Handlebars
About Handlebars
The handlebar sets your riding position: how far you reach, how high your hands sit and how much weight lands on your wrists. Riders change bars to get comfortable, to suit a taller or shorter rider, to restyle a cruiser, or to replace a bar that bent in a fall.
Start with diameter, because the bar has to fit your risers, clamps and controls. The listings here include 1-inch, 1-1/4-inch and 1-1/2-inch bars, and your bike may use any of them, so measure the clamped section if you are not sure. Then choose the shape. T-bars, buckhorns, flat-top bars and ape hangers put the hands at different heights, while motocross-style bars come in low to tall bends. Height is given in inches, and rise and pullback together decide how far you reach.
Taller bars usually need longer control cables, brake lines and wiring, and some listings include wiring or plugs for throttle-by-wire models. Check that the bars turn to full lock without pulling on a cable or line. Brands include VORTEX, Drag Specialties, Custom Dynamics, Arlen Ness and Biltwell. Matching parts are in Risers, Clamps & Brackets, Grips, Covers & Pads and Throttle Controls, and the whole group is Handlebars, Grips & Controls. Pick your bike in the Ride Finder at the top of the page to see bars made for it.
FAQs on motorcycle handlebars
How do I measure my handlebar diameter?
Measure across the flat clamped section of the bar, where the risers or triple clamp grip it, with calipers or a tape. Common sizes are 7/8 inch, 1 inch, 1-1/4 inches and 1-1/2 inches. The grip end is often a different size from the clamped section, so measure the right place.
Will taller handlebars need longer cables?
Usually. Taller or more pulled-back bars stretch the stock throttle and clutch cables, brake line and wiring, and can pull them tight at full lock. Look for cable and line kits made for your bar height and model. Turn the bars fully both ways after fitting to check nothing binds.
What do rise and pullback mean on a handlebar?
Rise is how high the grips sit above the bar's mounting point. Pullback is how far the grips sit back toward you. A bar with more of both brings your hands closer and higher, which can ease the reach for some riders but changes how the bike feels.
Do I need a different handlebar for a throttle-by-wire bike?
Listings for those models mention TBW and may include plugs or wiring for it, because the grip sends a signal instead of pulling a cable. A bar made for a cable-throttle bike may not suit. Use the Ride Finder and read the fitment line before you order.
Can I change my handlebars at home?
Swapping a bar and moving the controls is a basic job with ordinary tools. Longer hydraulic brake lines mean opening the brake system, which should be done by someone confident with brakes, and the system must be bled afterward. Check full steering lock and every control before you ride.
