Handling...and Apes
6ft tall and I run 16" Wild 1 chubbies with 1" risers, love the set up, and in the twisties I immediately noticed it handled way better than my previous 12" bars. Another possibility is always T bars, I almost wish I hadn't done internal wiring so I could swap between the apes and T bars, but I love my apes. As for hands going numb, been too busy to go on any super long rides since I put em' on, but no issues so far.
Road Master
Joined: Jun 2013
Posts: 1,181
Likes: 98
From: north of the south pole
Handle bars affect where your body weight is in the fore/aft plane. You can get more weight forward on the front tire with low bars than you can with high bars. Lower center of gravity also maneuvers at speed above 70 or so better. Less sail effect.
Nothing wrong with apes or high bars. Don't kid yourself tho'
. They're not as good when you ride hard. Just like a Harley isn't as good as a sport bike at riding hard.
Cruiser
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 111
Likes: 1
From: utah
What makes you think that? That is a total fallacy.
Handle bars affect where your body weight is in the fore/aft plane. You can get more weight forward on the front tire with low bars than you can with high bars. Lower center of gravity also maneuvers at speed above 70 or so better. Less sail effect.
Nothing wrong with apes or high bars. Don't kid yourself tho'
. They're not as good when you ride hard. Just like a Harley isn't as good as a sport bike at riding hard.
Handle bars affect where your body weight is in the fore/aft plane. You can get more weight forward on the front tire with low bars than you can with high bars. Lower center of gravity also maneuvers at speed above 70 or so better. Less sail effect.
Nothing wrong with apes or high bars. Don't kid yourself tho'
. They're not as good when you ride hard. Just like a Harley isn't as good as a sport bike at riding hard.
I just installed t-bars & that fixed it. I can take corners faster now & feel confident in them.
I did have the stock SB apes on there, so I don't know what it is like to ride premium brand apes. The stock ones are so light! I feel like in a corner*they were flexing & upsetting the chassis. I'm no chassis expert but that's what worked on my bike, for me.
Road Master
Joined: Jun 2013
Posts: 1,181
Likes: 98
From: north of the south pole
Seriously? That guy is probably going all of 30MPH. He's not even close to scrapping, and with stock shocks.
Probably... But just thought it looked cool lol... I know ive made u turns lower and faster than this but there's never anyone behind me to keep up to take a pic.. Lmao
The bike you see in my sig is my first bike so i basically learned on apes, rode my buddies softail the other day and it felt...boring?
And like somebody else mentioned earlier, I think apes feel way better as far as handling goes.
I say go for it!
And like somebody else mentioned earlier, I think apes feel way better as far as handling goes.
I say go for it!
LOSER
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 5,719
Likes: 4
From: Williamston, NC
I have been reading this post for a while. I put on my 14". I consider it to be the same as a bigger lever when lifting or moving stuff. It doesn't take as much leverage as the smaller bars simply from the fact I have more leverage. I am more in the wind now, but that's the only downside. Choose your weapon.
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 3,217
Likes: 90
From: Detroit
I have been reading this post for a while. I put on my 14". I consider it to be the same as a bigger lever when lifting or moving stuff. It doesn't take as much leverage as the smaller bars simply from the fact I have more leverage. I am more in the wind now, but that's the only downside. Choose your weapon.
It appears at this point that we have hardly any sport bikes with apes, and also hardly any touring bikes with apes (since the comfort of apes was claimed).
Road Warrior
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 1,810
Likes: 4
From: Out and about
Weight transfer and body position is about controlling the bike, not handling and there is a difference. Everything you are talking about is control. Whatever the rider touches or does while riding the bike is about control, so you can put wider/narrower/taller/shorter bars on a bike changing the leverage you have thus altering the effort required to produce results, but the results are the same no matter what the bar is, only how much work you have to do has changed. You don't have to believe me, read Keith Code, he has forgotten more than you or I will ever know about motorcycles. That being said, you're not getting much weight transfer over the front wheel on a harley or any other cruiser type of bike based on the seating position of these bikes ( low and set back ) unless you're sitting on the gas tank.
What makes you think that? That is a total fallacy.
Handle bars affect where your body weight is in the fore/aft plane. You can get more weight forward on the front tire with low bars than you can with high bars. Lower center of gravity also maneuvers at speed above 70 or so better. Less sail effect.
Nothing wrong with apes or high bars. Don't kid yourself tho'
. They're not as good when you ride hard. Just like a Harley isn't as good as a sport bike at riding hard.
Handle bars affect where your body weight is in the fore/aft plane. You can get more weight forward on the front tire with low bars than you can with high bars. Lower center of gravity also maneuvers at speed above 70 or so better. Less sail effect.
Nothing wrong with apes or high bars. Don't kid yourself tho'
. They're not as good when you ride hard. Just like a Harley isn't as good as a sport bike at riding hard.
Road Master
Joined: Jun 2013
Posts: 1,181
Likes: 98
From: north of the south pole
[QUOTE=nathanw;12786969]Weight transfer and body position is about controlling the bike, not handling.That said, you're not getting much weight transfer over the front wheel on a harley QUOTE]
In that respect I have to agree. So I'll rephrase, with high bars you have substantially less control than with low bars when you are pushing a bike thats capable thru high speed sweepers.
And on the weight transfer speak for yourself. When I shift my upper body forward it puts enuf weight forward that my tire stops pushing out in corners. I know, I used to run apes.
But not everybody needs the extra control you get with low bars.
Like when they ride with lowered suspension. Apes are fine.
In that respect I have to agree. So I'll rephrase, with high bars you have substantially less control than with low bars when you are pushing a bike thats capable thru high speed sweepers.
And on the weight transfer speak for yourself. When I shift my upper body forward it puts enuf weight forward that my tire stops pushing out in corners. I know, I used to run apes.
But not everybody needs the extra control you get with low bars.
Like when they ride with lowered suspension. Apes are fine.
Last edited by fxdlx; May 28, 2014 at 08:56 PM.