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Message started by EJID on 09/29/11 at 12:27:25

Title: Shopping for Bars
Post by EJID on 09/29/11 at 12:27:25

I sit on my bike and close my eyes...put my hands out in front of me where I think the bars would feel best and realize that I should get a new set of bars. Basically my 05 has stock pullback risers and drag bars, but I feel that I need something that would put the grips in almost the exact same spot they are now, but about 2" higher.

Been shopping around (mostly ebay) and know that on the older Savages with buckhorns you can get away with stock cables/hoses, but not sure how far I can go with my particular setup.

What I'm thinking I want to do is get a set of 8"-10" mini-apes or z-bars and pull my risers apart and mount them down right next to the triple tree like the older Savages.

According to many of my searches on our forum, I think I'm going to be OK with the stock cables, but need some help with some of the other details before I order a set.

1" Diameter
Dimpled or Non-Dimpled? (If dimpled will they still work?)
Knurled or Non-Knurled?
Amount of Pull-Back?
Width?
Rise?

One pair I am looking at is Mini-Apes (Non-Dimpled)(Knurled)(10" Pullback)(32.5" Wide)(8"Rise)
Another pair is Mini-Apes (Non-Dimpled)(Non-Knurled)(7" Pullback)(32.5" Wide)(10"Rise)
Last pair is Z-Bars (Dimpled)(Non-Knurled)(4"Pullback)(28.5"Wide)(10"Rise)

Thanks in advance, especially if anyone else has done this and has some additional advice. :)

Title: Re: Shopping for Bars
Post by verslagen1 on 09/29/11 at 12:52:27

For me pullback is a big issue.
If drag bars are comfortable to you then get the same pullback.
don't need dimples, those are for HD's so they can route their cables external (their controls can be used for internal wiring if you get undimpled bars and drill them for the wiring to run thru)
don't really need knurling, except for tall ape hangers.

Z bars have the same pullback as drag bars. 8-)

Title: Re: Shopping for Bars
Post by EJID on 09/29/11 at 13:13:52

Here's the pics of the 3 bars mentioned.

1 (This is actually the 15" rise, because they don't have a pic of the 8" Rise bar)
http://i.ebayimg.com/12/!B--Q80!!Wk~$(KGrHqV,!g0EzeElrFQ2BM-QbZGUPw~~0_12.JPG
2
http://i.ebayimg.com/00/$(KGrHqR,!lgE2Ej5Mg+yBNsMzVymuQ~~0_12.JPG
3
http://i24.ebayimg.com/03/i/001/26/41/b1ff_12.JPG

Title: Re: Shopping for Bars
Post by babyhog on 09/29/11 at 13:19:49

Think I read a suggestion somewhere to take some wire (like coat hanger wire or something firm, but bendable) and bend it to what you think you would like, adjust and play with it till you get it to where you think its comfortable, then take measurements, then go find ones that match your measurements! Easy as pie. ;)

Title: Re: Shopping for Bars
Post by EJID on 09/29/11 at 13:20:11

23302726393432303B64550 wrote:

I agree comfort is KING so I've got to find something that will FEEL good :D

I think these would mimic the stock drag bar angles pretty well and might sit a bit taller:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/HARLEY-DAVIDSON-1-Z-BAR-HANDLEBARS-8-Rise-FL-FX-XL-1974-1981-without-Indents-/200657462634?pt=Motorcycles_Parts_Accessories&hash=item2eb81de56a

Rise To Grip Tip: 8"
Rise To Center: 7"
Pull Back: 4"
Width Tip To Tip: 29"
Bar Diameter: 1"
Knurl: 2"
Center Width: 7"
http://i.ebayimg.com/00/$(KGrHqUOKj0E5,vtJom4BOgg)p73Lw~~_12.JPG

Title: Re: Shopping for Bars
Post by verslagen1 on 09/29/11 at 14:29:50

If I didn't likem low... I'd steal'm from ya.

Title: Re: Shopping for Bars
Post by arteacher on 09/29/11 at 15:12:05

With the stock drag bars I was leaning back a bit too far. I bought a Flanders broomstick,which had me leaning a bit too far forward. Then I bought Rox adjustable risers, and now I am just right.

Title: Re: Shopping for Bars
Post by greenmonster on 09/29/11 at 15:29:38

And arteacher changes his screen name to Goldilocks+3handlebars.
:D

Title: Re: Shopping for Bars
Post by Mario Verasso on 09/29/11 at 20:05:27

Like those Z-bars...

Title: Re: Shopping for Bars
Post by EJID on 09/30/11 at 13:20:33

43504746595452505B04350 wrote:

For me pullback is a big issue.
If drag bars are comfortable to you then get the same pullback.
don't need dimples, those are for HD's so they can route their cables external (their controls can be used for internal wiring if you get undimpled bars and drill them for the wiring to run thru)don't really need knurling, except for tall ape hangers.

Z bars have the same pullback as drag bars. 8-)

Dimples - My understanding is, our stock bars don't have them and we don't need them, but if we buy bars with them they will still work. Are I correct? :-/

Title: Re: Shopping for Bars
Post by verslagen1 on 09/30/11 at 13:46:35

7F70737E3A0 wrote:

Dimples - My understanding is, our stock bars don't have them and we don't need them, but if we buy bars with them they will still work. Are I correct? :-/

What are dimples?

Title: Re: Shopping for Bars
Post by arteacher on 09/30/11 at 13:51:27

Dimples are the holes for the switch modules. I think the only reason they are there is so that the switch modules can be located quickly on the assembly line?

Title: Re: Shopping for Bars
Post by EJID on 09/30/11 at 14:32:58

This set of bars are both Knurled and Dimpled - The Dimples are the indentations on the underside by where the controls are. I know post 1982 HD controls use dimpled bars, but need to know if using dimpled bars with our controls is an issue.

http://i.ebayimg.com/22/!BsQOOLgEGk~$(KGrHqUOKkEEvPH3fsPzBL3L8pZpb!~~_3.JPG

Title: Re: Shopping for Bars
Post by MrBrownTX on 09/30/11 at 18:42:57

My vote is the Zbars!
Biltwell Friscos are similar and awesome too just a little less rise.
http://www.biltwellinc.com/index.php?l=product_detail&p=44
Those are what I plan to get. On top of my stock 6" risers they'll be 13" up and should be right out off my shoulders.

Title: Re: Shopping for Bars
Post by spacepirates on 10/01/11 at 23:36:17

I just took my stock buckhorn bars off tonight (2002 savage), and the bars are dimpled and the controls have pegs that fit into them. So i'd either have to drill holes in non-dimpled bars or cut off the little pegs for the controls to work.

As a side note, i took them off to try and fit a 30" piece of iron pipe, but it was a 30 thousandths too wide. I figured paying $5 for it at lowe's was worth the risk. I'll be back there tomorrow to see if i can't find anything else with an outer diameter closer to 1". I just can't justify paying $50 or so for a straight piece of metal tubing (since I'm going broomsticks).

Also, those f***ing plastic caps on the allen bolts suck. Busted on off such that the peg part of it was still stuck in the bolt. I learned I had a much larger vocabulary than I previously thought....

Title: Re: Shopping for Bars
Post by verslagen1 on 10/01/11 at 23:43:16

Your bars are drilled, not dimpled.

when you find the bar that you want, just file off the pin.
the controls clamp to the bar well enough.