Street Bob Handlebars
Elite HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 4,440
Likes: 148
From: Northwest
I've got fat mini apes on my FXDC, and my opinion is that they are not "less" sportier handling than any other bar. They are even 2" taller than the Streetbob stock mini apes. Yeah, they take a little getting used to when you're in the twistys...
But yeah, to really open up what bars you can use, you need a top triple tree like what comes on the FXDC.
These bikes just won't handle like a sportbike, no matter what you do to 'em. But they don't handle bad
Mine will take a curve hard enough to scrape the bottom of my front pipe heat shield....
But yeah, to really open up what bars you can use, you need a top triple tree like what comes on the FXDC.
These bikes just won't handle like a sportbike, no matter what you do to 'em. But they don't handle bad
Mine will take a curve hard enough to scrape the bottom of my front pipe heat shield....
Road Captain
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 664
Likes: 9
From: Nowhere
That's a new one to me. What's "attitude" have to do to handlebars?
Road Captain
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 586
Likes: 48
From: Saint Augustine, FL
I think I can comment on this one. I know I sound like a broken record for those of you who've read my other posts, but having come from a Road King with wide bars to a Street Bob with mini-apes, it's a major attitude adjustment - both in me, and from those who see me. The bikes are very different; the Road King was "big" and meaty and it was shiny, pretty & bad...comfortable looking...the Street Bob on the other hand, with its blacked out parts - AND, the mini apes - is more of an old schoool bad *** look. The way a rider is positioned when riding with mini apes just has an old school look & feel...even if they're not 16" apes...the mini's on this bike, especially with my lowered rear end & tank lift - give it a sloped killer look & feel...
If I were to switch it out to something more like the buck horns or wide bars, then I would be taking myself away from the natural slope & lines of the bike...I'd be "on it" as opposed to "in it" and "one" with it.
Yeah - may be a bunch of BS to some, but that's how I feel...that's my opinion...
Whats funny is if I get on my buddies Street Glides now - or even Fat Boys, with the floor boards and non-ape hanger bars - I feel SOOOOOOOOOOOO uncomfortable, awkward...and just plain slow & boring...THAT has been the biggest surprise to me in my switch to the 'bobber...I definitely feel like I'm riding ON the bike, as opposed to feeling like I'm in the bike and driving IT on the Street Bob.
If I were to switch it out to something more like the buck horns or wide bars, then I would be taking myself away from the natural slope & lines of the bike...I'd be "on it" as opposed to "in it" and "one" with it.
Yeah - may be a bunch of BS to some, but that's how I feel...that's my opinion...
Whats funny is if I get on my buddies Street Glides now - or even Fat Boys, with the floor boards and non-ape hanger bars - I feel SOOOOOOOOOOOO uncomfortable, awkward...and just plain slow & boring...THAT has been the biggest surprise to me in my switch to the 'bobber...I definitely feel like I'm riding ON the bike, as opposed to feeling like I'm in the bike and driving IT on the Street Bob.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 7,649
Likes: 4,889
From: Missouri City,TX
FWIW, I just ordered from the HD website some 1" black flat track bars shown in the Sportster section. I bought it from Chicago HD with a 20% discount.
I like the stock mini apes, but just goin' after a different look and feel for the bike. I'm plannin' to order the 2" risers from Loner Industries for the bars so I'm not having to lean forward too much.
I like the stock mini apes, but just goin' after a different look and feel for the bike. I'm plannin' to order the 2" risers from Loner Industries for the bars so I'm not having to lean forward too much.
Road Warrior
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 1,998
Likes: 14
From: Central Ohio
I'm a recovering sportbike rider who just bought a 2009 FXDB Street Bob. I have been bitten by the retro-styling bug and especially like the vintage 1940's "bobber" look. I would have gone with the softail Cross Bones based on looks alone, but like I said, I'm a recovering sportbike rider and the limited ground clearance of the Bones wasn't going to work for me in the twisties (the Dyna seemed like a good compromise of performance and style). Anyway, I find it interesting that both the Street Bob and the Cross Bones are equipped with apehanger bars, which seems to be more consistent with "chopper" styling of the 60's and 70's. My question is whether it is possible to fit a more traditional handlebar, like the narrow beach bar, to the Street Bob to achieve a more retro look and maybe sportier handling. As I said, I'm a cruiser newbie, so feel free to set me straight if I'm not making any sense here. Thanks.
I think the Fat Boy bars have the old school look more than the Road King bars. Any "lose" of sportyness/handeling performance of the Fat Boy bars is negligable.
I'd be willing to trade my 1" Fat boy bars for your stock Street Bob bars if your interested?
Here is what they look like installed on the XL & the FXDF.
Last edited by 08fxdf43202; Jul 1, 2009 at 09:46 AM.
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
Bobbed Out
Dyna Glide Models
4
Feb 13, 2010 11:22 PM
