I mentioned on this blog that I bought a Harley-Davidson Softail Slim in March and took delivery in May.

I have not mentioned, though, that when I rode the bike this summer, I had major…

…pain and numbness in my right hand and wrist every time I rode it more than about a half-hour.

Unfortunately, the stock bars were not a good fit. I thought I bought replacement bars when I bought the bike, but apparently those bars were not installed and I was not charged for them. However, my dealership rep never explained any of that to me.

The stock bars are pretty much straight across. They required me to lean forward, which after about a half-hour, my lower back began to hurt. What was worse is that I lost all feeling in my right hand due to the angle the stock bars put my wrist into.

A doctor told me that the condition was carpal tunnel syndrome, which is:

a painful condition of the hand and fingers caused by compression of a major nerve where it passes over the carpal bones through a passage at the front of the wrist, alongside the flexor tendons of the hand. It is is characterized by sensations of tingling, numbness, or burning.

I have never had carpal tunnel and didn’t want it to get worse. I knew this situation could be fixed, so I began searching and asking around.

On the advice of a good friend who is an experienced training motorcycle police officer, I searched and found the appropriate bars that would provide a higher rise (more upright so I can sit up straight) and longer reach (which adjusts the angle of my wrist when holding the motorcycle’s bars) and also would not void the warranty. (That’s why I couldn’t use off-brand bars.

Trouble is — Harley-Davidson sources most, if not all, of their parts in China. 2021 is the year of severe “supply chain delays,” and my new bars were caught up in that.

I ordered the new bars in June, but was told “a few more weeks” every time I checked on the status.

Finally after returning from my motorcycle trip out west in mid-September, I called the dealership from which I had placed the order for the new bars and was told, “oh, they’re on back order until May 2022.”

WTF? And they didn’t even call me?

After pitching a fit, I was given the names and phone numbers of four Harley dealerships in the U.S. that “might” have the bars I required in stock. On my second call, I found them at a dealership in California.

I placed an order and had the bars shipped to my home in mid-October.

Then I brought them with me to the dealership where I had arranged service.

Two weeks later (more parts were needed that they didn’t know about until they worked on the bike), the bike was done! Yay! Finally!

A friend picked me up and drove me to this distantly-located dealership to pick up my bike. The 40-mile ride home was sweet — no pain, no numbness. I knew it could be fixed! Here I am just as I arrived home:And… just as the bottom fell out of the thermometer. “BHD” won’t be riding the “HD” probably until Spring. Alas, at least this problem is resolved.

Life is short: ride on … and without pain.