[Flamegirl]

Hi all,
I was thinking of putting drag bars on my Street 500. I was wondering if anyone else has done so. If so was it difficult or a simple swap of bars. I was wondering if the cables would need to be changed.
Thanks,
Margaret

 

[harleyhoonigan]

That would be awesome. Haven't seen anyone mention they would do this or that they have done it already, maybe you'll be the first

 

[StoneFree]

Hi all,
I was thinking of putting drag bars on my Street 500. I was wondering if anyone else has done so. If so was it difficult or a simple swap of bars. I was wondering if the cables would need to be changed.
Thanks,
Margaret

Removing the hand controls requires moderate mechanical ability and getting the fixed L/H grip off is a bit tough as it is attached with an adhesive. Removal of the handle bars themselves is easy (4 bolts). Any 7/8" bars (stock diameter) will work but I highly recommend using bars with a knurled center that goes under the clamp to help prevent any rotation (it's better than just the clamp blocks on smooth tube). Dime City has drag bars but they are made in Taiwan and do not have the knurled center section that goes under the clamp block. I always recommend Made in the USA but that's a company policy. The cables are technically shorter for drag bars as is the brake line and brake light wiring but sometimes isn't noticable. For a "purest" they woul go with shorter brake line, throttle and clutch cables (and hide the excess wiring under the tank which requires tank removal that is even more work).


On a 1-10 scale of difficulty I'd personally rank this as being about a 5 (or medium) difficulty level.

 

[bmoothedan]

Hi all,
I was thinking of putting drag bars on my Street 500. I was wondering if anyone else has done so. If so was it difficult or a simple swap of bars. I was wondering if the cables would need to be changed.
Thanks,
Margaret

A friend of mine from Bangalore in India got this done to his street. I'll try getting a picture from him to post it here. He find the Street even more agile after getting the drag bar handle fitted.

 

[Beauty and the Beast]

Hi all,
I was thinking of putting drag bars on my Street 500. I was wondering if anyone else has done so. If so was it difficult or a simple swap of bars. I was wondering if the cables would need to be changed.
Thanks,
Margaret

I put a reduced Handle bar on my 750 and the cables had to be changed to longer cables.

 

[Flamegirl]

StoneFree,
Thanks for the detailed instructions. I am very handy so I think this is well within my abilities. It is the knowledge that I am lacking. I have removed the left hand grip before on an old bike. And yes what a pain in the butt that is. I am really hoping that I can get away with out changing the cables. It may be worth the 20 or so bucks to give it a try. Oh and I did source some bars that are knurled, not sure where they are manufactured...
Thanks again

 

[StoneFree]

I put a reduced Handle bar on my 750 and the cables had to be changed to longer cables.

That's interesting and unexpected. Common logic would be that the closer the controls are to the triple tree to the shorter the cables, electrical, and brake line would be. I know for the mini-ape hangers with a 12" rise we require 8" longer everything. While there is some slack with the brake light wiring I'm wondering what exactly you had to change. Thottle cables, clutch cable, front brake line and perhaps the brake light wiring? All of these are potentially affected so what exactly needed to be longer (and by how much)?

 

[StoneFree]

StoneFree,
Thanks for the detailed instructions. I am very handy so I think this is well within my abilities. It is the knowledge that I am lacking. I have removed the left hand grip before on an old bike. And yes what a pain in the butt that is. I am really hoping that I can get away with out changing the cables. It may be worth the 20 or so bucks to give it a try. Oh and I did source some bars that are knurled, not sure where they are manufactured...
Thanks again

Well, if you have to change the cables that requires pulling the gas tank. Not that hard and the real trick relates to the clamps holding the cross-over fuel line. These need to be "popped" open by lifting the tab and then replaced with conventional (stainless steel) hose clamps on re-assembly. The fuel line to the engine is a quick disconnect and the wiring for the fuel pump has a disconnect under the tank you can reach. Of course drain the gas tank as much as possible before removal and try to capture the gasoline left when you remove the cross-over line. With that said go for it. It's not that hard and figuring out how to release the hose clamps was our biggest challenge because those are installed with special tools by Harley. Once we figured that out it was relatively easy. The same type of hose clamps are used on the radiator hoses as well.

 

[Beauty and the Beast]

That's interesting and unexpected. Common logic would be that the closer the controls are to the triple tree to the shorter the cables, electrical, and brake line would be. I know for the mini-ape hangers with a 12" rise we require 8" longer everything. While there is some slack with the brake light wiring I'm wondering what exactly you had to change. Thottle cables, clutch cable, front brake line and perhaps the brake light wiring? All of these are potentially affected so what exactly needed to be longer (and by how much)?

Are you just talking cause you like talking to me and know that I will say something funny in a heartbeat or are those serious questions that you are asking me??

All that, that you said brake light wiring, throttle wiring, is over my head and way beyound my skill level and the reason why I paid a God awful amount for the stealership to do it for me, cause I did not want to be riding along and have the handbar come loose in my hand, but I think it was the clutch cable which may not even be what the orginal post was all about to begin with. Now if you really want answers, I will do my best to find the answer, I just know it was available as a after market.

Now dont let me find out that I really didnt need the longer cable, cause I will be madder than a live catfish in some hot oil.

 

[StoneFree]

Are you just talking cause you like talking to me and know that I will say something funny in a heartbeat or are those serious questions that you are asking me??

All that, that you said brake light wiring, throttle wiring, is over my head and way beyound my skill level and the reason why I paid a God awful amount for the stealership to do it for me, cause I did not want to be riding along and have the handbar come loose in my hand, but I think it was the clutch cable which may not even be what the orginal post was all about to begin with. Now if you really want answers, I will do my best to find the answer, I just know it was available as a after market.

Now dont let me find out that I really didnt need the longer cable, cause I will be madder than a live catfish in some hot oil.

I'm actually serious because I've not done what you had done. If possible ask the service advisor that was responsible for the work to find out. Perhaps they provided you with a shorter and not a longer cable(?). Who knows. Right now this work maybe beyond your limited experience but I don't see that being the case if you keep on making changes to your motorcycle yourself. You're going to learn the same way I did and everyone else does. I've just got a 45 year head start on you, that's all. There's an old saying that "It isn't hard once you know how to do it."

 

[Flamegirl]

@StoneFree and @Beauty and the Beast,
I think that StoneFree may have misunderstood the reduced reach handlebars. The bars move the hand controls closer to the rider, essentially a longer pullback. So it is very possible that longer cabling was needed.
Thanks

 

[Beauty and the Beast]

I'm actually serious because I've not done what you had done. If possible ask the service advisor that was responsible for the work to find out. Perhaps they provided you with a shorter and not a longer cable(?). Who knows. Right now this work maybe beyond your limited experience but I don't see that being the case if you keep on making changes to your motorcycle yourself. You're going to learn the same way I did and everyone else does. I've just got a 45 year head start on you, that's all. There's an old saying that "It isn't hard once you know how to do it."

I have the bill at home, I will look for it and then I will know exactly what they did and even the part number and get back with you.

 

[Beauty and the Beast]

@StoneFree and @Beauty and the Beast,
I think that StoneFree may have misunderstood the reduced reach handlebars. The bars move the hand controls closer to the rider, essentially a longer pullback. So it is very possible that longer cabling was needed.
Thanks

Exactly...what Flamegirl said @StoneFree

 

[StoneFree]

Out-smarted by the "girls" once again. LOL

 

[StoneFree]

I checked at the local dealer and the reduced reach handle bars do come with special cables. They are the only cables other than stock length that Harley is currently offering and no one else is offering replacement cables yet. Looks like another project for Stone Free Manufacturing, LOL Custom cables anyone?

 

[bmoothedan]

Hi all,
I was thinking of putting drag bars on my Street 500. I was wondering if anyone else has done so. If so was it difficult or a simple swap of bars. I was wondering if the cables would need to be changed.
Thanks,
Margaret

A friend of mine from Bangalore in India got this done to his street. I'll try getting a picture from him to post it here. He finds the Street even more agile after getting the drag bar handle fitted.

Attached another pic

 

[Flamegirl]

@bmoothedan, Thanks for posting the photos of the drag bars. The bars do look good. I like your friends paint job as well.
Thanks again,
Margaret

 

[Flamegirl]

I installed my drag bars today. They are 28" in length. I went with new grips that are more comfortable than the stock. It was a fairly easy mod to do. The cowling hides the cables well. I love the way the bike corners even more now.

 

[StoneFree]

I installed my drag bars today. They are 28" in length. I went with new grips that are more comfortable than the stock. It was a fairly easy mod to do. The cowling hides the cables well. I love the way the bike corners even more now.

I assume the stock cables, brake line, and electrical work for this change.

 

[Flamegirl]

Yes, all the cables are stock. I was able to pull some of the slack out of the electrical cables to the bundle on the right side of the bike. I all looks pretty darn good. Not perfect, but close.