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Cruiser
Posts: 235
Kincardine, Ontario, Canada | Never rode the bike with the stock bars, and I was finding the Ness -2" bars a bit uncomfortable. The reach was fine, but I found my elbows and backed ached after 90 minutes or so.
Well got the bars swapped out today. The Factory service manual omitted one step.
WHERE YOU STAND ON ONE FOOT WHILE YOU WAVE A DEAD CHICKEN OVER YOUR HEAD TO REMOVE THE NYLOCK NUTS SECURING THE BARS!!!!!!!
What a nightmare it was to remove the nuts. You can't reach them from below as the frame blocks you from getting a socket and extension bars on the nuts, forget about using a u-joint or flex socket.
I had to use a short 19mm wrench, but then you have no leverage as the fuel tank restricts your movement. The nuts are suppose to be torqued to 40 ftlbs. Yeah right. I think the handlebars are assembled to the triple forks first and then attached to the steering head at the factory. I can't see any one with common sense designing this otherwise.
Would any one know if a 19mm crows foot work from above?
Did a short test ride before the thunderstorm hit, (I don't mind rain, but I ain't stupid). All seems well. I sit further back now and was able to adjust the Utopia backrest accordingly. This increases the angle from my torso, hips and upper thighs, making that part more comfortable. But the bars are slightly lower and my arms are now slightly bent. I find I have less confidence in cornering, as I do with the straight arm.
Going to give it a couple of weeks though, but might end up swapping back for the road trips.
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Iron Butt
Posts: 742
North Orange County CA | I have been considering trying the 2" shorter bars but based on my observation of the mounting system I was a little paranoid about spending the bucks and the time to swap them out without having any way to try them out first.
The Harley Ultra was the first bike that I ever owned on which changing the bars to fit your body and riding style was a major pain. The Vision looks even more difficult and we have far fewer options.
A bar set made with some adjustability for height and wrist angle would be sweet.
I found this product while doing a web search; maybe if enough of us contact them they will build something for the Vision they have products aimed at nearly everyone else.
http://www.helibars.com/video.php
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Cruiser
Posts: 235
Kincardine, Ontario, Canada | Nice bars, but $859.00 is a little steep for my pockets. Not saying the bars are not worth it, there is a lot of material, engineering and manufacturing in them to justify the price.
I had a E-glide, and changing the bars out on the Vision should not have taken as long as it did (5 hrs). The problem was trying to loosen the nylock nuts. The dealers must have some special tool or trick that I am not aware of.
As far as the Ness bars, I'm 6'4" tall and found myself leaning forward instead of that nice laid back position I was accustomed to on the HD. |
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Tourer
Posts: 415
| I had mine changed before I bought it. My dealer had them changed in no time. Must be a trick to it. |
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Cruiser
Posts: 170
Barrington, NH | You can reach them from the bottom with a long extention. I did mine in about 40 minutes last week. I like the shorter bars better but thats just me. |
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Cruiser
Posts: 235
Kincardine, Ontario, Canada | Chico7z - 2009-05-30 10:01 PM
You can reach them from the bottom with a long extention. I did mine in about 40 minutes last week. I like the shorter bars better but thats just me.
Hey Chico7z, how did you do it? I tried, I could get a socket on, but the frame prevented me from getting the extension or a flex joint on. I tried moving the wheel left to right to see if could gain more clearance, but didn't. I also found the main wiring harness on the right side as an additional blocker.
I will probably go back to the Ness bars, your help is appreciated.
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Swapped my Bars from Ness back to Stock
