A huge part of owning a motorcycle is customizing it and modding it to your taste and style.
You can really make a bike your own by modding it – and one of the mods you can do is installing drag bars.
Drag bars are used by street racers to help increase speed, but they’re also used in choppers and cafe racers to give some flair and style. So that begs the question: what exactly are drag bars?
Drag bars are handlebars that run straight across the front of the bike, not rising above the neck at all.
The advantage of using drag bars is that it forces you to lean forwards when you ride, lowering your body’s profile and thus decreasing drag, increasing speed.
Less drag = more speed because drag applies a force in the opposite direction that the bike is moving in. If you decrease the drag, you can go faster without your engine working any harder.
In some cases, the difference is quite significant – in other cases, it’s still there, but not as noticeable.
Of course, if you’re riding a Harley, speed isn’t your main concern – so drag bars are areas of interest with choppers and Harleys because they look so damn cool.
Where did drag bars come from?
Legend has it that drag bars originated in London. Riders would select a song from a jukebox, race to a pre-defined point, and try to come back before the song finished playing.
While there is no way to really verify this story, it is a cool legend and awesome talking point – plus it’s something that riders would most likely do!
Related
Drag bars vs Ape hanger bars
Normally, Harleys have what are known as “ape hanger” bars – where you’d have to sit up straight and reach your arms out all the way in front of you to grip the handlebars.
These are commonly associated with the lazy Sunday cruise, where you’re just out with your biking buddies, cruising around town at a leisurely speed and enjoying the air on your face(and through your hair, if applicable!)
Drag bars are the complete opposite of ape hanger bars. Instead of sitting up straight, you’re now leaning forwards almost all the way, with your belly nearly touching the gas tank.
This is the only way your hands are able to reach the bars and still have control!
Are drag bars difficult to install?
Not at all! The wiring on normal handlebars is most definitely longer than what you’ll need for drag bars, so you just need to remove the old bars, route the wiring inside the drag bars, and fit them back on. There are also drag bar replacement kits available that you can use.
Are drag bars comfortable?
That depends. Since you’re going to be leaning very forward for most of the time, even slight differences in the way your grips are angled will feel different.
You may feel some back strain from leaning over so much – but once you find the sweet spot with your grip angle, the back pain should become better and you’ll find a comfortable position.
As soon as you install the drag bars, though, you’ll notice a huge difference in how sporty your bike feels.
6″
These drag bars rise 6″, have a 6.5″ backwards sweep, and a diameter of 1.25″ that tapers to 1″. They’ll fit in any Harley Davidson bike and can also be used for custom applications.
There are pre-drilled holes to route the wires through.
8″
These drag bars rise 8″, have a 6.5″ backwards sweep, and a diameter of 1.25″ that tapers to 1″. They’ll fit in any Harley Davidson bike and can also be used for custom applications.
There are pre-drilled holes to route the wires through.
10″
These drag bars rise 10″, have a 6.5″ backwards sweep, and a diameter of 1.25″ that tapers to 1″. They can fit in any Harley Davidson bike and there are pre-drilled holes to route the wiring through.
Powder-coated black gives it a sexy and sleek look.
Drag bars for specific models
2014 and up Harley Street Glides
Designed specifically to fit Harley Street Glides(2014 models and up), these drag bars by FMB Choppers are pre-drilled, powder-coated, and hand-made in the USA. These rise up 16 inches as you can see in the image.
2013 and below Street Glides
Harley Dyna, Softail, and Sportsters
Designed specifically to fit Harley Dyna, Softail, and Sportster bikes, these drag bars by FMB Choppers are pre-drilled, powder-coated, and hand-made in the USA. These rise up 16 inches as you can see in the image.
2014 and below Road Glides
These are meant for Road Glides years 2014 and below. These bars rise up 9 inches. They are pre-drilled, powder-coated, and hand-made in the USA.
