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| By Scott Hurwitz, CEO, Magnum Shielding |
Over recent years, a new, updated handlebar style has taken the stage and become quite popular. Pointy or peaked style handlebars are "Hot" and are now offered by many handlebar manufacturers.
But, as with most things in life, there are usually trade-offs. In this case, we'll call it "The Beauty and the Beast." They may look terrific, but they're a beast to run internal wiring through and can take hours, if not an entire afternoon. Not only is this inefficient for the dealer who has springtime jobs piling up, but the cost of installation for the customer can come close to the cost of the bars themselves.
Some of the handlebar manufacturers have put substantial efforts into insuring the inside of the peaked horn is smooth and without rough edges and welding slag to help with harness installation. But, unfortunately, the routing issue is as much the lack of pivot radius room in the horn for the harness bundle to be able to pass through, as it is the rough sharp edges that can sometimes cut into and chaff or break the wiring.
One solution installers use is to run the wires through individually, but that is very time-consuming. Impatience often leads to scrapped harnesses or extra time to repair damaged or severed wires.
Magnum Shielding Corporation (Rochester, New York) has found a solution to this dilemma. You may already know Magnum as the premier supplier of braided brake lines and control cables to the Harley-Davidson aftermarket, as well as being a Tier-1 supplier to Harley-Davidson Motor Company's Parts and Accessories.
What you may not know is that Magnum is now offering the H-D market high quality handlebars. Their high-tech version of this popular style is called Viking handlebars.
If you're considering using Magnum's new Viking bars, you'll hit the installation Trifecta. It's a great looking design, an absolute breeze to wire, and, of course, it has the quality Magnum Shielding is known for.
Magnum has provided a solution to avoid the internal wiring problem altogether, and the design concept is novel enough to have applied for a U.S. patent.
Ease of installing the internal wiring harnesses has been a top design priority. The design is not only engineered to provide a clean, chamfered and burr-free internal radius, but one that also creates 50% of additional clearance within that troublesome peak of the handlebar.
The pocket has enough room to allow the complete wiring harness with the factory vinyl covering and the terminal connections (where wiring extensions were added) to easily be passed through and installed without any hang-ups or damage - even with their respective shrink sleeves.
So exactly what are Magnum's patent claims? Simply put, the peak of the handlebar is comprised of two diagonally angle cut bars, whereas at least one of them, and preferably both, is flared at the bottom of the oval cut.
This method significantly increases the pivot radius of the internal space and provides for an open and smooth path for the wiring harness to follow.
Alternatively, a notch can be cut out for a radius insert to bridge the gap. Magnum knew that a smooth internal surface alone wasn't enough if the goal is to be able to run the vinyl covered harness (as is) through the handlebar, which is why Magnum's patented design is so effective.
To make the job even easier, Magnum includes its EZ pull-thru sleeving, which is pre-loaded into every Viking handlebar. Just insert the wiring harness into the sleeve (Chinese fingers webbing) and pull the wires through the bars.
Viking handlebars are made with a premium, high-quality construction that includes machined control mounts (not swaged), and machined holes for internal wiring and slots for electronic throttle control that are burr-free.
The handlebars are 1 1/4" diameter, CNC mandrel bent for a great looking, accurate fit; they work with standard controls including hydraulic clutch and incorporate wrist angles engineered for riding comfort.
These aggressive looking handlebars are available in 10, 12, 14 and 16-inch Bagger and 12, 14 and 16-inch ape-hanger styles. Both are available with high luster chrome or gloss black powder-coat finishes.
MAGNUM SHIELDING
www.magnumshielding.com