Aftermarket handlebars with a little rise for C model sportster

[stonewall308]

Hey all,

I am going to do something with my handlebars this winter. I have a 2007 1200C, which has the one-piece pullback riser.

I am looking for some options other than miniapes, mainly because miniapes would look crappy with the riser, and removing the riser requires me to get new risers, top clamp, speedometer bracket, relocate wires, etc.

I am looking for something with about 6-7 inches of rise, which is about 3-4 more inches that the stock bar.

I'm considering something like this, but I am going for more of a classic look:
http://www.lickscycles.com/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=34&products_id=1583


any ideas?

[edwilson29]

I cut 3" off of my stock riser for last season and I think it looked ok. This season I am going to replace the riser with a 2" setup from a nightster.



http://i291.photobucket.com/albums/ll296/edwilson29/IMG_0585.jpg



http://i291.photobucket.com/albums/ll296/edwilson29/IMG_0595.jpg



I kinda scratched it and it came out a little crooked because I got in a hurry, thus the washer on the right side, but nobody has ever noticed. I had to re-tap the holes. Fortunately I have a whole machine shop at my diposal. If you have access to a metal cutting band saw and a drill press, this is a fairly easy mod.





........

[xllent01]

If your going to do it.. do it all the way..get rid of the custom riser altogether..


it looks cleaner if done right, looks only half done in my opinion,


and the biggest reason mine has been gone for many years now, just can't stand the look of it..

[milmat1]

I like the cuttoff idea or a short straight riser like a "R" Model. But the one piece riser/speedo is classic sportster and I wouldn't get rid of it. But again, these are opinions of different people.Yours is the only one that matters !

Hoenestly for looks, The only bars that look right with these curved risers are Dragbars ! But i hated the ride so I went with HD Pullbacks. They moved my hands back and up about 2 " Or so....

[Shaft]

I cut 3" off of my stock riser for last season and I think it looked ok. This season I am going to replace the riser with a 2" setup from a nightster.



I'm in the process of doing this very thing. I have some questions... what angle is the cut of the riser in relation to the top of the riser? How did you secure the part in the bandsaw's vise? Or did you manually feed it? And how did you secure it in the drill press?


For the OP... I compiled a list of the parts needed and broke it into groups. Cutting the stock riser is the cheapest. (I even bought a used one on ebay in case I totally F-it up).

With Zanotti's pricing on new HD parts it's about $290 in parts to go with the speedo clamp, risers, harness etc. That's just to swap out the Custom riser arrangement. The harness is the big expense and apparently necessary since the indicators are not compatible.

It looks like the only cable that ought to be swapped out is the brake line. Otherwise if you want to swap the throttle/idle and clutch that's another $180 (+$67 for the Diamond Black brake line) if you go the route of HD Diamond Black lines and cables.

Obviously ebay and aftermarket can be a cheaper alternative.

So far my approach is going to be to try to cut the stock riser. If I decide that I hate it, I'll probably go with the setup from the Low (I like the chrome).

I'm really surprised that there just isn't an alternate riser available. Seems like there are plenty of people that want to get rid of the pull-back. And the stock riser seems to be the road-block. HD makes pull-back handlebars specific for the C models, but I think they are concentrating on the wrong part.

[xllent01]

I like the cuttoff idea or a short straight riser like a "R" Model. But the one piece riser/speedo is classic sportster and I wouldn't get rid of it. But again, these are opinions of different people.Yours is the only one that matters !

Hoenestly for looks, The only bars that look right with these curved risers are Dragbars ! But i hated the ride so I went with HD Pullbacks. They moved my hands back and up about 2 " Or so....

How is the one piece riser combo classic Sportster?? Help a guy out?? or stepaway from what your smoking..:laugh :p



When I think classic Sportster I think...mmm...eyebrow, cowbell, peanut tank, AMF IH, :rolleyes:

the one piece riser combo has only been around since 1996 only on the custom models, the rest..wayy longer..FYI..:D

[SpartanDen]

I had buckhorns with a 1" riser on my bike. I installed 5-1/2" pull back risers and nightster black bars on this past summer. You can get 1" risers either from stealership or through mail order. J&P has a selection of different risers you can get. You should be able to get taller risers that will accept the top clamp with no issues. the only problem is extending the wires for all the lights etc. There are extension kits available for that as well.

[xllent01]

I had buckhorns with a 1" riser on my bike. I installed 5-1/2" pull back risers and nightster black bars on this past summer. You can get 1" risers either from stealership or through mail order. J&P has a selection of different risers you can get. You should be able to get taller risers that will accept the top clamp with no issues. the only problem is extending the wires for all the lights etc. There are extension kits available for that as well.


The top clamp on the C riser is only specific to that riser only..:shhhh



BTW- I've Already lived the C riser nightmare..:laugh

[SpartanDen]

Aaahhhhh.... I was thinking it was the same set up as I have...speedo on top.

[jjw]

Stonewall: check out the 2nd sticky thread down in the Rubbermount section. Lots of good pics and looks clean when done. imho.

[funnythebunny]

Stonewall308, what you want is to be able to reach the handlebars without leaning so much and turn without the effort. That's gonna cost you... experience speaks!

I switched out my wife's handlebars from "C" bars on a "C" riser with a hadlebar from a standard 883 (2004-2006) onto the same "C" riser. The handlebar was about $40, but the cables that needed to be replaced due to longer length needed came to just over $200. The wiring to the handlebar switches will need to be lenthened about 6". I did the labor myself, but if you're gonna pay the stealer, parts and labor will run upwards of $400...

[johnwestphal]

I like the look of the Custom model over the other variants myself, the riser included. Add a mini tach with a tapered gauge housing over your speedo and it looks sweet vs the side by side speedo/tacho, unless that's what you like. Me, I don't care for the "eyebrow" and prefer the bullet headlight on the C model. To each his own, that's why they make the different models. A great chrome handlebar, with more rise/pullback and specifically designed for the C model riser is part #56021-04B. As for cost of cables, you know you want the steel braided lines/cables anyway, lol IMHO pass on the ape hangers, unless that's a look you gotta have, but then do change the C riser/speedo housing with the model from the Low.

[xlcruser]

I like the look of the Custom model over the other variants myself, the riser included. Add a mini tach with a tapered gauge housing over your speedo and it looks sweet vs the side by side speedo/tacho, unless that's what you like. Me, I don't care for the "eyebrow" and prefer the bullet headlight on the C model. To each his own, that's why they make the different models. A great chrome handlebar, with more rise/pullback and specifically designed for the C model riser is part #56021-04B. As for cost of cables, you know you want the steel braided lines/cables anyway, lol IMHO pass on the ape hangers, unless that's a look you gotta have, but then do change the C riser/speedo housing with the model from the Low.
I agree 100%. A friend put apes on his C riser and it just didn't look right. If apes are what you want go all the way and change that riser. I like the looks of it and will find bars to complement them.

[humpbackbob]

I fitted the stock bars from a low to my C.Kept the stock C riser but disguised it with a tool bag. The bars gave me the desired pull back and raised the height some. I did have to lengthen the wires and cables tho but I wanted the diamondback ones anyway.

[johnwestphal]

Oh yeah, forgot about that...The soft leather tool bag from HD works perfect around the riser...Had one on mine until I did the mini-tach, moved it down above lower tree. Those 56021-04B pull-back bars from the Moco will work/look really well...A friend has them/loves them...

[jjw]

Stonewall: I replied earlier in the thread and sent you to the wrong post:doh Here is the one I was thinking about.:banana
http://xlforum.net/vbportal/forums/showthread.php?t=369676

[stonewall308]

Stonewall: I replied earlier in the thread and sent you to the wrong post:doh Here is the one I was thinking about.:banana
http://xlforum.net/vbportal/forums/showthread.php?t=369676


Thanks.

I don't have access to those kind of tools. I wish I was able to buy that riser pre-fabricated.


Honestly, this whole thing is giving me a headache. All I want are my dang handlebars 2 to 3'' further back so I'm not hunched over like grandma. It is unbelievable that I am potentially going to have to change my riser, top clamp, cables, etc.

[johnwestphal]

OK, I have got some folks sending me PM that want to know how the mini-tach set-up on my C Model looks. Here's a link from rider position and from front of bike. This set-up looks pretty cool with drag bars, stock bars or the pullback bars for the C-Model:

http://www.harley-davidson.com/gma/gma_product.jsp?WebLogicSession=L8mxhSEKUcnufk2K1w R6iXGaUhZ6DyV6XzcOxMVlRR4FbUvAU1Sd!506730509!hiwpb msp03.ihd.hd!7005!8005&PRODUCT%3C%3Eprd_id=845524448766933&FOLDER%3C%3Efolder_id=2534374309042512&ASSORTMENT%3C%3East_id=2534374309042512&bmUID=1262233406229&bmLocale=en_US



http://www.harley-davidson.com/gma/gma_product.jsp?WebLogicSession=L8mxhSEKUcnufk2K1w R6iXGaUhZ6DyV6XzcOxMVlRR4FbUvAU1Sd!506730509!hiwpb msp03.ihd.hd!7005!8005&PRODUCT%3C%3Eprd_id=845524448766886&FOLDER%3C%3Efolder_id=2534374309042512&ASSORTMENT%3C%3East_id=2534374309042512&bmUID=1262233406244&bmLocale=en_US

Here are the pull back bars for the C Models:

http://www.harley-davidson.com/gma/gma_product.jsp?WebLogicSession=L8mxhSEKUcnufk2K1w R6iXGaUhZ6DyV6XzcOxMVlRR4FbUvAU1Sd!506730509!hiwpb msp03.ihd.hd!7005!8005&PRODUCT%3C%3Eprd_id=845524448764956&FOLDER%3C%3Efolder_id=2534374302290239&ASSORTMENT%3C%3East_id=2534374302290239&bmUID=1262234973597&bmLocale=en_US


This is the link to the gauge for the 04-06 C Models (rubbermount/carb bikes):


http://www.harley-davidson.com/gma/gma_product.jsp?WebLogicSession=L8mxhSEKUcnufk2K1w R6iXGaUhZ6DyV6XzcOxMVlRR4FbUvAU1Sd!506730509!hiwpb msp03.ihd.hd!7005!8005&PRODUCT%3C%3Eprd_id=845524448766883&FOLDER%3C%3Efolder_id=2534374309042512&ASSORTMENT%3C%3East_id=2534374309042512&bmUID=1262233406244&bmLocale=en_US

[darett]

[QUOTE=stonewall308;2353232]
I am looking for some options other than miniapes, mainly because miniapes would look crappy with the riser, and removing the riser requires me to get new risers, top clamp, speedometer bracket, relocate wires, etc.
QUOTE]

I got rid of my stock risers got an 03 top clamp kept the speedo and used an autometer tach cup to mount it to the eyebrow. only cost about $20 for the tach cup. and about $30 for the top clamp

heres a pic

http://xlforum.net/photopost/data/500/medium/3249_1130667275691_1497510451_338673_5752585_n.jpg

http://xlforum.net/photopost/data/500/medium/3249_1130667235690_1497510451_338672_992618_n.jpg

[stonewall308]

Thanks for the info darett; I sent you a PM.