What are your favorite Fatboy handlebars?
Cruiser
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 212
Likes: 9
From: Folsom, CA
My Fatboy came with some funky (maybe stock) buckhornish type bars. Hated the wrist position. I like lower bars and went for Wild One Street Fighters, after a couple months of sore neck and shoulders I am also going to try the Wild Ones Dresser Bars (W504s).
Riding sport touring, sport bikes, standards and HDs for 45 years it would be hard to convince me that Apes are a preferred bar for the handling department. But then again I didn't buy a Fatboy for speed or handling. Thats what my CB1000 is for.
I love bikes. All of them. Even ones with ape-hangers; I'll let you ride that one.
Riding sport touring, sport bikes, standards and HDs for 45 years it would be hard to convince me that Apes are a preferred bar for the handling department. But then again I didn't buy a Fatboy for speed or handling. Thats what my CB1000 is for.
I love bikes. All of them. Even ones with ape-hangers; I'll let you ride that one.
Thread Starter
|
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 6,665
Likes: 502
From: Orange County
Road Captain
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 604
Likes: 22
handles
I have a Fatboy Lo and a Crossbones. 14" apes for me. I travel all over the west and after several tries found the 14" apes to be the right fit. No back, neck, or shoulder pain and for an older fart like me that's a giant plus. Got enough aches and pains. They hit me just below the shoulder and are 33"s wide.
Road Captain
Joined: Nov 2014
Posts: 505
Likes: 24
From: Edmonton, Alberta
Carlini Flying Apes by far! Has to be the 1.5" diameter bars though as they look fantastic with the beefy front ends and rims of the Fatboys. The curves are perfect and match the bike beautifully. I got a black set of 14 inchers and the finish was perfect right down to where they mounted their logo. Only thing I would have done differently was get the 12" bars. The 14's are a bit tall for me when going on long rides but they look fantastic.
Thread Starter
|
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 6,665
Likes: 502
From: Orange County
Carlini Flying Apes by far! Has to be the 1.5" diameter bars though as they look fantastic with the beefy front ends and rims of the Fatboys. The curves are perfect and match the bike beautifully. I got a black set of 14 inchers and the finish was perfect right down to where they mounted their logo. Only thing I would have done differently was get the 12" bars. The 14's are a bit tall for me when going on long rides but they look fantastic.
I don't think I could be comfortable with the 14s, probably too tall for me. The seat on the Fatboy is low, so it makes you reach farther.
Road Captain
Joined: Nov 2014
Posts: 505
Likes: 24
From: Edmonton, Alberta
I agree 100%. I had gone with recommendations from other forum members when I bought these bars. They look great but I also find them too tall for my liking. They aren't unbearably uncomfortable but if I had of just gone with the 12 inchers, they would have been perfect! I'm 6'1" tall.
HD Forum Stories
The Best of Harley-Davidson for Lifelong Riders
8 Best Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever
Pouria Savadkouei
10 Worst Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever
Pouria Savadkouei
Killer Custom's Jail Break Is The Breakout That Refused to Blend In
Verdad Gallardo
Crazy Bunderbike Build Looks Amazing, But Is It Impossible to Ride?
Verdad Gallardo
Harley-Davidson Reveals Super Cool Cafe Racer Concept
Verdad Gallardo
Engraved Rebellion: Inside Bundnerbike's Glam Rock II
Verdad Gallardo
10 Motorcycles You Should Never Buy
Joe Kucinski
10 Things Harley-Davidson Needs to Fix in 2026
Verdad Gallardo
Southpaw Super Glide: A Left-Hand-Drive 1979 Harley FXE Built to Fit the Rider
Verdad Gallardo
Cruiser
Joined: Oct 2015
Posts: 185
Likes: 38
From: St. George Utah
I have the 12" HD fat chizeled bars and I like them. They actually feel closer to a 14" bar and have a really good angle on the grips. I know this is an old thread and the OP already picked his bars but I thought Since there were new posts people might be curious on more info.
as far as handling, I started in 1985 on enduros then came up on sportbikes and moved to cruisers and finally now Harleys and everything from drag bars, beach bars and apes and once you get used to the position you can handle well on them all.
As you can see in this video, no real issues with tossing a bike around a little.
as far as handling, I started in 1985 on enduros then came up on sportbikes and moved to cruisers and finally now Harleys and everything from drag bars, beach bars and apes and once you get used to the position you can handle well on them all.
As you can see in this video, no real issues with tossing a bike around a little.
Novice
Joined: Dec 2016
Posts: 19
Likes: 1
From: Fresno CA
On the Fatboy I prefer the OEM bars from the pre-2007 era. They're part of what makes the Fatboy a Fatboy. It was meant to be a low slung brawler, not an old shovelhead replica (not every Harley needs apes).
For those who say apes handle better, I call bullshit. Low bars give you far more control, especially in less than ideal conditions. For the Fatboy being such a large bike, I can throw mine around like a Sportster and that's due to having the low bars on it. Wouldn't be able to do it with apes.
I ride a 2017 Fatboy and still have the OEM bars on, but am looking for a set of pre-2007 OEM bars for it.
For those who say apes handle better, I call bullshit. Low bars give you far more control, especially in less than ideal conditions. For the Fatboy being such a large bike, I can throw mine around like a Sportster and that's due to having the low bars on it. Wouldn't be able to do it with apes.
I ride a 2017 Fatboy and still have the OEM bars on, but am looking for a set of pre-2007 OEM bars for it.
Last edited by Jon Wilder; Jan 23, 2019 at 01:51 AM.