Freewheeler Handlebars

[hoagamotion]

Have Stock 12 inch bars, Anybody tried anything that is more comfortable or with better ergonomics?

 

[rhino 2]

Have Stock 12 inch bars, Anybody tried anything that is more comfortable or with better ergonomics?

Kurt.......Welcome to Trike Talk...

 

[MDO]

Have Stock 12 inch bars, Anybody tried anything that is more comfortable or with better ergonomics?

Kurt, hello & welcome from Missouri.

Bars are such a personal thing, what 1 person likes means nothing to everyone else.

I have the 12" mini-ape stock bars on my FW & love them. I would recommend checking with your local dealers, as many have a set up to test different bars. I would also search YouTube as they have a couple good videos on picking the right bars for you and the comfort triangle on any motorcycle.

 

[Free Bird]

I'm an ape man myself.... but like Micheal said... it is a very personal choice. I chose 19" Santee bars

 

[RedOregon]

One of the most popular setups is the Khrome Werks 2+2 Sweepers, whether Wide or Narrow. You'll find lots of threads on those. I've got the Wides, love the hell outta them. Just run a search on the site here for "Khrome Werks".

 

[RFG7680]

I'm in the midst of installing Factory 47s. 14" Malo bars.

Should have been a straight forward install. I called them and asked if any extensions were needed. They said nope bolt right up. Well, Nope, they dont. It will be worth it when I'm done. Just wish I had the correct answers going into it. I would have ordered everything I needed up front. Required the Namz extensions 8" and a +4 clutch and brake line. Should have the lines in by monday.

 

[Free Bird]

I'm in the midst of installing Factory 47s. 14" Malo bars. Should have been a straight forward install. I called them and asked if any extensions were needed. They said nope bolt right up. Well, Nope, they dont. It will be worth it when I'm done. Just wish I had the correct answers going into it. I would have ordered everything I needed up front. Required the Namz extensions 8" and a +4 clutch and brake line. Should have the lines in by monday.

GREAT looking bars!!

 

[RFG7680]

GREAT looking bars!!

Thanks. Cant wait to button this thing up.

Hows that hot rod trike? That's badass.

 

[MDO]

I will have a unique FW. 1 of the few with the OEM 12" mini-apes...I love them.

 

[RFG7680]

I will have a unique FW. 1 of the few with the OEM 12" mini-apes...I love them.:clapping:

Honestly the stock bars are not bad at all. For me 14 is better and I'm not a fan of stock. One of the best things a out out bikes. Is the ability to make it unique.

 

[USMC Old Dog]

Question for Red

One of the most popular setups is the Khrome Werks 2+2 Sweepers, whether Wide or Narrow. You'll find lots of threads on those. I've got the Wides, love the hell outta them. Just run a search on the site here for "Khrome Werks".

I have been looking at 2+2 wide sweepers for my 215 Freewheeler Every dealer I see says they will not fit my trike. Any thoughts or help. Thanks in advance.

 

[AR198]

I’ve swapped my apes for t bars. The only problem is I’m now looking for something to cover up the gaps where the ape housing was.

I can’t find anything on HD for sale that is designed for the base of t bars.

anyone have any suggestions?

 

[osblacklagoon]

I am trying to replace My 2023 freewheeler handlebars as in question, I have measured my diameter at the clamp, it is 1" diameter, all the recommended handlebars for my trike are 1-1/4 ? even on the Harley on-line store quotes 1-1/4, what is right?

 

[RKplus10]

The 1-1/4” should work fine. They will “neck down” to 1” at the ends for your controls and grips and in the center section for the clamp. The description (or specs) should explain. I used 1-1/4” KST bars and feel they give your ride a more muscular look.

 

[osblacklagoon]

Thank you for your suggestion although I still wonder why my stock handlebars are 1" dia. all handlebar sellers are recommending 1-1/2 " bars at the clamp area?

 

[hawg2019]

Looking for the factory RG3 equivalent bars, I need the same style but in 1.0 diameter for a Freewheeler. Any ideas greatly appreciated.

 

[Blueraven]

I posted this on hdforums.com and thought it’d be beneficial to add to this thread.

2016 Freewheeler, mostly stock.

Got the Klock Werks 2+2 Narrow Sweepers (P/N- 300519 “chrome”) installed on the Freewheeler today.

On a difficult scale of 1 to 10 with 10 being the hardest, I would put this handlebar swap at about a difficult level 3.

The job took me about 4-5 hours, but I wasn’t in any hurry and spent most of the time trying to pull cables through the handlebars.

I haven’t ridden the bike yet but just setting on it I can now lean back on the backrest and don’t have to reach for the bars and they can even come back a bit more.

Thanks to many Forum threads and many YouTube videos showing handlebar swaps on various Harleys the installation was rather straight forward.

The left and right control cables are short by about 3” so I had to order a set of 8” extensions which are delivering tomorrow.
Everything else existing was just fine.

Here’s my pointers;
1) Take pictures of everything before you start.
This really isn’t needed with this job but is a good habit to have.

2) When ordering the bars just go on Amazon and order a set of 8” extensions.
There’s many listed for less than $30 and if you don’t need them they are easy to return.

3) I first tried to feed a piece of wire through the bars but ended up feeding a string into the bars as far as it would go then I used my air compressor to force air through the bars pushing the string through the bars.

4) The “Sweepers” cable openings are too small for the left and right control cables connectors.
Don’t drill out the new bars to get the connectors in.

Pulling the connectors is really simple and without the connectors, the wires are easier to pull however I wouldn’t pull any connectors off that I didn’t have to.

Here’s a link to a video on pulling the connectors;

View: https://youtu.be/aDBzQ4DqPz0?si=ENIA8EjVZBYeNOXP


5) My last pointer is don’t put off swapping out the bars if what you’ve got now is not doing it.

For the past 3 years or so while riding the Freewheeler for only an hour or so my back started to hurt, I think these bars are going to fix that.

Ride Safe!!!!

 

[Silver Foxx]

I posted this on hdforums.com and thought it’d be beneficial to add to this thread.

2016 Freewheeler, mostly stock.

Got the Klock Werks 2+2 Narrow Sweepers (P/N- 300519 “chrome”) installed on the Freewheeler today.

On a difficult scale of 1 to 10 with 10 being the hardest, I would put this handlebar swap at about a difficult level 3.
The job took me about 4-5 hours, but I wasn’t in any hurry and spent most of the time trying to pull cables through the handlebars.

I haven’t ridden the bike yet but just setting on it I can now lean back on the backrest and don’t have to reach for the bars and they can even come back a bit more.

Thanks to many Forum threads and many YouTube videos showing handlebar swaps on various Harleys the installation was rather straight forward.

The left and right control cables are short by about 3” so I had to order a set of 8” extensions which are delivering tomorrow.
Everything else existing was just fine.

Here’s my pointers;
1) Take pictures of everything before you start.
This really isn’t needed with this job but is a good habit to have.

2) When ordering the bars just go on Amazon and order a set of 8” extensions.
There’s many listed for less than $30 and if you don’t need them they are easy to return.

3) I first tried to feed a piece of wire through the bars but ended up feeding a string into the bars as far as it would go then I used my air compressor to force air through the bars pushing the string through the bars.

4) The “Sweepers” cable openings are too small for the left and right control cables connectors.
Don’t drill out the new bars to get the connectors in.

Pulling the connectors is really simple and without the connectors, the wires are easier to pull however I wouldn’t pull any connectors off that I didn’t have to.

Here’s a link to a video on pulling the connectors;

View: https://youtu.be/aDBzQ4DqPz0?si=ENIA8EjVZBYeNOXP


5) My last pointer is don’t put off swapping out the bars if what you’ve got now is not doing it.
For the past 3 years or so while riding the Freewheeler for only an hour or so my back started to hurt, I think these bars are going to fix that.

Ride Safe!!!!

Use plastic trimmer string. Works great.
Love my “ Sweepers”

 

[Noodles107]

Us altitude challenged riders like myself, at 5’8” those giant bars are literally out of my reach. The stock 12’s and stock (custom upholstered) seat adjusted very comfortably for me and us senior riders can’t even hold our arms up to ride those big apes for any length of time with any comfort …

Coolest thing is they make something for everyone.

 

[Blueraven]

I’m also 5’ 8” with arms that are a tad short.

These Klock Werks 2+2 narrow sweepers are only 2” taller but they also pull-back 2”.
I think I have an average torso and with the new bars my arms are pretty much parallel with the ground with a little bend at the elbows.

Below are a before and after side view;

Stock 12” bars:


Klock Werks 2+2 Narrow Sweepers installed:

 

[Silver Foxx]

I’m also 5’ 8” with arms that are a tad short.

These Klock Werks 2+2 narrow sweepers are only 2” taller but they also pull-back 2”.
I think I have an average torso and with the new bars my arms are pretty much parallel with the ground with a little bend at the elbows.

Below are a before and after side view;

Stock 12” bars:
View attachment 132132

Klock Werks 2+2 Narrow Sweepers installed:
View attachment 132133

 

[Noodles107]

View attachment 132137View attachment 132138

Beautiful … I love that paint job

 

[Blueraven]

I got IM concerning installing the Klock Werks 2+2 sweepers and figured I’d post my response here:

Yes the right and left controls wires have to be “de-pinned” from the connector to pull the wires through the new bars.
The throttle cable wire didn’t need to be de-pinned.

All wires pull out of the old bars with the connectors on.
In my post I listed a YouTube link showing how this is done.

The video pretty much explains how to de-pin the wire and it’s as simple as the video shows.
I used a large sewing needle to de-pin the wire.

The one thing the video doesn’t mention is that the pin that’s on the each wire has a locking tab that locks the wire in the connector so when pulling out the wire note it’s orientation to the connector.

When I de-pinned the first wire after I pulled it out I took a picture of the removed wire and connector so I could reference the picture when I went to put the wire back into the connector after I pulled the wire through the new bars.

When you go to put the wires back into the connector you likely will feel a little “click” when the tab locks the wires into the connector.
Just gently pull the wire to confirm it’s locked into the connector.

As for the job itself; the hardest part was pulling the wires through the bars.
Just take your time and don’t force it.

I’m a fairly decent backyard mechanic but motorcycles are not my expertise.
However I found this job more somewhat “tedious” than I did difficult.

 

[Notgrownup]

I installed 2+2 Klockwerks wide sweepers and love them. They work well for me.

 

[RKplus10]

Like Blueraven stated, the connectors will pull out through the stock bars. The KST bars I used also allowed me to pull the connectors through without any de-pinning. My opinion, you have a choice of enlarging the holes vs. de-pinning. Of course, any burrs would need to be removed after grinding.

 

[Silver Foxx]

I also didn’t de-pin You only have to enlarge the whole slightly. I used trimmer plastic string for snaking. Works great

 

[Blueraven]

De-pining the connectors takes less than 5 minutes for all the connectors.

Also once you drill it you own it so there’s no returning the bars if something’s not right.
Not to mention the wires without the connectors are much easier to pull.

Either way obviously works.