Disclaimer: BUY THE SHOP MANUAL

Hdforums has been a fantastic site for how-to knowledge for me over the past two years so I wanted to do a write up of my ape install.

First, I should have taken more picutres. I have a few of the molex connectors which I'll attach later.

Second, the install:

1. Tools
You'll need regular hand tools: sockets, wrenches, hex keys etc. You will also need T27 and T25 torx bits. And make sure you have snap ring pliers.

2. I have a 2009 Bob and originally bought 16in apes (I'll explain later) so I needed a new clutch cable, brake line, throttle cable, idle cable and wire extensions. I bought my kit from HCC. They sell a great kit.

3. Removing your original bars.
-Drain the transmission fluid
-Remove the seat
-pull fuel pump fuse
-start the bike and when it stalls, run the starter for 3s
-disconnect battery
-pull the full line from the tank
-remove the center console
-remove the bolts from the front and rear of the gas tank
-carefully move the tank back. you do not have to remove it, but don't scratch the paint
-place a shop towel over the tank...you can do this before you begin as well
-remove the plastic covering the backbone of the frame to access the wires
-identify and disconnect the molex connecters for the right and left side of the controls
-remove the right hand controls
-when you do this note (maybe take a picture) of how everything fits together.
-remove the left hand controls. same tip as above
-open the transmission cover and remove the clutch cable
-remove the air cleaner cover
-remove the throttle and idle cables
-remove the brake line
-make sure you drain the brake fluid before removing
-remove the handlebars from the risers
-the handle bars should have wires going through them.
-remove the molex connectors
-easiest way to do this is
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=52clbzQ2reg
-basically just pull out the front of the connector with a pair of pliers and then use a toothpick or pin to push up the tabs and pull the wires out
-make sure you diagram the wires before removing. i took a couple pictures and diagramed them on the back of a business card
-remove the wires from the bars

4. Installing new bars
-if you are upgrading to taller bars wiring extensions will be required.
-attach the wire extensions and shrink wrap the connection. you can also soder the extensions to the wires to ensure that the connectors don't come lose
-once you extend the wires, I wrapped them in electrical tape
-spray the tape down with lithium grease and spray the inside of the bars
note: most bars come prepped - meaning that a piece of wire goes from the top opening to the bottom opening.
-if your bars are prepped tape the wires to the prepped wire in the bars
-pull the wires through the bars
-using your photo and or diagram, reconnect the molex connectors
pro tip: check the connectors before proceeding. re-connect the battery and make sure the blinkers, horn, run etc work
-install bars
note: if you have integrated risers and if you bought 1 1/4in bars they may hit the top nut of the risers. if this is the case, slide the forks down. you can do this by jacking up the front of the bike and loosening the pincher bolts just make sure that you move the forks down by the same amount
-install clutch cable
note: make sure you know how you want the clutch cable to be placed
-install the left hand controls
-install the throttle/idle cables
-install brake line
-install right controls
-secure wiring in backbone of frame
-install backbone cover
-connect console
-move tank forward
-connect fuel line
-put fuse back in
-replace fuse cover, battery cover, and seat
-add transmission fluid
-YOURE DONE...ENJOY YOUR NEW APES


A few things from my install:
1. the orange/white wire that connected to the horn and left turn signal disconnected during the install so I had to tear the whole thing down and re install my bars.
2. pay attention to how the hand controls are put together. i did my install over the course of 2 weeks and had one hell of a time trying to remember how they went back together
3. The brake light....there's a little tab that gets depressed when the front brake is in its normal state. Pay attention to this, I broke the tab during the install.
4. Bleeding the brakes...it's not hard. All i did was open the reservoir and put the handle a dozen times and bleed the valve. it was very squishy but I left it over night and it tightened up.
5. 16in apes were too high for me. I'm a touch over 6 feet and I didn't like them. This is very personal though. I put on a set of 14in wild 1 chubbies and I love them.
6. Instead of wire extensions I belive you can just get a connector extension. I'd recommend that.
7. Make sure your fork tubes do not hit the bars. I didn't notice this my first time around and put some huge gashes on my apes.
8. Take your time. Slow is fast. This isn't really a hard job to do. And let me tell you after you do it once, it's down right easy.

I think I hit all the bases. Good luck all and if I missed something don't hestitate to mention it.

 

I thought I had more photos but I can't find them. Here are 2 pictures of the molex connectors for the left side and a few pictures of both the 16 and 14 in apes.

 

And one shot of the 14ins

 

hi there im getting ready to do thi on my 08 street bob, im installing a set of 16 inch road6customs apes i have intergrated risers, my concern is I read somewere and i cant find it now but someone installed some 14 inch apes with a 2 inch riser on there integrated risers and they got an unbearable vibration and ended up changing the top triple tree out and went with regular risers has anyone heard of this before? im urious if this is something i should do before the instalation instead of later? any information would be highly apreciated

 

I installed RSD apes on my '12 Street Bob with integrated risers and the ride is fine...no unusual vibrations.

 

Good write up!. Glad i went with the 14s. I didnt have to mess with any cables, just wiring.

 

Stag556. i recently bought a 2012 street bob and ive got 19" king ape hangers i'm wantin to put on it. i was told if u cut and sodder your wire extension kit it will mess up ur BCM. How did you go about doing your wire extension kit? did u go with plug and play wire extensions?

 

Hey, first..sorry for my english :-) .... I´m from Argentina..I Install an Ape Hunger 16" and 1 1/4in on my Street Bob 2001 and your tutorial was really useful !!! ( I Appreciate, thanks ) .. your tip "note: if you have integrated risers and if you bought 1 1/4in bars they may hit the top nut of the risers. if this is the case, slide the forks down. you can do this by jacking up the front of the bike and loosening the pincher bolts just make sure that you move the forks down by the same amount" was great !!! ... Thanks..

Now a have a problem whit the clutch, it´s appears to be fine ( it´s tight and the handle returns normally ) .. but doesn't work... so you now if there is a special way to assembly ? .

Regards..
Rodrigo.

 

If you put new cables on you will have to adjust it with the adjuster on the cable itself and also the clutch which you can do by taking off the derby cover. Its real easy to do with basic tools

 

Your apes! I want them! They Carlini Menace right? How tall did you get 'em? How much longer did you have to get the cables? +4 ?