KST handlebars

[CapeTeddy]

Hello freewheelers, this "geezer on a threezer" is thinking on switching from stock to 14" KST Kustoms 1-1/4" Polished Straight Jacket Handlebars on my 2016 freewheeler. They're in my price range and I think I can install them myself. Any Pros or Cons on these handlebars? Or does someone have an easy to install handlebar suggestion? I'm on fixed income and can't afford the install so I have to do it myself. I was at Thunder Rally last weekend in Panama Beach and the Khrome Werks was doing an install on a Triglide and he said it was $650.00, including bar if done right there. That wasn't bad but still too much for me. I want to be able to afford to ride my trike and not look at it in the garage. LOL. Thanks Freewheelers .

 

[butchvoss]

Hello freewheelers, this "geezer on a threezer" is thinking on switching from stock to 14" KST Kustoms 1-1/4" Polished Straight Jacket Handlebars on my 2016 freewheeler. They're in my price range and I think I can install them myself. Any Pros or Cons on these handlebars? Or does someone have an easy to install handlebar suggestion? I'm on fixed income and can't afford the install so I have to do it myself. I was at Thunder Rally last weekend in Panama Beach and the Khrome Werks was doing an install on a Triglide and he said it was $650.00, including bar if done right there. That wasn't bad but still too much for me. I want to be able to afford to ride my trike and not look at it in the garage. LOL. Thanks Freewheelers .View attachment 107633

If you do go that route please report back.. I need to change my bars also but not sure how much lol

thanks

 

[TonkaDriver]

YouTube is your friend

I have KST bars and love them. Quality product at a fair price. I did my installation on my TriGlide after watching several Youtube videos and the picking the one that I liked best. During that install I had that particular video up on my tablet and referred to it on every step.

Kurt

 

[CapeTeddy]

If you do go that route please report back.. I need to change my bars also but not sure how much lol

thanks

No problem, I'll keep you posted.

 

[CapeTeddy]

I have KST bars and love them. Quality product at a fair price. I did my installation on my TriGlide after watching several Youtube videos and the picking the one that I liked best. During that install I had that particular video up on my tablet and referred to it on every step.

Kurt

That's my plan exactly. I did the same thing with my engine guard last year. I used info from here and watched youtube on my laptop in the garage. I'm going to start searching youtube videos while waiting for the delivery. I've added floorboard extensions, luggage rack, custom shift rod, aftermarket horn, engine guard with highway pegs and now I'm going to try this. These projects take me awhile due to health problems but I just take my time and enjoy working on it. I have to try and do it myself first and if I can't get it, then I'll pay for an install.

 

[pigfoot63]

Going to keep an eye on this one, been thinking of doing the same swap myself.

The folks at KST are top notch to deal with.

 

[Trikegypsy2]

KST Handlebars

Following this as well. Need about 2" more so I can really kick back on the back rest.

 

[CapeTeddy]

The handlebars are suppose to be delivered by Thursday but there's the first annual Tallahassee bike fest this weekend so I might wait until next week to get started. I'll keep you all posted.

 

[CapeTeddy]

I have KST bars and love them. Quality product at a fair price. I did my installation on my TriGlide after watching several Youtube videos and the picking the one that I liked best. During that install I had that particular video up on my tablet and referred to it on every step.

Kurt

Did you put 14" on your TriGlide? I can't find any freewheeler youtube videos on installing 14's but I found some for the tri glide. I'm pretty sure most of it is the same except for wiring through the fairing but the videos didn't show anything about adding extensions. I can't tell how much wire I have to play with until I start taking things off and I'm not going to start until after Tallahassee Bikefest this weekend. I contacted KST about these bars fitting since I can't find any info about them on a freewheeler and they said it should fit no problem. I was wondering if you had to add extensions on any of the wires or did the stock wires fit? Any suggestions would greatly be appreciated.

 

[CapeTeddy]

Hello freewheelers, this "geezer on a threezer" is thinking on switching from stock to 14" KST Kustoms 1-1/4" Polished Straight Jacket Handlebars on my 2016 freewheeler. They're in my price range and I think I can install them myself. Any Pros or Cons on these handlebars? Or does someone have an easy to install handlebar suggestion? I'm on fixed income and can't afford the install so I have to do it myself. I was at Thunder Rally last weekend in Panama Beach and the Khrome Werks was doing an install on a Triglide and he said it was $650.00, including bar if done right there. That wasn't bad but still too much for me. I want to be able to afford to ride my trike and not look at it in the garage. LOL. Thanks Freewheelers .View attachment 107633

Setback, the handlebars arrived and the box was all busted up and open. They seem OK but I also noticed the bars don't have laser cut holes as advertised on J&P Cycles. I know I can cut the holes myself but I paid for cut holes. Also disappointing is I placed the bars against my stock bars and the curve on top of the bars hits 14" but the bars are bent downward at the grips and it's pretty close to the same height as the stock 12". I'm not happy and sent J&P cycles a message. I haven't heard back yet but they probably won't be back in the office til Monday. So I plan on calling them and I might have to spend more than I wanted to and get different bars. Everytime I try and go cheap, I get what I pay for as the old saying goes. So now I think I'll send these back and get the ones I really like, the KST Kustoms 1-1/4" Polished Mayhem Handlebar. (below). More money but screw it, I want to be happy with the bars. So as soon as I can get the new ones and they arrive without any problems, I'll start the install and keep you posted on the progress. I might try and film it, I don't have a camera but I might be able to do it with the cell phone and edit out my cursing and throwing tools across the garage. Just Kidding.

 

[New Orleans Kevin]

12 mayhems on triglide

I've got the Mayhems on my 21 Ultra TriGlide and absolutely love them. The Fairing Exchange did them in about an hour at Panama City Thunder Beach Rally . I think it was 700 or 750 total. I dropped a lot more as I did sound and painted inner fairing too. The Fairing Exchange is a quality reasonably priced operation. Look fantastic and handles sooo much better than stock :clapping::clapping::clapping::clapping:

 

[CapeTeddy]

I've got the Mayhems on my 21 Ultra TriGlide and absolutely love them. The Fairing Exchange did them in about an hour at Panama City Thunder Beach Rally . I think it was 700 or 750 total. I dropped a lot more as I did sound and painted inner fairing too. The Fairing Exchange is a quality reasonably priced operation. Look fantastic and handles sooo much better than stock :clapping::clapping::clapping::clapping:

View attachment 107958View attachment 107959

Awesome! They look great. My Mayhems just arrived last night. I'm going to try and get started today. I'm a bit pissed at J&P not only for sending the wrong ones at first but for taking so long to post their Memorial Day sale. If I waited a couple more days to reorder the the right ones after the return, I would have saved $30.00. Oh well. I saw a Tri-glide getting handlebars at thunder beach this year but that was at the KST tent. I was thinking on paying them to do it but I like tinkering with my trike so I'm going to give it a try myself. If I screw it up then I'll pay.

 

[CapeTeddy]

KST 14" Mayhem self Install.

The handlebars arrived Thursday night and I started yesterday. I didn't video it, I couldn't get my phone to sit right and I don't have anyone home to video the install. So I'll have to give you written updates. I took off my windshield and some of the chrome covers. I was able to reach the wire plugs without removing everything. I laid towels across the gas tank and covered my engine guards in case I drop a tool on them. I then removed the handlebar controls, they came off real easy. I snipped the ties and unplugged the wires from underneath. There's some play in the wires if I need them later. Hopefully I won't need extensions. Once I got the wires unclipped I cut off the heat wraps on the wires as suggest on youtube installs and by KST. I used electric tape and placed a strip around every 4 inches. I bought some electricians lube at Lowes, around $8 with military discount. The lube and the flexibility of the wires without the heat wrap, made a big difference. I was able to slide the throttle wire and control wires smoothly around the meat hooks. It only took minutes to do. So far the install is going smooth for now. Knock on wood. My sister made lasagna last night so I stopped working on the trike to eat and called it a night.:chef: I would say I was out there about 2 hours but it wasn't all handlebar time. The 2 hours included setting up folding table, fans to stay cool, laying out my tools, walking the dog etc etc.

 

[CapeTeddy]

KST mayhem handlebar self install update from 5/28/22

So much for easy install. :jumpy: Everything was going great, then I placed the bars where I wanted them and since no one was home, I attached bungee cords to the open garage door and hung the bars over the trike. Then I tighten them lightly to hold in place. That's when the first problem happen. The Mayhem bars have lower meathooks and they looked awful low. So I placed the chrome plate back on the trike and they hit the plate. But it wasn't real low, I made a little indentation so the tips fit and you can't see it. So solved that problem. I would suggest getting the handlebars without the lower meat hooks, I forget what they call them. Problem #2, I plugged everything in, put the main fuse back in and turned the ignition switched. Only the lights came on. So I unplugged everything and plugged it back in, no change. So I started over. I'm thinking the wires might have ripped while pulling the wires through plus the cut out holes are rough and might of shredded some of the wiring.. So I pulled the wiring out and found several frayed areas and cuts but not cut all the through. So pulling them through must have shaved some of the coating and it also looks like I might have cut some of the wires when removing the wrap and didn't notice it earlier. I patched the wiring and the heat was getting to me so I called it a day. Today Sunday the 29th, I plan on seeing if my patch work, worked and I'm going to place electrical tape around the cut out holes for a smoother pull through. I might order extenders since the wiring is a bit tight when connected which might have also added to the damaged coating. 10 inch plug and play extensions would make it easier. I'll let you know how goes later. :shades:

 

[CapeTeddy]

KST handlebar update for Sunday 5/29/22

So I couldn't figure out why my lights would come on and the rest of the bike was dead :ahhh: so I went on you tube and found a lot of people had the same problem. Turned to be a fuse. I thought I checked all the fuses but some how I over looked one and that was the problem. So that was a setback. Once I was able to start my trike I began to finish setting the handlebars and putting everything back together. Then another problem. The brake line was still too tight and I couldn't get it around the chrome top that I already dented to fit the handle bars. So I'm going to cut the chrome top to fit the brake line and meat hooks. With the windshield, it won't be noticeable I also have to cut some of the side chrome in order to get the handlebars to fit right. It would be easier to send them back and get the handlebars without meat hooks on the bottom but I hate sending thing back and I think this is going to turn out alright. My brother in law has a work shop of table tools so the cutting to size will be easy. Almost done guys, just taking a bit longer than I expected. :drama:

 

[Peter A.]

New bars

Real good reporting so far…… hang in there on your project & continue reports + the end result!

Pete (fellow USN)

:Coffee:

 

[Jack Klarich]

So I couldn't figure out why my lights would come on and the rest of the bike was dead :ahhh: so I went on you tube and found a lot of people had the same problem. Turned to be a fuse. I thought I checked all the fuses but some how I over looked one and that was the problem. So that was a setback. Once I was able to start my trike I began to finish setting the handlebars and putting everything back together. Then another problem. The brake line was still too tight and I couldn't get it around the chrome top that I already dented to fit the handle bars. So I'm going to cut the chrome top to fit the brake line and meat hooks. With the windshield, it won't be noticeable I also have to cut some of the side chrome in order to get the handlebars to fit right. It would be easier to send them back and get the handlebars without meat hooks on the bottom but I hate sending thing back and I think this is going to turn out alright. My brother in law has a work shop of table tools so the cutting to size will be easy. Almost done guys, just taking a bit longer than I expected. :drama:

So, others were having blown fuse problems too?

I assume you had either the battery disconnected or the main fuse pulled

during the install?

Fuses blow from shorts and over loaded circuits ,are you going to double check your work?

 

[CapeTeddy]

So, others were having blown fuse problems too?

Fuses blow from shorts, are you going to double check your work?

I did, I went through everything and found frayed wires and a cut wires as I mentioned in an earlier post. Yes, there's a lot of people that have had no power or couldn't start there bike after installing handlebars. I finally came across someone whose radio worked but nothing else. My headlight worked but nothing else. There were lot of people who had similar problems and it was just a blown fuse. They either didn't check all the fuses or just didn't see that it was blown like me. I looked through my fuse too fast and over tired. Either way I still had to fix the exposed wires.

 

[CapeTeddy]

Finished, hooray!!

I actually finished this morning and been doing some riding. :scooter: All I can say is "why didn't I do this a long time ago." I can't get over the diffrence, it's amazing. :yahoo: I always compared steering a trike to steering a wheel barrel but 2 more inches on these handlebars made a world of difference. I feel like I'm riding a motorcycle. My back is straight and it's so easy to turn. I didn't want to stop, I could have stayed out all day and night. So if you decide to install handlebars on a freewheeler, get the handlebars "without meat hooks on the bottom." Once you get them, set them in the cradle and place the chrome plate cover on and see if the bottom of the handlebar hits. If it does you might have to adjust, cut off some of the plate or get risers. I also suggest 10 inch plug and play extenders, especially if you use a riser, it's easier and less chance of cutting wires if you have to pull factory excess. You might also have to get a longer brake line. I was able to get it to connect but only after I customize the chrome plate. It was definitely worth doing install myself and if you have time go for it. :bo:

 

[New Orleans Kevin]

LOOKS GREAT! CapeTeddy:clapping: