Howdy and handlebar question......

[RedShuffler]

Hey folks, new to the forum from Lovelady, Texas. I don't have a Freewheeler, my wife does and we're trying to get it to fit her better. I bought reduced reach levers, she didn't like the reach seat because it changed the look of the bike too much. I'd like to know if any of you guys have found good reduced reach handlebars for your trikes.

She needs probably 4" minimum reduction and 6" would probably be better. I think the narrow sweepers (which I love on my Ultra Limited Low) would probably not get us where she needs to be, She's only 5' tall. I'd appreciate any suggestions. I think she can live with the rise, but the pull-back needs to be addressed. Thanks so much for any help.

 

[rhino 2]

Rodney.......Welcome To Trike-Talk.........:wave4:....

 

[paws]

Hey Rodney! Welcome to you and the Mrs. from west Texas. Plenty of Freewheeler owners on the forum..I’ll bet someone will chime in soon. Happy to have more Texans on the board!

 

[Philip R]

Welcome to the forum from east Texas. :wave:

 

[radismukes]

:welcome:To the Trike Talk Family! FROM SOUTH

Howdy Rodney & Mrs. :wave4:

 

[TWISTED1]

Rodney,

Welcome from Oregon.

Steve

 

[MDO]

Hey folks, new to the forum from Lovelady, Texas. I don't have a Freewheeler, my wife does and we're trying to get it to fit her better. I bought reduced reach levers, she didn't like the reach seat because it changed the look of the bike too much. I'd like to know if any of you guys have found good reduced reach handlebars for your trikes.

She needs probably 4" minimum reduction and 6" would probably be better. I think the narrow sweepers (which I love on my Ultra Limited Low) would probably not get us where she needs to be, She's only 5' tall. I'd appreciate any suggestions. I think she can live with the rise, but the pull-back needs to be addressed. Thanks so much for any help.

Welcome from Missouri. Have you tried adjusting the FW handlebars?

 

[Jack Klarich]

Welcome to Trike Talk

 

[ShapeShifter]

Hello!

:wave4:Rodney and the Missus , Welcome from SW Arkansas. Wish you both much success on getting a comfortable fit for her Freewheeler.

 

[1dn5up]

:welcome:Rodney, give krome works a call with your needed info. They will get ya in the right direction. The Mrs might also need a seat mod to get her footing better situated. (moved forward) Russel Day Long Seats In Calli can customize one for her.

 

[psychogramps]

Hey folks, new to the forum from Lovelady, Texas. I don't have a Freewheeler, my wife does and we're trying to get it to fit her better. I bought reduced reach levers, she didn't like the reach seat because it changed the look of the bike too much. I'd like to know if any of you guys have found good reduced reach handlebars for your trikes.

She needs probably 4" minimum reduction and 6" would probably be better. I think the narrow sweepers (which I love on my Ultra Limited Low) would probably not get us where she needs to be, She's only 5' tall. I'd appreciate any suggestions. I think she can live with the rise, but the pull-back needs to be addressed. Thanks so much for any help.

I also needed a reduced reach. I got a reduced reach Mustang seat. Puts you 2" closer and you get a good seat. 2 birds with 1 stone!

 

[RedShuffler]

Welcome to the forum from east Texas. :wave:

My wife is from Lindale, we lived in that area fer a while. Nice country, Edom is a great eating stop!

 

[RedShuffler]

So far we've tried a reach seat and super reach seat, they just don't look good on the bike and she's not crazy about them otherwise as well. We laid the handlebars back about as far as we could to stay off the tank but it causes such a swing when turning it gives her problems; if they were closer to her, the swing would be manageable, but it's not workable for her with these bars. They also just don't look good laid back like that. She actually liked them better back in line with the forks, so they're back up for now.

I've contacted KhromeWerks (right after we got the bike) and they recommended the narrow sweepers 2+2, I installed the narrow sweeper +2 on my Ultra Limited and love them, but they're a little wide for her. They're also wide to accommodate the fairing on tourers and I wonder how good they'd look down by the forks, I know they're wider than what she wants at the grips. I think I'll call KhromeWerks instead of contacting them through email.

Thanks for all the replies and warm welcomes.

 

[MDO]

Good luck...Happy wife, happy life.

Keep in mind that you may have to replace your brake & clutch lines if the move in farther than a couple inches. I'm not sure about how much play is in the internal wiring of the bars.

 

[RedShuffler]

There's plenty of control wire, the hydraulic lines appear long enough if things don't get too crazy. I didn't have to change anything on my 15 Ultra when I put narrow +2 on a few weeks back, when I did my 2008 Ultra I had to change the clutch cable, that was a headache, I did it all myself and it turned out great but I don't really enjoy working on bikes much; probably the only thing I enjoy less is paying someone else to do it.

 

[ShapeShifter]

.......I don't really enjoy working on bikes much; probably the only thing I enjoy less is paying someone else to do it.

I don't get much joy anymore from wrenching, especially when it involves a lot of bending, stooping and laying down in cramped confined spaces. Do enjoy the satisfaction of a job well done. Oftentimes, the joint and muscle pain, and the stiffness afterwards seems to have made the entire project a win-lose situation.(Mmm) But I still find myself grudgingly taking on most jobs, rather than paying the outrageous costs many dealerships charge!

 

[Free Bird]

Hiya Rodney

There are LOTS of ways to get the bars back where you need them.



First thing is to figure out what they should be dimensionaly...

You need to know the rise, the pullback, and the width of bar that puts your wife's hands in the the most comfortable place

Here is a good method and a place to start to get those measures.



Once you have that information.... you can go shopping for the ones that get you there...Alternatively... you can get the ones that have half the dimensions (width and rise) and then use adjustable risers like the above to dial them in.

Good Hunting!

 

[RedShuffler]

Got bars on and wife loves them, went with Khrome Werks Sweepers 300516. They are not (as far as I know called wide or narrow), they are not the ones made for touring models. The width at the forks looks correct, the 300518 that was recommended would have been too wide. They lay back, but they're bent and the initial rise from the forks looks like it's inline like it should. I had to use wire extensions for the controls, TBW was plenty long enough.

Hope the pics convey what I'm trying to get across.

Thanks for all the suggestions.

 

[Free Bird]

Awesome look! Great line to compliment the trike.

 

[PBRstreetgang]

Has anyone looked at HeliBars? Kind of strange but they work. Had a set for a Roadshark for years and was pleased with them .The good part you could always change their position in a few minutes. Didnt have to settle to close ,you could adjust exactly where you wanted them.

 

[Tiggnusa]

5'2" and having the same issue.

I am 5'2" and having the same issue. I bought my 2015 Freewheeler used and the previous owner must have been 6 foot or taller. It has 14" ape hangers on it now. I'm looking for an alternative. I will have to check out the Model number you previously mentioned for Khrome works and see if it will work for me too. Thanks for the help.

 

[Sunman]

Got bars on and wife loves them, went with Khrome Werks Sweepers 300516. They are not (as far as I know called wide or narrow), they are not the ones made for touring models. The width at the forks looks correct, the 300518 that was recommended would have been too wide. They lay back, but they're bent and the initial rise from the forks looks like it's inline like it should. I had to use wire extensions for the controls, TBW was plenty long enough. View attachment 67730View attachment 67732

What wire extensions did you have to buy and where did you get them? Can you give us the part numbers? I need to replace the bars on my Freewheeler and am looking at the 300516 bars.

Thanks, Sunman

 

[MDO]

I am 5'2" and having the same issue. I bought my 2015 Freewheeler used and the previous owner must have been 6 foot or taller. It has 14" ape hangers on it now. I'm looking for an alternative. I will have to check out the Model number you previously mentioned for Khrome works and see if it will work for me too. Thanks for the help.

Welcome from Missouri! Congratulations on your Freewheeler. Stop by our New Member forum & introduce yourself.

 

[TrainingWheels]

Welcome from the PanHandle:clapping:

 

[ole_phart]

Welcome from Missouri. Have you tried adjusting the FW handlebars?

:Agree:

Welcome from Virginia.

From what I've seen it looks like it's a toss up as to how the bars are adjusted coming from the factory. Many I've seen are parallel to the forks. The 2019 Trike Supplement Service Manual says put a straight edge on the windshield grommets. Measure back from the straight edge to the bottom of the handlebar bend just below the master cylinder. It should measure 4" back. I adjusted mine that way and like the feel much better. If your wife's bars are parallel to the forks you might give that a shot.

 

[MDO]

That's about where my bars are set, just a little over 4" back. I don't have long reach & it works for me.

I had to change the stock seat, as it kept pushing me forward.

I went with the HD Sundowner Tallboy seat & really like it. I did a way to long 650 mile day coming back from Colorado & never gave the seat a thought.

 

[ole_phart]

That's about where my bars are set, just a little over 4" back. I don't have long reach & it works for me.

I had to change the stock seat, as it kept pushing me forward.

I went with the HD Sundowner Tallboy seat & really like it. I did a way to long 650 mile day coming back from Colorado & never gave the seat a thought.

That's good info Michael, thanks. There might be a Sundowner in my future.

Ref. the bar adjustment, some at my dealer are parallel to the forks, some are set back. I guess it depends on whether or not it's a cloudy Tuesday when the MoCo bar installer puts 'em on.

 

[Sunman]

Redshuffler

Rodney, can you advise where you got the wire extensions, P/Ns? Was the brake line long enough? I need to change out my bars and I will need the wire extensions also.

Thanks,

Sunman

 

[ole_phart]

Rodney, can you advise where you got the wire extensions, P/Ns? Was the brake line long enough? I need to change out my bars and I will need the wire extensions also.

Thanks,

Sunman

I'm killing time before I need to take the dogs out so thought I'd butt in. The image shows what HD has to offer. Also, check out https://namzcustomcycleproducts.com. Bike wiring and wire extension products is their claim to fame. You can order direct from them or, Dennis Kirk has their stuff and possibly Revzilla.

-jeff