Beach Bars (Handle Bars)

[Aquaman]

I want to switch over to Beach Bars (there bitchen) & I'm not sure if they'll work. I'm looking at getting the Burly Bikini Bars 1 1/4" that taper down to 1" at the clamp & grips (Item #49818). I think the clamp area will work (5 1/8" width but not sure of the grip & controls area. Does anyone know how much length I would need to compensate for both the grip & controls area ? They can't answer me at Burly because of course these are made for HD.    

[pago cruiser]

Would love to see how they turn out.  It looks like I may be doing something similar, as I don't like the cowhorn bars.  I'm looking at a set of late model Sportster bars with a set of 2" ROX risers - I have this on another rig and it worked great.  I tried a set of beachbars at a store yesterday, and they look too low - will probably require taller risers. 

I'm prolly also going to change fairings, as my IS fairing does not like my 3 mile washboard driveway; the fairing rattles like its coming apart.

[Bighead]

I would think about smoothing the drive a bit.

[Valkorado]

My bike has what the PO called beach bars, a fellow rider even noticed them on our ride this weekend.  I love them, they really feel good to my wingspan anyway.  And yes, they look cool.  I'll try to post a picture of them soon.  Not sure what brand mine are, or if they are tapered at the grip ends.

[John Schmidt]

I've have had a set of 1 14" Harley bars on my bike for close to ten years. They do taper down to 1" for the clamp and the controls fit my bar fine. The bar I got is almost an exact copy of the Valkyrie OEM bar. I really like the beefy look. I later went to HD controls and ran the wiring inside the bars. Here's what it looked like before I changed out the leather.

[Black Dog]

I've got after market bars on my Valk (Wild1 Chubby 518RK's) that are alot like Johns in that they are 1 1/4" for the main part of the bars, but are necked down to the 1" for the clamp and bar ends.  They are slightly wider, pull back a bit more, and sit a bit higher than stock bars.  The only mod was to pass the throttle cables through to the drivers side of the tripple tree.  To answer the question about how long the necked down area for the grips would be, as others have said, HD grips are shorter (at least shorter than my Kury grips), so I do have maybe 3/4" of the end of the grip unsupported by the bars inside.

Drivers view;



In the picture, the green circles show the cable clamps (purchased from Wild1), the red line shows where the throttle cables were, and the purple line shows where they were rerouted to.

Black Dog

[John Schmidt]

Black Dog, I just installed HD grips in place of the Honda items. The left side was no problem, the right side took some tinkering for the throttle cables to work with the grip. Later when I installed HD switch boxes it was an easy change....except for the wiring which took a little thought but turned out quite easy.

Reason I changed; I wanted all chrome switch boxes and master cylinders. It was going to cost ~$250 plus shipping, and the labor involved to gut them and replace everything. With the HD controls and m/c already chromed, they cost me <$220 with free shipping. It took me about two days to adapt to the Honda main harness. And with the double relay system I created for starting and controling the headlight, I don't have to worry about the start button ever crapping out on me. Just one of the many advantages.

[WDAN]

This is a photo of a Valk with bikini beach bars. The owner (don't remember who) bought bike with bars already installed so could not help me with install instructions. These bars are super cool. I would have them if I could be assured I did not have to install extra long cables. I did install them on a Yamaha Road Star and loved them.
Little photo shopping on the highway pegs.

[Valkorado]

Sorry it took me a couple days to post.  Here are what mine look like installed.

https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B0TuB7W83hDCTHdvS1QzMGJlaU0/edit?usp=docslist_api

https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B0TuB7W83hDCRUVfVWtnQ010QWs/edit?usp=docslist_api

(double click zooms in)

I like 'em.

[Aquaman]

Yeah Daddy, now that's what I'm talking about !  Valkorado, do you know the manufacturer of your bars & are those 1" or 1 1/4" ?  

[The emperor has no clothes]

Yeah Daddy, now that's what I'm talking about !  I guess my main question is how will the grips, controls & clamp fit properly (w/o any milling)  being that our stock bars are 7/8" & the beach bars are 1" ? Won't there be a gap where the bar clamp & controls clamp together & wouldn't I need to get some 1" grips?   

I believe stock is 1"

[Aquaman]

Yep - Just went out & measured that's why I modified my last reply.

[Valkorado]

Yeah Daddy, now that's what I'm talking about !  Valkorado, do you know the manufacturer of your bars & are those 1" or 1 1/4" ?  

Wish I could tell you the brand, I just don't know.  There is no obvious taper in the bars so I'm guessing they're 1" from end to end.

[judd]

This is a photo of a Valk with bikini beach bars. The owner (don't remember who) bought bike with bars already installed so could not help me with install instructions. These bars are super cool. I would have them if I could be assured I did not have to install extra long cables. I did install them on a Yamaha Road Star and loved them.
Little photo shopping on the highway pegs.

WDAN, Sorry but, you have that pic mixed up with another members story, I know how it goes so no worries that is an old pic of my bike.    I did install those 1" Bikini Beach bars complete with 4" Lamont risers and passed the throttle cables behind the triple tree, no other mods, they work excellent and take the pinch out of the shoulders and neck area that I was getting with the stock Buckhorns.  A couple of members have asked about the install and I have passed on what I know, you must of asked someone other than myself for help because I most definitely would have helped  ......   I wanted the chubby bars as well but then the risers were a no go cuz they do not have the one piece cover plate like stock ............... Oh and  those pegs are for real ........ these on the other hand are shopped. ..............Cheers, Judd 

[judd]

Few pics showing amount of pullback afforded by the addition of Beach bars and 4 " risers

[Valkorado]

Can't tell for sure, but the 1" Bikini Beach bar looks mighty similar to mine.