(i hope down the road I'll be able to return the favor and give advice instead of always asking questions)

Anyway, I'm wanting to switch out the bars on my forty eight so they come back a bit, maybe mini apes, whatever.

I'm curious if I'm going to have to switch out a bunch of cables to do it. I know it's going to depend on what bars most likely but if i do, say mini apes can i get away with not having to buy longer cabels for the clutch, throttle, etc?

 

I want to do the same thing to my 48, and to me it seems like the throttle and clutch cables could accomondate slightly higher bars. But the wires and front brake line would absolutely need to be longer. Please, if you get yours before mine, share your experience and pics!

 

i just put mini apes on my bike. i have a 2008 sportster. the front end of 2007-up sporties are all the same. you will need to get a longer clutch and brake line. i'm pretty sure the turn sigs aren't mounted on the bars with the 48... am i correct when saying that? if so you won't have to worry about extending those wires. here is the kicker, the dealers will tell you that you need to get longer throttle and idle cables... you don't. i bought the "longer" throttle and idle cables and when i took the stock cables off they were the same length. so needless to say i took them back and got my 60 bucks back. anyways, the mini apes are a very comfortable bar. hope that helps. fist to the wind! and keep the rubber side down.

 

How much did all that cost?


thanks,
mike

 

^^^if you just buy the parts it aint that bad. 50$ for the bars (if that) and the extended cables are like 200$ i think for the black diamond braided cables. if you let the shop do it, take a grinder in with you with a cutoff wheel and be ready to hack off a limb.

 

You will need longer cables and wiring. Some aftermarket companies offer complete kits for around $250 or so. Check DennisKirk.com, La Choppers, and PhatPerformanceParts.com for the cable and wiring kits.

 

I would suggest trying it first and then buying what you need. That's if you don't mind not being able to ride for a while if ever you do need to order stuff. I put 14'' apes on my Nightster. I kept the stock throttle cables and barely extended wiring. Only thing I swapped was the clutch cable however, stock one was almost long enough.

 

Just a question about ape hangers. I'm torn between the 12 and 14 inch narrow apes. However should I just get the 12 inch one and if its not high enough I just mount it on a riser that is 2 inch higher? So that its 14 inch?

Will this spoil the look compared to getting a 14 inch?

 

Risers have a minimum heigh of 1" so that will put your hands 13" high, not 12.

 

I put 12" Biltwell mini-apes on my Forty-Eight and loved them. I went with Burly Brand for my cables, they make kits for this sort of thing. I'm 5'6 and it wasnt much of a reach, infact it improved my position with the forward controls.