Heritage Apes...how high for a guy 5'11?
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Road Master
Joined: Oct 2013
Posts: 853
Likes: 48
From: Virginia
Heritage Apes...how high for a guy 5'11?
I've reading and looking around trying to figure out what size to get for my Heritage. Some of the pics are great, but they don't have the rider sitting on the ones I'm interested in. For you guys that are about 5'11 what did you go with? I'm trying to get an idea of what 12's - 14's look like. I'm leaning towards the 14's, but then I go back and forth with the outlaws styled, and regular. 
I live in the middle of nowhere, so I can't just drop on down to a dealership...
I live in the middle of nowhere, so I can't just drop on down to a dealership...
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: May 2013
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From: Home
Why not find some people with ape hangers on their bike, explain to them that you don't know what would be comfortable. If you are lucky enough a few of them may let you sit on their bikes so you can get an idea.
Intermediate
Joined: Oct 2014
Posts: 41
Likes: 2
From: Tennessee
I'm 6' tall, 34" inseam and have 12.5" Chubby apes and a Bare Bones seat on my Fatboy that's been lowered 1.5" in the rear. I like my arms extended when I ride so my bars are rolled forward which raises the height a little more. When sitting in the riding position (I sit a little slouched when I ride) the tops of my knuckles are even with the tops of my shoulders.
I found this out because I was taking a measurement for someone else for comparison so I had a friend use a level and tape measure to measure the height difference but as it turned out he set the level across my shoulder and knuckles and it was completely level.
So it's not just a riders height and ape height that determines where your hands will come out to compared to your shoulders and what's comfortable is subjective.
It's a rider's height, height of the apes, position of the apes (rolled forward or back) seat thickness, the way you sit, torso length and even if the rear of the bike has been lowered or not. (2 people the same height can have different length torsos and legs which would make a difference in their shoulder to knuckle height when sitting on the same bike)
If you want a pic just let me know. I can get someone to take a side view of me in the riding position to give you an idea if that would help.
I found this out because I was taking a measurement for someone else for comparison so I had a friend use a level and tape measure to measure the height difference but as it turned out he set the level across my shoulder and knuckles and it was completely level.
So it's not just a riders height and ape height that determines where your hands will come out to compared to your shoulders and what's comfortable is subjective.
It's a rider's height, height of the apes, position of the apes (rolled forward or back) seat thickness, the way you sit, torso length and even if the rear of the bike has been lowered or not. (2 people the same height can have different length torsos and legs which would make a difference in their shoulder to knuckle height when sitting on the same bike)
If you want a pic just let me know. I can get someone to take a side view of me in the riding position to give you an idea if that would help.
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Joined: Dec 2012
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From: Michigan
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Road Captain
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 509
Likes: 21
From: L.I. New York
Im 6 foot and have 14" WO's on my HSC.I had 16" WO's on an old RKC and 16" on a Street bob.I prefer the 14".
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Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 3,492
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From: Illinois
5'9" and I have the 14" Gangsters with a 1" riser and they fit me perfect. I did alter my seat, lost about an inch there too. I have air on the back to I can adjust my shoulder height a few inches either way.
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