My dealer wants $2k to swap handlebars from short stock to KST Customs “Reduced Reach” bars.
How could it possibly take 8 hours to do this job?
How could it possibly take 8 hours to do this job?
Installation of “Reduced Reach Bars”
- Thread starter street2024
- Start date
There are quite a few connectors that have to be chased down in the batwing. Fishing the wires out the old and in the new bars takes some time. If a wire from the throttle or any control gets pinched or frayed, Forget about it. Care must be taken. Im not sure if your new bars require extentions or not but that is a bitch all on its own.
Labor costs cover things like tools needed, know-how and WARRANTY crap. I agree, costs seem excessive. Seems like par for the course with the brand.
Labor costs cover things like tools needed, know-how and WARRANTY crap. I agree, costs seem excessive. Seems like par for the course with the brand.
I held off. Still plan to buy the reduced reach bars from KST, but dearly beloved, the labor cost of 8 hours at $150 per hour is crushing.
The guys at KST said they can do it in 1 hour, but allow 4 hours when at places like “Bike Week”.
The guys at KST said they can do it in 1 hour, but allow 4 hours when at places like “Bike Week”.
Was going to have mine changed at Leesburg Bikefest back in April. Dealer wanted $900 They said it takes an hour for 2 guys to do it. I bought the bars (Fat Baggers) for $459. Did it myself, took 3 hours. I took my time so as not to make any mistakes fishing out the wires and pulling them thru the new bars. $2,000 is way too much. I have a 2016 Street Glide.
Yeah, the job isn’t nothing, fishing wires through the bars and dealing with all the connectors in the fairing can eat some time, and you really don’t want to pinch a wire. But $2k is just crazy. Most shops that do bar installs all the time knock it out in a couple hours, and plenty of guys have done it themselves in three or so taking their time. A few hours of labor makes sens, eight hours and two grand doesn’t. Definitely worth getting another quote.
The newer touring frames have plenty of slack so you rarely even need extensions
Appreciate everyone sharing their experiences. Fishing wires through the bars is no small job, but hearing that most shops or DIY riders get it done in 2–4 hours makes me feel better about pushing back on that 8‑hour estimate.
I know this is an older thread but that is crazy, I just did mine and using you tube it took about 2.5 hours and could do it quicker the 2nd time. There are only three wire connectors t worry about, I did also install the fat baggers extended clutch cable as well.
