installing apes
Road Master
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 1,052
Likes: 12
Everybody here gave you great advice. I am somewhat mechanically inclined and I did mine myself in about 8 hours over two days. 1) Don't have a panic attack when the bike is in pieces ( tank off, and nothing above the top of the forks) like I almost did. I thought for a while I might have to start breathing into a paper bag. 2) I was able to get enough slack in the clutch cable (with the adjuster) to get the cable loose without taking the snap ring off inside the tranny. Overall the job was not that hard and with the money I saved I'm that much closer to gettin my Thundermax.
Tourer
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 469
Likes: 0
From: Las Vegas, NV
ABSOLUTELY just my personal opinion, but unless you're 6'6" or taller, I personally think you should run your 16's on the shortest risers you can find. I just have never been a fan of the tall bars on humungous riser look.
But it's all yours, so if you like it, then party like a rockstar. Good luck to ya, lot's of great folks to help if you need it.
Road Warrior
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 1,733
Likes: 38
From: Linden, NC
Patience, the right tools, and a service manual is all you need. Not hard at all. Another pair of hands does come in handy when pulling the crossover tube on the tank, and re-installing the new clutch cable (to re-install mine into the tranny cover plate, the whole cable needed to rotated). Good luck.
Last edited by Weevil; May 17, 2010 at 05:16 AM.
Former Sponsor
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 19,364
Likes: 40
From: Los Angeles, CA
Everybody here gave you great advice. I am somewhat mechanically inclined and I did mine myself in about 8 hours over two days. 1) Don't have a panic attack when the bike is in pieces ( tank off, and nothing above the top of the forks) like I almost did. I thought for a while I might have to start breathing into a paper bag. 2) I was able to get enough slack in the clutch cable (with the adjuster) to get the cable loose without taking the snap ring off inside the tranny. Overall the job was not that hard and with the money I saved I'm that much closer to gettin my Thundermax.
Drew
Cruiser
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 136
Likes: 3
From: Jersey, USA
I did my ape install over the winter and posted a write-up about it with a few pics. Check it out... Hope it helps...
https://www.hdforums.com/forum/softa...r-install.html
https://www.hdforums.com/forum/softa...r-install.html
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 2,884
Likes: 912
From: South La.
I just did my 14's on my 93. I used to work on helecopters so, wrenching isn't new to me. Take a good look at everything (sorta a dry run) and see if you'll need anything you don't have (ie blue loctite, shrink wrap, specialty tools etc..). Get plenty of towels to cover stuff and go for it.
The way I did it was to break it into packages (elect., clutch cable, carb cables front break etc...). The bars went on first so I could knock out the electrical first (that's my weakest area) but, I did a QA check on everything before I started to make SURE I had all the right components.
The way I did it was to break it into packages (elect., clutch cable, carb cables front break etc...). The bars went on first so I could knock out the electrical first (that's my weakest area) but, I did a QA check on everything before I started to make SURE I had all the right components.
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Tourer
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 356
Likes: 2
From: Godfrey, IL
I went with 16's on my crossbones with the stock 2" risers. My throttle cables were 41" and 41.5" and were perfect. Cant remember off the top of my head how long the brake and clutch were but can check when i get home tonight. Make sure you get plenty of extra wire though because if you internally wire your bars that will require alot more wire than you would think
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Nightster Ridester
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Feb 8, 2010 06:36 PM
