Here is what I've found:

"The story I heard was that back in the old days people used to string wires across the road to deter motorcyclist gangs. The leaders started to use hi-rise handlebars to protect themselves from the wires which were neck high.."

What have you heard 'bout 'em?

Mimo.

 

makes sense to me. We used notched bars on the front of our armoured personell carriers for the same reason!

 

I saw a picture of a ww-2 motorcycle that had a steel bar mounted to the front of it that stood straight up infront of the rider, supposedly it was mounted there to HELP prevent the rider from being decapitated by ****** wire, or by wire strung across a road or trail by the enemy.

 

Dont know if it's true, but it sure makes sense to me!!!

 

I thought it was to look Bad Azz!

 

I have seen it done in the movies, makes pretty good sense.

What a crappy way to go...

 

The Japanese used this technique in WWII on jeeps. My grandfather used a piece of pipe mounted straight up on the front bumper of his jeep to snap the wires. But, originally I think Ape hangers came into fashion as a way of coping with the hard tail frames. They are used to pull yourself up when going over rough roads, pot holes, RR tracks, etc...

 

Have you ever ridden with ape hangers? You try and pull yourself up with them and you are sure to end up with your bars in your lap.

 

True that. If I want to avoid a nasty pot-hole, there are two ways: 1) take your chances with the integrity of the wheels and just step on the foot-boards (if you got 'em), or 2) the side-ways grass-hopper (but I have not tried that since I have the ape hangers).

Mimo.

 

I never heard that one..... I'm sure they had more to do with style than neck protection, like all most every other mod u make to your ride. Sounds ridicules to me....