Anyone regret getting apes?
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From: Ohio
Last edited by hd4evr2008; Mar 18, 2017 at 08:11 AM.
Grand HDF Member
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From: Ohio
I read this about the origin of "ape hangers". Any truth to it?
They were originally put on scout bikes by the Allies in WW2 because the Germans started stringing garrot wires between trees to behead the scout riders. Ape hangers were put on bikes so that the wires would hit the handlebars and simply knock the rider down instead of killing him.
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From: Lake of the Ozarks
I have 18" apes on my RK running with the angle of my forks and they sit just below shoulder height, very comfortable. I have 14" apes and 2" risers on my shovelhead, I wish they were 2 inches taller. 
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Last edited by ChickinOnaChain; Mar 19, 2017 at 01:39 PM. Reason: Fixed quote
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From: SE Michigan
Looks awesome to me. Never a big fan of those style bars, but the height looks great.
The other argument against tall bars on a bike with a fairing I hear a lot, but dont understand, is all the tough bikers out there who are worried about having their hands above the fairing.
I usually wear gloves, so not an issue for me.
The other argument against tall bars on a bike with a fairing I hear a lot, but dont understand, is all the tough bikers out there who are worried about having their hands above the fairing.
I usually wear gloves, so not an issue for me.
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From: Ohio
Quote:
They were originally put on scout bikes by the Allies in WW2 because the Germans started stringing garrot wires between trees to behead the scout riders. Ape hangers were put on bikes so that the wires would hit the handlebars and simply knock the rider down instead of killing him.
I kinda doubt that, can't prove it though. I've talked with a few motorcycle messengers and scouts from WWII and none of them mentioned anything about that. But, if there are any WWII pics like that I'd love to see them. I've got pictures of cable busters on jeeps and even on some of the small trucks, they might've put them on motorcycles too. I think the cable buster is a little more likely than ape hangers though.
Best explanation I've heard for the origin was that they first showed up on the post WWII choppers as kind of an aid to suspension on the old rigid frames. They gave people some leverage to lift themselves up a bit when hitting railroad tracks or pot holes.
They were originally put on scout bikes by the Allies in WW2 because the Germans started stringing garrot wires between trees to behead the scout riders. Ape hangers were put on bikes so that the wires would hit the handlebars and simply knock the rider down instead of killing him.
I kinda doubt that, can't prove it though. I've talked with a few motorcycle messengers and scouts from WWII and none of them mentioned anything about that. But, if there are any WWII pics like that I'd love to see them. I've got pictures of cable busters on jeeps and even on some of the small trucks, they might've put them on motorcycles too. I think the cable buster is a little more likely than ape hangers though.
Best explanation I've heard for the origin was that they first showed up on the post WWII choppers as kind of an aid to suspension on the old rigid frames. They gave people some leverage to lift themselves up a bit when hitting railroad tracks or pot holes.