Harley Davidson Forums - Apes or no apes???? that is the question

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Well yall did exactly what I wanted yall to do..Yall talked me into it. I ordered 16" apes yesterday afternoon and I ordered everything new with them and in chrome..I cant wait to get them on..I think they are gonna look awesome and espacially with eveything on the bars being chrome..I really think its gonna set the bike off!!I will post pics when I get them on for sure..It should be next week

Quote:

Originally Posted by PineyRider (Post 6900572)

When I bought my 99 RK it had the stock bars. The steering felt really "heavy" to me and it just seemed like the bike weighed 1,000 pounds. I put apes on but I think they are 13" ones. My hands are still below my shoulders which keeps me from getting ticketed in the states I ride. The bike feels like it's much more nimble and easier to steer with the apes. And for some reason the bike just feels lighter to me. Although Many people use them I don't care for bars that are over my head (and yes I've already seen the picture 100 times of THAT yellow bike with the 3foot tall apes).

http://i49.tinypic.com/5buyaa.jpg

I think easier handling of the bike can be attributed to leverage, like when you put a length of pipe on the end of a wrench to get a bolt loose. The upward stretch of handlebar gives some leverage and makes moving the bike easier. Just me thinkin' tho...could be a buncha chit..but makes sense in my head. I studied long and hard on this...:icon_cankick:

i just bought the 12 in carlini being installed as we speak the carlini bars run about a inch taller than advertised and if you buy there one inch riser you are going 14 in, i am 5`9 and they are perfect and they are the flyin apes, the one thing i would think about just in my opion abes do not look good with anything over a one inch riser, you get different looks so rather than buy a tall riser go with longer apes

I agree with you on that one wideglidebob..I hate apes with more than a 1 inch riser..Just my opinion tho..You can make them the best looking handlebar or the worst

Quote:

Originally Posted by BobStreetBob (Post 6910248)

I'm also thinking less "pullback" has something to do with it. The stock RK bars had the steering head bearings positioned farther in front of your hands that these bars do. With the apes, the pivot point (head bearings) are almost between your hands. Like you said better leverage.

The apes are 36" end to end, I think the stock RK bars were closer to 33". I just couldn't believe HOW much easier the bars flipped "side to side" after switching to the apes.

I love the mini apes on my Street Bob. It is amazing how much easier my bike is for me to lift and move around just compared to a stock Super Glide.

Go through Hill Country Cycles. They are out of TX and I have seen 4 sets go on with ease. They come with the wiring all done and it's a good deal.

yes .. I like the apes.. going with 16" custom built apes.

I'm 6'5 so my 18" carlini's are right at shoulder height for me. I think they are very comfortable, haven't had an issue with numbness or pain or anything and I get cramps and pain in the legs often, kinda prone to it for whatever reason. I sat on my buddies 06 and a 10 road king with stock bars, and I thought it was quite awkward and uncomfortable. You just get used to one or the other, and when you try something new its just a lil weird at first. I stepped up from a couple sport bikes and never had anything near an ape before. I couldn't see owning a Harley without them now.

The chrome controls are the cats ass I think.
http://i61.photobucket.com/albums/h5...n/P1010301.jpg
https://i49.tinypic.com/2q34ydl.jpg