What Height Are Stock Harley Handlebars

Harley Davidson bikes get their distinctive look from the height of their handlebars. However, these handlebars serve more than just this purpose. The height of the handlebars provide comfort while riding and this is why the perfect height is of much significance. The perfect height can help reduce the amount of strain on the rider’s back and shoulders, however, there’s even more to this. So, read on as we dive into this all-important topic.

There are multiple reasons why riders change their handlebars for different types. Different handlebars provide different riding experiences. Let’s take a look at the Harley Davidson high handlebars for example, they are solely for enhancing the look of your bike. If this is what you as a rider prioritize then you would most likely enjoy these.

Choosing the Perfect Handlebars for You

There are a few things to take into consideration when choosing the perfect handlebars for you. Let’s start with a few aspects besides design.

Pullback- This describes the angle between the tip of the grips of your bike and the clamping area. If you are a shorter rider then you will require more pullback in your handlebars. Taller riders will require handlebars with less pullback.

Height- The height of the bars varies between 0-20 inches. Harley Davidson's high handlebars make the bike appear bigger. However, this is not all you need to consider when choosing the perfect height for you. If your handlebars are too high for you then they are likely to cause cramps and discomfort. If your bars are too low, like drag bars or straight bars, you can lift them to the perfect height by using risers. You can stack the risers on top of one another until you are comfortable with the height of your handlebars. When trying out bars that are higher than your stock handlebars, be sure that the cabling with your bike is long enough.

Center Width - This describes the width of the handlebar in the area where the clamp fits, to where the bar bends. Center width usually starts at about 3 and a half inches in stock handlebars. It can reach as high as 12 inches in aftermarket bars.

Width - This describes the length between your hands when gripping the handlebars. The perfect width would be something that lets your hands sit roughly at shoulder length apart. If the width is too narrow it's bound to cause problems with handling. This also applies to a width that’s too wide apart.

Different Handlebar Designs

Ape Hangers - These are the general high bars. They got their name due to the way the rider hangs on the bike when riding. Their height ranges from 10-20 inches.

Touring/ Dresser bars - These are one of the largest types of Harley handlebars. They are typically for bikes with large fairings. They have a bigger center width and are high.

Window/ H Bars - These bars look like the letter H. They have a mid-cross-section and are decently high with a narrow center width. Window bars have a rectangular shape and a flat top part and riser.

Drag Bars / Tracker Bars - If you enjoy a more aggressive riding position then drag bars are the ones for you. They also offer you a lot of control. They are very low with almost no rise and very little pullback. Tracker bars are similar to drag bars but are slightly higher. They have a little more pullback. These are often found in stock Sportsters.

T-Bars/ Z-Bars - T-bar handlebars are higher due to their integrated risers. They are very similar to ape hangers. Z-bar handlebars don’t have much pullback and are lower and narrower.

There are other handlebar styles as well such as, bagger and buckhorn handlebars, Clubman and clip-on handlebars.

Bar Diameter - the bar diameter depends on the size. Taller handlebars such as ape hangers, usually have a bar diameter of 1 inch. Fat bars are thicker but also still thin in the clamping area.

Other things to consider when choosing the perfect Harley Davidson handlebars are, looking for handlebars that won’t slip and slide. This means you have to look for handlebars that have a knurled clamping area. For heavier and taller handlebars such as ape hangers, knurled bars offer a sense of safety.

Below are a few more handlebars to consider along with their bar diameter, height and pullback in inches.

Road Glide 1.25 1.70 0.00

Softail – FLSTC & FLS 1.00 1.94 0.39

Softail – FLSTF & FLSTFB 1.25 2.40 0.87

Softail – FLSTN 1.00 4.45 1.30

Softail – FXSB 1.25 4.00 1.15

Dyna – FLD 1.00 3.10 1.18

Dyna – FXDB 1.00 1.00 n/a

Dyna – FXDL 1.00 4.39 1.61

Dyna – FXDF & FXDWG 1.25 5.00 0.60