Customization: Handlebars
This is the third in our series on customizing motorcycles. Handlebars have come to represent more than just a steering function. They are used today to adjust the rider’s reach (you can’t just pull the seat closer to the wheel on a bike) and to make the ride more comfortable. You’ll see handlebars customized more often on cruisers, choppers, and touring bikes than most others. You won’t see it often on sport bikes. And there’s more to it than just handlebars.
There seems to be a finite number of styles in motorcycle handlebars with an infinite set of combinations to express creativity. Ape hangers raise your arms to the wind, typically making your arms parallel to ground or angled to let the air flow under. You’ll always hear a novice rider expressing how uncomfortable that must be for a long ride, but until you’ve tried it you won’t understand how comfortable apes are.  Ape hangers come in several sizes and there may be local or state laws regulating how high you can have your arms or hands. Check before you customize this part of your bike.
Drag bars are either straight across the triple-tree or nearly straight across.  They often have built in risers and feel great on a bike that either entices you to lean forward or has a tank and frame short enough to let the rider reach comfortable to the grips. The taller guys like these because they can reach them even on a stretched frame. I had drag bars on the custom Harley-Davidson Road King I had once and was impressed at the feel. It was much nicer than expected. It makes you feel a bit more connected to the bike’s power for some reason.
Beach bars are those wide, lazy, relaxed handlebars similar to those found on the old-fashioned beach bikes. I’ve seen these used on lowered bikes to give it a sprawled look. You need a wing-span to ride a bike with these as your arms are moved out from the center of the bike. They aren’t as common, but can look great on the right theme. You’ll want to try riding a bike with these before you add them to your customization.
Pull-back handlebars are a relaxed-fit approach to riding. They seem to be a cross between standard/classic handlebars and ape hangers. Typically, they have a slight tilt at the end and come back to the rider for a laid-back approach to riding.
Some riders use risers to show off and extend the handlebars. There are some really nice risers and caps that can be found along with some unique one-offs. Here you see a very typical set of risers, but don’t be afraid to look around. There are so many variations and this is the area of the handlebars that is easiest to customize.
Here are a few sites we used in our research. There are many more out there to find. Let us know and we’ll add them to the list.