Softail Models Standard, Custom, Night Train, Deuce, Springer, Heritage, Fatboy, Deluxe, Rocker and Cross Bones.
Sponsored by:
Sponsored by:

Risers or new bars?

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Jul 22, 2016 | 05:06 PM
  #1  
user 46092's Avatar
user 46092
Thread Starter
|
Banned
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 708
Likes: 15
Default Risers or new bars?

I just got back from riding an hour ago, and whil Inwas out my handlebars felt wrong to me ... Again.
I went with some Wild 1 baby apes a few years ago, but today I was wishing I had a little more pullback and height.
Risers, of course, won't give me pullback unless I go with the pullback risers, but I've never been a fan of risers- to me they kind of look like a lazy attempt to a real solution.
14" apes look great but I'm not sure how comfortable that would be on a 2+ hour ride. The whole arms above the heart after a certain age thing is at play here. I've already rolled back my current bars and there's more to it than that.
 
Reply
Old Jul 22, 2016 | 07:59 PM
  #2  
SPRINGER's Avatar
SPRINGER
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 68,021
Likes: 3,276
From:
Default

I can only speak for myself because the idea about running apes is a personal thing with many people here. My 05 Springer came with stock bars and they really bothered my neck and shoulders after awhile. I have had 16" Wild 1 Chubbies on my bike for little over 10 years and for me it's like night and day when it comes to comfort. My bike came stock with 4" risers and combined with the 16" apes, the top of the bars come just above my shoulders but the grips are just about shoulder high. I am now 65 and I can ride all day like this without any issues with my neck, shoulders or back. Like I said, apes aren't for everybody but they did the job for me.
 
Reply
Old Jul 22, 2016 | 08:26 PM
  #3  
dfwhockey17's Avatar
dfwhockey17
Outstanding HDF Member
10 Year Member
Photogenic
Liked
Loved
Joined: May 2014
Posts: 2,400
Likes: 284
From: Fort Worth, TX
Default

I agree about the look of baby apes on tall risers, it doesn't look right. 14"s on 1.5" risers would do the trick for you nicely if your hands are at or just under shoulder height. Going over the shoulders can get a bit uncomfortable at times on long rides (4-5 hours) I have found. Mock up a set of 14's and see how they feel before pulling the trigger on the whole swap.
 
Reply
Old Jul 22, 2016 | 10:08 PM
  #4  
Kburgad's Avatar
Kburgad
Tourer
Joined: Aug 2015
Posts: 352
Likes: 29
From: Missoula, MT
Default

Kst mayhem apes in 16 inch are only 14.5 total rise to the grip. Look taller and look better with 3.5 inch risers. Then if I need to go lower I can just swap out the risers.
 
Reply
Old Jul 23, 2016 | 11:25 AM
  #5  
rocknrick's Avatar
rocknrick
Road Master
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 964
Likes: 9
From: Savannah, TN
Default

Originally Posted by SPRINGER
I can only speak for myself because the idea about running apes is a personal thing with many people here. My 05 Springer came with stock bars and they really bothered my neck and shoulders after awhile. I have had 16" Wild 1 Chubbies on my bike for little over 10 years and for me it's like night and day when it comes to comfort. My bike came stock with 4" risers and combined with the 16" apes, the top of the bars come just above my shoulders but the grips are just about shoulder high. I am now 65 and I can ride all day like this without any issues with my neck, shoulders or back. Like I said, apes aren't for everybody but they did the job for me.
Ditto.
I just turned 62. Helped my bike posture and riding comfort as well. May be an age thing...
 
Reply
Old Jul 23, 2016 | 12:40 PM
  #6  
Prot's Avatar
Prot
Club Member
Veteran: Navy
15 Year Member
Liked
Community Favorite
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 22,825
Likes: 17,830
From: Lafayette, Louisiana
Riders Club Member
Default

Put a set of Heritage handlebars on it. You can test ride a Heritage at the dealer to see how you would like it. They can be had for relatively cheap and you won't need hideously long curved risers.
 
Reply
Old Jul 23, 2016 | 07:26 PM
  #7  
Mr.Softy's Avatar
Mr.Softy
Seasoned HDF Member
Veteran: Air Force
15 Year Member
Liked
Community Favorite
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 5,023
Likes: 1,351
From: Virginia
Default

I just had a set of 5.5" risers with a 1.5" pullback put on my 2015 Fat Boy. The only line I needed was the lower ABS brake line. Now my bars sit high enough that I am not in a slightly forward riding position. Sure beats the 4" risers I had on my last Fatboy.
 
Reply
Old Jul 24, 2016 | 03:40 AM
  #8  
user 46092's Avatar
user 46092
Thread Starter
|
Banned
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 708
Likes: 15
Default

Originally Posted by Prot
Put a set of Heritage handlebars on it. You can test ride a Heritage at the dealer to see how you would like it. They can be had for relatively cheap and you won't need hideously long curved risers.
I'll check the OEM diagrams for the heritage handlebars part number and look up the specs.
 

Last edited by user 46092; Jul 24, 2016 at 07:16 PM.
Reply
Old Jul 24, 2016 | 07:30 PM
  #9  
user 46092's Avatar
user 46092
Thread Starter
|
Banned
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 708
Likes: 15
Default

The pullback on the baby apes I got from Wild 1 have a longer pullback and see taller than handlebars 56569-09 which is one of the set of handle bars the MOCO puts on a 2015 heritage, but the OEM parts diagrams show more than one different handlebar for each year, so it's hard to tell which Heritage bar you suggesting.
I'm going to to have to do the mock-up thing, but you can't ride with a mock-up. I may just say WTF and jump to 14".
 
Reply
Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
cpt.crunch
Softail Models
22
Feb 25, 2013 11:44 PM
Reaper_ggy
Dyna Glide Models
8
Jun 8, 2011 04:11 PM
jfm5
Dyna Glide Models
10
Oct 15, 2009 09:14 AM
05 HD Deluxe
Softail Models
3
Oct 29, 2008 11:05 AM
Azgunner
Dyna Glide Models
1
Jul 9, 2007 06:48 PM




All times are GMT -5. The time now is 06:19 PM.