Could someone explain why people love the apes....
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 2,938
Likes: 4
From: NC
I raced MX for many years, and then switched to Sport Quads. The quads all had high bend handlebars 5 inch rise plus a longer steering stem. My dirt bikes all had up 1 and forward 1.25 risers as well as 5 inch bars.
Whats funny is I am running less rise on my StreetBob (4inch straight risers on drag bars) than I did on my off road machines. I will be switching to 6 inch straight risers soon though, as on long trips I find my upper back gets cramped from reaching the low risers. The 6 inchers will bring the bars closer about an inch (from the rake) and of course up 2 inches. I believe this will straighten my back enough to retain sporty feel, while adding to long haul comfort.
I like many variations of Apes,Drag bars, and Flat Trackers. If your happy then thats all that matters.
Whats funny is I am running less rise on my StreetBob (4inch straight risers on drag bars) than I did on my off road machines. I will be switching to 6 inch straight risers soon though, as on long trips I find my upper back gets cramped from reaching the low risers. The 6 inchers will bring the bars closer about an inch (from the rake) and of course up 2 inches. I believe this will straighten my back enough to retain sporty feel, while adding to long haul comfort.
I like many variations of Apes,Drag bars, and Flat Trackers. If your happy then thats all that matters.
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 6,519
Likes: 0
From: Nomad
In my case, I com from MX background in teens and then 12-13 years of road racing. I still ride track days on Vintage bikes.
I got my first HD in 1980 and still belive that you CAN have a cruiser with good brakes, suspension and handling.
To me that means True Track, mid controls, stock bars, good shocks and braded lines with good brake pads.
I can cruise slow, but can also surprise a lot of squids when the road gets twisty.
Buying a HD was the only choice back in the day.... and I keep riding them mostly because I'm used to working on them, can get parts anywhere (only indy shops, as I HATE dealers) and partly to prove to all my Euro/Jap loving friends that I can do everything they can on a harley.
BTW, my '00 FXD just turned 120,000
I got my first HD in 1980 and still belive that you CAN have a cruiser with good brakes, suspension and handling.
To me that means True Track, mid controls, stock bars, good shocks and braded lines with good brake pads.
I can cruise slow, but can also surprise a lot of squids when the road gets twisty.
Buying a HD was the only choice back in the day.... and I keep riding them mostly because I'm used to working on them, can get parts anywhere (only indy shops, as I HATE dealers) and partly to prove to all my Euro/Jap loving friends that I can do everything they can on a harley.
BTW, my '00 FXD just turned 120,000
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 2,520
Likes: 8
From: Chattanooga Tn
Well yall performance guys come down with ur cruiser and ride deals gap and if ya keep up with Rocky Top rider on his NT you can talk chit bout whatever you want! Ha ha. For me I just wanna ride that looks good that I can put a day of riding in on.
Cruiser
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 178
Likes: 0
From: Pacific NW
Thats it...everyone turn in thier apes and conform. Seriously though, what does it matter what someone else rides with? I dont care about how the next man sets his bike up, only care if I like how mine is set up as Im the one riding it. But Im not the kind of guy who only drives/like chevy's either.
Club Member
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 11,483
Likes: 39
From: Passaic County, NJ
In my case, I com from MX background in teens and then 12-13 years of road racing. I still ride track days on Vintage bikes.
I got my first HD in 1980 and still belive that you CAN have a cruiser with good brakes, suspension and handling.
To me that means True Track, mid controls, stock bars, good shocks and braded lines with good brake pads.
I can cruise slow, but can also surprise a lot of squids when the road gets twisty.
Buying a HD was the only choice back in the day.... and I keep riding them mostly because I'm used to working on them, can get parts anywhere (only indy shops, as I HATE dealers) and partly to prove to all my Euro/Jap loving friends that I can do everything they can on a harley.
BTW, my '00 FXD just turned 120,000
I got my first HD in 1980 and still belive that you CAN have a cruiser with good brakes, suspension and handling.
To me that means True Track, mid controls, stock bars, good shocks and braded lines with good brake pads.
I can cruise slow, but can also surprise a lot of squids when the road gets twisty.
Buying a HD was the only choice back in the day.... and I keep riding them mostly because I'm used to working on them, can get parts anywhere (only indy shops, as I HATE dealers) and partly to prove to all my Euro/Jap loving friends that I can do everything they can on a harley.
BTW, my '00 FXD just turned 120,000
Don't get me wrong, I love my bike but I also know a harley cannot ever compete with a metric be it sportbike or cruiser so claiming yours can is hogwash (without throwing a large chunk of change at it). I've watched skilled sportbikers take one of the hairpins on the Dragon (while standing on the side of the road) at excessive speed, with the bike leaned at 40* or better with knee draggin on the ground. No harley can ever do that AND maintain control. If your harley is at a 40* lean, you're well on your way to some cool roadrash.
From experience, three trips so far, I find riding the twisties with 16's quite easy. It takes almost zero pressure on the grips to get the bike to go in the desired direction whereas someone with drag bars may need to muscle it just a bit based on the physics of leverage. My first trip was with a forum member who had street sweepers on his street bob and me with my 16's. After the first few trips up and down the TOTD, his shoulders were hurting from having to muscle his narrow raked SB. I was just as comfortable as could be with my 16's.
A stock harley out of the box is a poor handling machine that is well underpowered. Why do you think more than 50% immediately do a stage 1? How many metric bike owners do you know that buy a bike and say "ya know, this bike is just way underpowered. I need to fix that." Not many. Just the nature of the beast. I still wish I had my '78 Yamaha xs1100. It was fast and it handled pretty damn well for the 10yrs I rode it (93-03). I did many long trips on that bike. How many out of the box hd's can do 200mph? None.
Last edited by SC-Longhair; Mar 31, 2011 at 12:43 PM.
Cruiser
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 121
Likes: 0
From: Fredericksburg VA
I echo this: "I have 10 inch mini apes, for me it straightens the back and takes pressure off my wrists, therefore more comfy for me on long rides.With the back straighter my head is in a more natural position and not tilted back. Thats my take on it." I have 12" on mine and there are very comfortable for a long ride. I'm not sure if taller ones would be any better or not. But having my hands at or just above shoulder level is very comfortable.
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Road Captain
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 583
Likes: 2
From: KC
"Back in the day" of the late 70's early 80's were some really cool jap bikes. Who can forget the Honda CBX 6cyl.
Don't get me wrong, I love my bike but I also know a harley cannot ever compete with a metric be it sportbike or cruiser so claiming yours can is hogwash (without throwing a large chunk of change at it). I've watched skilled sportbikers take one of the hairpins on the Dragon (while standing on the side of the road) at excessive speed, with the bike leaned at 40* or better with knee draggin on the ground. No harley can ever do that AND maintain control. If your harley is at a 40* lean, you're well on your way to some cool roadrash.
From experience, three trips so far, I find riding the twisties with 16's quite easy. It takes almost zero pressure on the grips to get the bike to go in the desired direction whereas someone with drag bars may need to muscle it just a bit based on the physics of leverage. My first trip was with a forum member who had street sweepers on his street bob and me with my 16's. After the first few trips up and down the TOTD, his shoulders were hurting from having to muscle his narrow raked SB. I was just as comfortable as could be with my 16's.
A stock harley out of the box is a poor handling machine that is well underpowered. Why do you think more than 50% immediately do a stage 1? How many metric bike owners do you know that buy a bike and say "ya know, this bike is just way underpowered. I need to fix that." Not many. Just the nature of the beast. I still wish I had my '78 Yamaha xs1100. It was fast and it handled pretty damn well for the 10yrs I rode it (93-03). I did many long trips on that bike. How many out of the box hd's can do 200mph? None.
Don't get me wrong, I love my bike but I also know a harley cannot ever compete with a metric be it sportbike or cruiser so claiming yours can is hogwash (without throwing a large chunk of change at it). I've watched skilled sportbikers take one of the hairpins on the Dragon (while standing on the side of the road) at excessive speed, with the bike leaned at 40* or better with knee draggin on the ground. No harley can ever do that AND maintain control. If your harley is at a 40* lean, you're well on your way to some cool roadrash.
From experience, three trips so far, I find riding the twisties with 16's quite easy. It takes almost zero pressure on the grips to get the bike to go in the desired direction whereas someone with drag bars may need to muscle it just a bit based on the physics of leverage. My first trip was with a forum member who had street sweepers on his street bob and me with my 16's. After the first few trips up and down the TOTD, his shoulders were hurting from having to muscle his narrow raked SB. I was just as comfortable as could be with my 16's.
A stock harley out of the box is a poor handling machine that is well underpowered. Why do you think more than 50% immediately do a stage 1? How many metric bike owners do you know that buy a bike and say "ya know, this bike is just way underpowered. I need to fix that." Not many. Just the nature of the beast. I still wish I had my '78 Yamaha xs1100. It was fast and it handled pretty damn well for the 10yrs I rode it (93-03). I did many long trips on that bike. How many out of the box hd's can do 200mph? None.
On a side note, who'da thought that this thread would blow up to almost 9 pages in less than 24 hrs. Lotta love AAAND hate towards the apes!
Road Captain
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 653
Likes: 2
genital?
different strokes for different folks; whatever floats your boat . .
Had em on my Yamaha for about 1 week; (I was 19 and I was very cool);
Ape hangers on my 350 2 stroke. . .
That was a sight I don't want to remember too vividly. . .
different strokes for different folks; whatever floats your boat . .
Had em on my Yamaha for about 1 week; (I was 19 and I was very cool);
Ape hangers on my 350 2 stroke. . .
That was a sight I don't want to remember too vividly. . .