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Drag bars and what comes with it

3533 Views 25 Replies 8 Participants Last post by  Jeff B
i wonder if folk on this forum who installed drag bards might advice on options replacing clutch cable and brake line. i seriously consider installing V&H racing bars and recon them being much lower i would have to take care (or replace) of excess of clutch cable and brake line.
are there shorter direct replacement for both?
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I'm far from an expert just relaying what I did when I put the V&H 2" rise bars on a few weeks ago , the stock front brake line isn't really an issue . I drilled the bars and instead of in a vise to avoid scratches or inverted bolted down in the top clamp/ risers . I figured the best route was to hold them down on a garbage bag in the kitchen with one hand and use center punch to give a good guide to where to walk your pilot hole drill bit all over the place with your drill in your other hand and then have it move around on the bag to rub in the metal filing for extra scratches. Lined up the holes inline to the stock holes for the wiring clips . The clutch cable does have a few extra inches on it, I just adjusted it and zap strapped the line after adjustment out of the way as it could possibly get pinched by the triple tree's . I plan to buy a Barnett high performance clutch cable that's a few inches shorter ( like $60-$70) and swap the stock one since I pinched it good when I turned the wheel fully left while checking the throttle adjustment . I'm pretty sure the V&H race kit part is a Barnett high performance clutch cable , have to verify the part #'s since the [email protected] parts Canada catalog doesn't seem to match the V&H part #'s contrary to their customer service claims. Basically if your worried stock bars are 6" rise so 4"ish excess depending on which ones you choose . In my opinion you don't need to replace either , I've rerouted clutch cables without issue on other bikes as long as there not binding anywhere or dragging low , good to go .V&H sells clutch/throttle cables that are shorter for the bars but again there is cheaper ways and it's not necessary.
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I've got the V&H Race Bars, and you can hardly notice the slack in the throttle and clutch cable lines. An extra cable tie took care of the slack in the clutch cable.

Here's a pic of my setup, if it helps.

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I'd go ahead and change over to the shorter V&H clutch cable while you're at it. I put on flat bar and my clutch line was way low to the point it was seeping fluid overnight from being below the cases. After changing the clutch line problem solved. The brakes/throttle cable aren't too bad. I went to a set of shorter HEL lines though for stiffer brakes anyway
Pick a sportster with flat bars and use the clutch cable.I think mines of a Nightster .
I've got the V&H Race Bars, and you can hardly notice the slack in the throttle and clutch cable lines. An extra cable tie took care of the slack in the clutch cable.

Here's a pic of my setup, if it helps.

It's hard to tell from this picture what you did to clutch cable. I do see though that you have after market brake lines. I guess you have separate line for each caliper.
I'd go ahead and change over to the shorter V&H clutch cable while you're at it. I put on flat bar and my clutch line was way low to the point it was seeping fluid overnight from being below the cases. After changing the clutch line problem solved. The brakes/throttle cable aren't too bad. I went to a set of shorter HEL lines though for stiffer brakes anyway
I did not know V&H had it. Somehow missed it from their catalog. I shall follow up. Thanks for heads up.
I went to a set of shorter HEL lines though for stiffer brakes anyway
another question. do you happen to remember what length of brake lines you bought?
Can't remember the lengths but Phil at Moto-Heaven is very helpful. They'll do a custom length/color setup for less than the off the shelf Galfer set-up. Plus it's a dual line set-up which i prefer.
I'd find a repair manual if you change the clutch line. It's really simple and quick if you follow the instructions.
i have service manual, it's may table book. i have no problem replacing either clutch or brake lines (done it many times on my XL), it's finding out the right size that a bit tricky without having actual handlebars in hand. otherwise i would have just mocked it up on the bike and measured the lines' length.
It's hard to tell from this picture what you did to clutch cable. I do see though that you have after market brake lines. I guess you have separate line for each caliper.
LOL - I was just being funny. I wanted bad to see your face when you looked at the pic. :cool:
LOL - I was just being funny. I wanted bad to see your face when you looked at the pic. :cool:
wish granted

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Ordered a new clutch cable , stock is 57 and 1/4" , V&H's one is 3 1/2" shorter. I ordered a 54" Magnum high efficiency one, was like $75.
wish granted

LOL - That's what I'm talkin' bout! :clap:

Ordered a new clutch cable , stock is 57 and 1/4" , V&H's one is 3 1/2" shorter. I ordered a 54" Magnum high efficiency one, was like $75.
Part Numbers are always good ...just in case someone else wants to pick it up.
FWIW, if you want to go the cheap route, the stock clutch, throttle and brake lines will work with the V&H flat drag bars.i have that setup and it works but the brake line is a little close to the fork leg. Ive been too much of a cheap-o to go get a proper fitting line but it will work if you need it to.
LOL - That's what I'm talkin' bout! :clap:

Part Numbers are always good ...just in case someone else wants to pick it up.
The part #'s are from parts Canada Fat Book, I just flipped to high proficiency since the other shorter option as chrome and the HD one was $120. I've found that some part # don't match so I didn't want to post a useless # . If it were a HD part I would list it , I'm still trying to figure out who V&H is using for the shorter lines,
V&H XR1200 Clutch Cable
(3.5 inches shorter than stock for use with flat handlebars)
Nylon coated inner wire and Teflon lines housing to reduce lever effort
. '35-0288
Thank you all for your feedback, it solidifies my choices.
The reason I am so keen on replacing cables rather than leaving stock is that I did that mistake when switched to dragbars on my XL and did not like it one minute. The whole setup just looked ugly and unfinished, made me mentally uncomfortable like my underwear was sticking out or something.
Besides clutch cable being as stiff as it is has only two ways to go, either all the way down, in which case it sags well below the engine, or raise it above handlebars, in which case it does not move as freely.
See? That was enough to allow me to find it.

35-0288 Clutch Cable


What about the matching shorter throttle cable lines?

EDIT: Found the Throttle (P/N 35-0286) and Idle Control (P/N 35-0287) cables, too.
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Yes, I saw them too in V&H catalog. They are in my list. Looks like V&H has a lot of goodies for XR.
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