Apes and the Vertically Challenged
Road Captain
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 512
Likes: 4
From: NW Arkansas
Priceamp,
You're not short.....You're vertically challanged.
I wish I had some of the money back I've spent over the years trying to get bars that fit me. I'm running the stock 12s on my Xbones and love them around town. I hate them at higher speeds without the windshield. And I hate the look of the windshield. But with a 100 mile commute. I run the windshield and they are comfortable.
The one bike I've owned that I loved ergonomicly stock was a little Honda GB500. Who would guess?
You're not short.....You're vertically challanged.
I wish I had some of the money back I've spent over the years trying to get bars that fit me. I'm running the stock 12s on my Xbones and love them around town. I hate them at higher speeds without the windshield. And I hate the look of the windshield. But with a 100 mile commute. I run the windshield and they are comfortable.
The one bike I've owned that I loved ergonomicly stock was a little Honda GB500. Who would guess?
Road Master
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 990
Likes: 3
From: lakeside ca.
5'8'' tall here have 16 inch apes that follow the fork angle
can't see riding with anything else go to some bike shops and just take the bars out to your bike and wee how they look/feel mine are on one inch risers and are just shoulder level when riding.
sun should be comeing out up there soon for some good riding
born and raised on the coast (coos bay) know you have some nice riding up there enjoy
can't see riding with anything else go to some bike shops and just take the bars out to your bike and wee how they look/feel mine are on one inch risers and are just shoulder level when riding.
sun should be comeing out up there soon for some good riding
born and raised on the coast (coos bay) know you have some nice riding up there enjoy
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 3,156
Likes: 41
From: So Cal
Hey guys,
I normally don't ask questions like what bars do you think look the best, but I'm going nuts trying to decide what new bars to go with and thus seeking options. My primary reason for changing out my stock '06 FXST bars is to hide the hideous electrical wires, other wise I like the stock Standard bars. However, I love apes, always have, to me, it's real old school. The problem I have is that I'm only 5'6" on a good day and most apes in the 10" rise only have a pull back of 11.5". I need a pull back of more like 14". My stock bars with the 2" pull back on the risers has a total pull back of about 12.5". Most apes only have a pull back of 11" or less. Most apes are also wider then my stock bars. My stock bars are 31" wide, most apes are 35" wide or greater.
I know ideally, you should align ape handle bars to be in line with the front forks, but is it ok to lean them back a little to get them closer to your chest for vertically challenged riders like me?
Are there any vertically challenged riders on this board running 10 or 12" apes? If yes, how comfortable are they for you? Do you have issues making a sharp turn?
Robert at Wild1 suggested the low profile drag bars since they have a pull back of 14.5", but I'm still not sure if I want to with a drag bar.
Jack
I normally don't ask questions like what bars do you think look the best, but I'm going nuts trying to decide what new bars to go with and thus seeking options. My primary reason for changing out my stock '06 FXST bars is to hide the hideous electrical wires, other wise I like the stock Standard bars. However, I love apes, always have, to me, it's real old school. The problem I have is that I'm only 5'6" on a good day and most apes in the 10" rise only have a pull back of 11.5". I need a pull back of more like 14". My stock bars with the 2" pull back on the risers has a total pull back of about 12.5". Most apes only have a pull back of 11" or less. Most apes are also wider then my stock bars. My stock bars are 31" wide, most apes are 35" wide or greater.
I know ideally, you should align ape handle bars to be in line with the front forks, but is it ok to lean them back a little to get them closer to your chest for vertically challenged riders like me?
Are there any vertically challenged riders on this board running 10 or 12" apes? If yes, how comfortable are they for you? Do you have issues making a sharp turn?
Robert at Wild1 suggested the low profile drag bars since they have a pull back of 14.5", but I'm still not sure if I want to with a drag bar.
Jack
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Road Captain
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 581
Likes: 7
From: Portland, OR
Thanks for posting the pic. Your pic truly answers my question about leaning the apes back a little.
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Road Captain
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 581
Likes: 7
From: Portland, OR
Good suggestion and yes, I have thought of drilling my own bars too. Actually I thought about buying the Harley stock chrome version of my bars and drilling them. It would be helpful if I could see some pre-drilled bars. Maybe this weekend I'll go to some shops and take a look at some pre-drilled bars. I do have a drill press and a Dremel tool, so I could probably do a pretty good job, I just need to know approximately where to drill the holes and how big to make the holes. I have read of concerns that drilling your own bars can weaken the bars, but I can't see why drilling your own bars would make them weaker then pre-drilled production bars.
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