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I still have the stock bars on my 2101 Road King. I'll assume they're buckhorns. They are very comfortable for me. I still laugh when I see mile high ape hangers.
I put some 4 1/2 pullback risers with urethane bushings and they work fantastic. I'm diggin the look more and more as well. I've always had apes and was going to put some on until I realized just how comfortable these bars with the riser change are.
I still have the stock bars on my 2101 Road King. I'll assume they're buckhorns. They are very comfortable for me. I still laugh when I see mile high ape hangers.
The 2101s are out? Man, I gotta keep up. Seriously, those are NOT buckhorns on your RK. Buckhorns are kinda narrow and pulled back and pointed down. If that makes sense. Mine put me back as opposed to what others stated, a nice laid back riding position.
I had 16" apes on my last bike and loved them. My current bike has buckhorns, and as often as I consider changing them for apes, I can't actually find a good reason to beyond aesthetics.
The buckhorns do the job, look fine (maybe not awesome, but fine at least), and never given me grief with handling. I have to admit at first i felt that my wrists were turned at a funny angle, but I have since gotten used to it and have no comfort issues at all now.
I like to get both form and function for my coin, the buckhorns satisfy both. Spending $$ on apes satisfies only form, and IMO no better than the buckhorns, and I doubt I'll get any improvement in function.
I like apes, but the bucks do the job, and do it well, so I have no "need" to change.
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my 85 fxef (fatbob ) left the factory with them . im not into fixing whats not broken . i like them just fine i rode one day from 11am till 10 pm and the day after from 9am straight true till 2 am . i got off the bike and all was wrong was a head ache from a bad fitting helmet and loud pipes .
i plan on buying a fxrs some time and it will have buckhorns too .
i rode a fatboy with mile high apes i turned as soon as i could and gave the dude back his bike .
i rode a dyna wide glide with medium apes i taught they affected the handling not as much control . i rode a fatboy with beach bars it was comfy but too wide for lane splitting or fiting into a house .
for me its all about the ride i dont care what other people think or like or whats in fashion . im an old fashioned kinda fella .
i used to see stock harleys on the adverts in bike rags back in the 80s and they all had buck horns and i have liked them ever since . as a teenager in the 80s i dreamed of someday owning a 1340 harley with buckhorns and i have for the last few years and i love it . long live the buckhorns .
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Slideshow: A standard cruiser becomes an intricate metal canvas in the hands of a Swiss custom house known for pushing Harley-Davidson platforms far beyond their factory brief.
Slideshow: Harley-Davidson's challenges aren't abstract; they show up in dropping shipments, shrinking dealer traffic, and strategic decisions that aren't yet translating into growth.