Handlebars, AAARRRRGH!

OK, new FLHCS bike with stock bars. Yeah, they work and don't look bad, but I gotta make Cherry (this bike's name) my own. Really like Todd's Cycle 14" Gloss Black Strip bars, but figuring out what cables I will need is causing my brain to overheat. I want to stay with black cables, but I haven't found a replacement kit that will confirm it will fit my ride.

There is the other thing that gets me: handlebar measurements. I get that crossbeam/base width measurement easy enough, but the rest are fuzzy to me. Pullback? And how can I measure bars tip-to-tip if they already have controls on 'em? Grrr.

There is a solution, and that is to just go to the H-D dealer and get the Fat Chizeled mini-apes installed, as they do look better than stock and shouldn't require new cables, but I want more different than that...or at least I think I do.

Thoughts? Help? Or should I just release the Kraken rum and worry about after a few thousand more miles?

Ordering the Mustang Wide Tripper seat already.

Was gonna suggest Paul Yafee bars but he don't make bars for the flhcs.

Might should consider releasing the kracken and riding with them for at least a season. If you end up not liking then you can say you gave them a shot. Or you know what you like by now and swap 'em out.

The moco ranted and raved about the uniqueness of the factory 2015 ultra low handle bars and grips being more user freindly. Pulled back and down closer to the rider and the benefits of the narrower grips.

Hated to replace a perfectly good pair of bars! I mean its not a cheap swap these days. So I rode them for a solid 2 years. Just did not like them. Swapped them out for a pair of bagger nation 8" monkey bars. PERFECT. Takes angle off the wrists. Arms at comfortable height for me.

Phil?

Alright, HRK, I think ya sold me. If I don't get the bars before my major ride this summer, I'll plan on stopping by in Concordia to get the bars installed. My new seat gets here Friday; riding that will determine how soon I want to change bars.

Haven't done any nightriding yet, as I've always avoided it unless I was iron-butting or really in a hurry to get somewhere. One of the top things about riding is the view, and dark is just dark. I did put LED headlight in the old King, and yeah, that was a wake-up for improvement. I'll try it out tonight and look to be amazed!

I also converted the ol Fatboy to LEDS.
Yesterday did my first ride of the season. Rode with a few buddies and did 200 miles (yeah, on Long Long Island its possible!) Went out to Montauk point (south Fork or for you others the SOuthern point of the fish tail) for lunch then over to Sag Harbor ferry to Shelter Island, then to the North Ferry to the North Fork (North fish tail tip) to Greenport then home. Most of the way back roads. We started at 42 F and finished at 65 F. Those new heated grips were WONDERFUL! I should have done them years ago.

Nice! Lucky you. Won't be able to do that another month anyways.

Rode it in the night: new lights are really amazing. Still shopping for bars, stock ones just aren't perfect for me - tolerable, but will be replaced. Can't comprehend why it costs over $1,500 for cables and installation, especially since the "Fat Chizeled" replacement bar's add brags about having Harley's "Bar & Shield plugs that simplify wiring"! Without it, would it cost more than the bike?

Friend of mine is having paul yafee bagger bars put on at the dealer tomorrow. I'll ask how much when hes done.

ABS adds a bunch of labor...yippee!...I feel like every advancement in bike safety is designed to keep ya safe by taking more cash from your pocket - so you can ride less.

The yafee 8" bars are just a pinch below to near shoulder height and do not recquire added cables...use stock. 10" and higher do. Friend took his Yaffee 10" bars to a dealer who said hecwouldn't need cables. Guess what...he needs cable extensions. He was all excited thinking he's gonna ride his new bars this afternoon. Instead its setting in the dealercwaiting for cables to be delivered.

I've had both 8" and 10". I found 10" higher then i wanted. Maybe because i am shorter than you are RR is maybe why 8" is good for me and 10" might be good fot you. To bad you can't sit on similar bike to see which would be best fit?

It would be a B__tch to spend all that dough and to find out that you should have gone higher OR lower! A few years ago I took off the stock bars on my fat boy and went with 8" mini apes. I rode for a season and took them off went back to stock. Initially they felt great but after a while I began to hate the way the bike handled with them. Fortunately the cables and all else worked with them. It was an easy job compared to todays bikes.

Ya,i remember when a handle bar was 65$, thats including the handle bars.....