Have questions or want to discuss cycling? Join Now or Sign In to participate in the BikeRide community.

Best Black Friday E-Bike Deals 2024 | Up to $1,700 in Savings

New: Take Part in the November Giveaway: Starts November 18th


Swap Handlebars
#1
Hi- is it feasible to swap out handlebars? I have a mountain bike, but need to sit upright due to neck problem. Does it make sense to get "cruising" style handle bars for it?
  Reply
#2
No problem usually swapping bars.
The only thing you must do is match the stem clamp size.
http://www.sheldonbrown.com/gloss_st-z.html#stem

You might also consider getting a riser stem to lift the bars as well?
Ride hard or ride home alone!
  Reply
#3
I was also concerned about the cables possibly being too short for the cruising style handlebars. Is it a big deal to replace them?
  Reply
#4
You may get into shorter cable problems but that is something we really cannot say at this time not knowing which handlebars you are going to switch to. You can measure them as shown on Alex's tutorial here, http://bikeride.com/replace-cable-housings/ . Then again I would wait until you get the handlebars you want to assess if you will have problems. It is not hard to replace them though.
Good maintenance to your Bike, can make it like the wheels are, true and smooth!
  Reply
#5
It's no big deal to change cables if they are too short.
The front will need new inner and outer.
The back may need the first section of outer and a new inner.
The other outer sections on the rear will be O.K.
It just depends on how much slack there is in the existing ones will decide if you need to change.
Take a note of how you remove the old ones and it's just a reverse for installation.
Ride hard or ride home alone!
  Reply
#6
I am fixin to swap handlebars on my '09 FXD. These stock ones just kill my wrists they aren't perpendicular enough to the line of the bike itself. Got some different handlebars on the way someone offered to me. Now, I looked in the H-D service manual and it said to remove the clutch and brake stuff. Here is where I am confused for the brake master cylinder it said to go to that chapter and follow the directions there - but that chapter has me draining the master cylinder and doing all kinds of stuff.
  Reply
#7
If you just want to remove the handlebar you just loosen the screws holding the levers in place and slide them off. (Well, assuming the brake systems tubes are long enough).
  Reply
#8
(06-11-2010, 03:57 AM)sherloklewis Wrote:  I am fixin to swap handlebars on my '09 FXD. These stock ones just kill my wrists they aren't perpendicular enough to the line of the bike itself. Got some different handlebars on the way someone offered to me. Now, I looked in the H-D service manual and it said to remove the clutch and brake stuff. Here is where I am confused for the brake master cylinder it said to go to that chapter and follow the directions there - but that chapter has me draining the master cylinder and doing all kinds of stuff.

Possibly no need to drain the master cylinder. Just make sure you keep it upright while changing the bars. Although it probably really doesn't matter as the bike is likely to get laid down sometime.
If there is not enough slack in the plumbing to remove the cylinder then loosen and slide the bars across to opposite side .
Ride hard or ride home alone!
  Reply


Possibly Related Threads...

Forum Jump:

[-]
10 Latest Posts
Recording Bike Rides
Yesterday 01:37 AM
Ketone Ester $$$
11-19-2024 01:04 AM
Trek domane tyre
11-18-2024 01:58 PM
Old fossil buys Ebike
11-17-2024 06:39 AM
Bike bus
11-17-2024 12:14 AM
Second wheelset for ebike.
11-16-2024 08:20 PM
Humber "Eiffel Safety" bike 1800s
11-16-2024 03:05 PM
Moving in Style: Beyond Regular Transpor...
11-15-2024 03:01 PM
Great UK Cycle Camping Map, For E-Bikes,...
11-10-2024 06:55 AM
Cycling is Anti-Aging, But There's a Cat...
11-10-2024 06:48 AM

[-]
Join BikeRide on Strava
Feel free to join if you are on Strava: www.strava.com/clubs/bikeridecom

[-]
Top 5 Posters This Month
no avatar 1. Jesper
22 posts
no avatar 2. enkei
19 posts
no avatar 3. GirishH
14 posts
no avatar 4. Flowrider
11 posts
no avatar 5. ReapThaWhirlwind
11 posts