the triple tree were too long due to the newer risers being 'curved' instead of straight, so we had to replace those, too. It's important to note that even though pullback risers often say they are multiple inches, not all those inches are in the 'pullback' direction and many times they simply rise higher. I think these actually only bring the bars back about 1.5" closer to the driver and that seemed to be true of most of the risers. (Just something to keep in mind when making your decision).

Mac4020 · 09-10-2009, 06:30 PM

You can solve the issue with the speedo being too vertical by finding someone handy with a welder. Cut the mounting tab off the speedo housing and reweld at the proper angle, then paint it with a couple of coats of wrinkle black spray paint. Or you can pick up a set of 35 degree Flanders drag bars, which will give you plenty of pullback without changing the angle of the speedo.

pidge · 09-11-2009, 08:12 AM

How does the bike feel now?.

sporty952 · 09-11-2009, 08:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Batting8th

I'd bow to the guy (or gal) who could come up with an innovative way to extend handle bars just two inches!

Gee. I did just that when I got my Dyna. Bars were
just a little too far forward and I didn't want a riser.

Using a piece .750 stock, machined to fit the riser holes
in the triple tree and moved the bars back 2". No cable
changes and the speedo remains in the same orientation...

http://n952.dyndns.ws/bike/index.html

-W

Blusideupp · 09-14-2009, 03:10 PM

There are 2 very simple solutions to the speedo angle problem and there has been a ton of info written about the subject.

I'm not trying to steer you to another forum, but go here and do a search for "risers" and be prepared to spend some time reading.

www.xlforum.net

I mounted mine to the 5" risers with cable clamps on my 883 Std. I did have to purchase a longer brake line. Works like a charm.

Harleyduo · 09-17-2009, 09:51 PM

After looking at this 2" pullback solution, I'm quite sure this is EXACTLY what we need for her Sportster. Now, can anybody help me locate somebody who can custom make one to fit the Sportster or tell me if the dimensions given for the Dyna will bolt right on to the Sportster. I've not had much experience on parts interchanging for these two models. I know they both use the same driving lights kit, so I'm thinking the front ends my have a lot of similarities. I've looked high and low for a retailer who sells this very kind of item but with no luck. It sounds like a good tool and die guy could have a ready made market for producing this part for sale. I don't even need the small holes that were included to mount a GPS, on our unit, making it even easier to manufacture. Any takers?
Harleyduo

Harleyduo · 09-21-2009, 05:45 PM

I have been told that I need an experienced tool and die person to manufacture the piece that will allow us to get handlebars back 2 inches without raising them up to any major degree. If you know somebody who would be interested in having a little 'challenge', please let us know. I've searched all over for the device and it doesn't seem to be on the current motorcycle market.