If you've been looking to upgrade your ride, swapping out your stock setup for a set of factory 47 14 inch bars is honestly one of the best moves you can make. Let's be real for a second: most stock handlebars on Baggers are built for the "average" rider, which usually means they're a bit too low, a bit too narrow, and frankly, a bit boring. When you finally make the jump to something beefier, the whole personality of the motorcycle changes. It's not just about looking like a badass at the stoplight, though that's definitely a nice perk. It's about how the bike handles and how your back feels after two hundred miles in the saddle.
Factory 47 has carved out a massive reputation in the Harley community, specifically among Road Glide and Street Glide owners. They aren't just bending some tubes and calling it a day. There is a specific "heft" to their products that you just don't get with cheaper alternatives. When you hold these bars in your hands before the install, you realize you're dealing with serious hardware.
The Massive Look of 1.5-Inch Tubing
One of the first things people notice about factory 47 14 inch bars is the diameter. Most aftermarket bars hover around the 1.25-inch mark, but Factory 47 leans into that 1.5-inch thickness. It sounds like a small difference on paper, but in person? It's night and day. On a massive touring bike with a huge fairing, skinny bars look a little bit out of place. The 1.5-inch diameter matches the scale of the bike perfectly. It makes the front end look aggressive and planted.
The way they taper down to 1 inch at the controls is seamless. You don't get that awkward, stepped look that some other brands have. It's a smooth, high-end transition that keeps your stock housings looking like they belong there. Plus, the internal wiring is way easier when you have that extra room inside the bar. If you've ever tried to fish wires through a 1-inch bar with sharp corners, you know the absolute nightmare it can be. These bars have smooth internal bends that won't shred your wiring harness.
Why 14 Inches is the Goldilocks Zone
Choosing a bar height is probably the hardest part of the process. You don't want to go too short and regret not going higher, but you also don't want your hands way up in the air catching all the wind. For most riders, 14 inches is the "Goldilocks" zone. It's high enough to give you that cool "ape hanger" feel, but low enough that your hands stay protected behind the fairing (mostly) and your blood doesn't drain out of your fingers on long highway pulls.
If you're anywhere between 5'10" and 6'2", the factory 47 14 inch bars usually put your hands right at or just slightly above shoulder level. This is huge for ergonomics. When your hands are at shoulder height, it takes the pressure off your lower back and stops that "slumping" feeling you get with stock bars. You're sitting more upright, your chest is open, and you have way more leverage over the bike.
Handling and Road Feel
There's a common misconception that putting taller bars on a bike makes it harder to handle. It's actually the opposite once you get moving. Because the factory 47 14 inch bars are wider and offer more leverage, low-speed maneuvers in parking lots actually feel a bit easier. You don't have to muscle the fairing around as much because you have a longer lever to work with.
Out on the twisties, the bike feels more responsive. You can really lean into the counter-steering. There's something about the "Malo" or "Signature" bends that Factory 47 uses that just feels natural. The wrist angle is key here. Some bars have a weird "pullback" that forces your wrists into an unnatural position, leading to carpal tunnel vibes after an hour. These bars keep your wrists in a more neutral, flat position, which is a lifesaver on multi-day trips.
The Installation Reality Check
Let's talk about the part everyone dreads: the install. If you're putting factory 47 14 inch bars on a newer Road Glide, you're in luck because those bikes are surprisingly accommodating. In many cases, you can actually get away with using your stock brake and clutch lines if you reroute them slightly. However, for a Street Glide or older models, you're probably looking at needing some extensions.
Wiring is another story. Even though the 1.5-inch diameter makes it easier, you still have to be patient. You're pulling the twist grip sensor and all your switch housing wires through those peaks. My advice? Use plenty of lube (the specialized wire pulling stuff, not just whatever is in the garage) and take your time. If you rush it and nick a wire, you'll be pulling it all back out again to find the short, and that is a special kind of hell.
Chrome or Black?
It's the age-old question. Factory 47's powder coating is top-tier. Their gloss black is deep and matches the Harley Vivid Black almost perfectly. It doesn't have that "orange peel" texture you see on cheap parts. If you're going for that murdered-out look, the black bars disappear into the fairing in a way that looks incredibly mean.
On the flip side, their chrome is phenomenal. It's a triple-plated process that has a mirror-like finish. If you have a bike with a lot of chrome accents, the factory 47 14 inch bars in chrome will pop like crazy. They reflect the light off the tank and the fairing, and it really draws the eye to the front of the bike. Either way, the finish is durable. I've seen these bars after years of road debris and bug guts, and they clean up like new with just a bit of polish.
Why Spend the Extra Money?
You can find cheap bars on big-box retail sites for a third of the price. I get the temptation. But you have to ask yourself why they're so cheap. Usually, it's thinner steel, poor welds, and a finish that will start to pit or flake after one season of riding. When you're cruising at 80 mph down the interstate, the last thing you want to worry about is the structural integrity of the thing you're holding onto.
Factory 47 14 inch bars are made in the USA, and the quality control is visible in every weld. The "Signature" series, for example, has those iconic pointed tops. Getting those points right without creating a weak spot in the metal takes skill. When you buy these, you're paying for the peace of mind that they aren't going to fail and that they'll look just as good five years from now as they do today.
Final Thoughts on the Upgrade
At the end of the day, your motorcycle is an extension of your personality. Stock bikes are great, but they lack that custom soul. Adding a set of factory 47 14 inch bars is the quickest way to transform a standard Bagger into a custom machine. It changes the silhouette of the bike, making it look taller and more formidable.
More importantly, it changes how you feel when you're riding. There's a certain confidence that comes with having your hands up, your back straight, and a clear view of the road ahead. You aren't tucked down or reaching forward; you're just commanding the machine. If you're on the fence about whether to go with 12s or 14s, just go with the 14s. Nobody ever says, "Man, I wish my bars were two inches lower," but people say they wish they went higher all the time. Trust the process, do the install right, and you'll wonder why you waited so long to make the switch.