Apes or beach cruiser bars?
Road Master
Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 864
Likes: 1
From: Idahoe
Lol what do apes have to do with being gangster?
Road Warrior
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 1,805
Likes: 47
From: Lake Tahoe California
To the OP: Only you know what position your shoulders are less likely to hurt. If up high is where less pain is for your shoulders, you know your choice. Same for the lower hand position of beach bars.
Personally, I like the retro look of beach bars on a bike like a two-toned Deluxe. On a solid color bike (like black) I like the look of the apes. But looks are very personal, and I have what I like on my bike. That doesn't make it the best, just the best for me.
If you can get a chance to sit on a bike with apes and/or beach bars I suggest you do so before buying. If you can ride a bike with each, better still.
For me: I love the wingspan. My grip ends are 43" apart. There is 18-19" of pullback. Lever tip to lever tip is 48".
My hand position while riding is very natural and comfortable on long rides. I have ridden 10000 miles (often 3-500 miles in a day with them with no pain in my arms, shoulders or back. Tight U-turns have one hand practically in my lap, the other way out there.
Personally, I like the retro look of beach bars on a bike like a two-toned Deluxe. On a solid color bike (like black) I like the look of the apes. But looks are very personal, and I have what I like on my bike. That doesn't make it the best, just the best for me.
If you can get a chance to sit on a bike with apes and/or beach bars I suggest you do so before buying. If you can ride a bike with each, better still.
For me: I love the wingspan. My grip ends are 43" apart. There is 18-19" of pullback. Lever tip to lever tip is 48".
My hand position while riding is very natural and comfortable on long rides. I have ridden 10000 miles (often 3-500 miles in a day with them with no pain in my arms, shoulders or back. Tight U-turns have one hand practically in my lap, the other way out there.
Last edited by SprungDave; Aug 31, 2012 at 09:22 AM.
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 2,054
Likes: 26
From: Florida
I just switched out the stock apes on my Crossbones for a set of H-D wide beach bars. I haven't ridden the bike yet because I still need to bleed the front break but hopefully next week I will start test riding.
I chose beach bars because I wanted the nostalgic look on my bike and I hated the look of the skinny stock mini apes. That said, I LOVE the look of taller apes. I just didn't like the look of my stock apes. Also, my stock apes didn't cause any pain but they did make my right hand go numb quite a bit. I actually bought a used set of 16 inch apes with all cables that I got for a good price but I decided against them. I figured that if my stock mini apes were borderline comfortable then 16 would probably suck for me.
Sitting on my Bones with the beach bars on everything already feels a lot more natural. Sort of like sitting at a table with your arms resting on the table. There is no effort to hold that position. Whether you want to admit it or not, having your hands on ape hangers requires extra effort because you are reaching out and up. I imagine people that like apes get used to dealing whatever effects on their body this may have. It just depends on the person. I have to believe that the beach bar's tendency to allow me to ride in a more natural sitting position should be far more comfortable but I guess I can't say for sure until I have logged some miles.
When considering beach bars, also think about how WIDE a bar you go with and how that effects the comfort. From what I have learned, H-D makes a narrow beach bar which I think is around 33 inches wide and a wide beach bar which is 36 inches wide. In addition to that I have read post by people who say they have put 38+ inch wide beach bars on their bike. I have to imagine that width on beach bars would have as much bearing on feel as height would on apes.
I chose beach bars because I wanted the nostalgic look on my bike and I hated the look of the skinny stock mini apes. That said, I LOVE the look of taller apes. I just didn't like the look of my stock apes. Also, my stock apes didn't cause any pain but they did make my right hand go numb quite a bit. I actually bought a used set of 16 inch apes with all cables that I got for a good price but I decided against them. I figured that if my stock mini apes were borderline comfortable then 16 would probably suck for me.
Sitting on my Bones with the beach bars on everything already feels a lot more natural. Sort of like sitting at a table with your arms resting on the table. There is no effort to hold that position. Whether you want to admit it or not, having your hands on ape hangers requires extra effort because you are reaching out and up. I imagine people that like apes get used to dealing whatever effects on their body this may have. It just depends on the person. I have to believe that the beach bar's tendency to allow me to ride in a more natural sitting position should be far more comfortable but I guess I can't say for sure until I have logged some miles.
When considering beach bars, also think about how WIDE a bar you go with and how that effects the comfort. From what I have learned, H-D makes a narrow beach bar which I think is around 33 inches wide and a wide beach bar which is 36 inches wide. In addition to that I have read post by people who say they have put 38+ inch wide beach bars on their bike. I have to imagine that width on beach bars would have as much bearing on feel as height would on apes.
Cruiser
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 157
Likes: 0
From: Antwerp, Belgium
Try test riding bikes with both bars, and then decide.
Some like apes, some beach bars, I've never seen someone that likes them both...
I went for the beach bars because of the way they look and the comfort. I have a bad back, and with the stock Lo-bars I used to have back aches for days after riding. With the Beach bars no issues anymore.
I once rode a bike with apes, and I had no pain either. Just didn't like the looks of it.
And for the 'goofy' looks... well I can live with that remark. I sometimes think the same of other riders with apes...
Some like apes, some beach bars, I've never seen someone that likes them both...
I went for the beach bars because of the way they look and the comfort. I have a bad back, and with the stock Lo-bars I used to have back aches for days after riding. With the Beach bars no issues anymore.
I once rode a bike with apes, and I had no pain either. Just didn't like the looks of it.
And for the 'goofy' looks... well I can live with that remark. I sometimes think the same of other riders with apes...
Road Master
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 1,161
Likes: 2
From: Walnut Creek, CA
I had 16" apes on my street bob and liked them a lot. I'm 6'4" and now have the stock bars on my 2001 fatboy. They are actually pretty comfortable, but I wish they were higher. I wonder if the comfort lies in the width of those bars... The apes didn't feel as 'natural' for my wrists as these do. Anywho... I'd say go with what's comfortable - the looks - oh well... I'm a 6'4'' girl with 36 inseam so I'm used to people staring 
haha
haha
Extreme HDF Member
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 11,613
Likes: 7,087
From: SoCal / AZ
I agree with this. I also got apes with a more flat wrist angle. The beach bars I have looked at all had wrist angles that are to extreme for my liking.
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Cruiser
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 164
Likes: 1
From: So Cal
I went back and forth as well had 8" frisco bars on my last bike and now 16" apes on the deluxe. I like the low look of the beach bars but feel more natural having my hands just above my shoulder. I have good pull back so I am not having to reach for them either.
PVC is cheap and you can use that as a tool to mock up different heights while sitting on your bike to feel what's most comfortable if your not able to sit on other rides. Good luck with your purchase!
PVC is cheap and you can use that as a tool to mock up different heights while sitting on your bike to feel what's most comfortable if your not able to sit on other rides. Good luck with your purchase!
Road Master
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 1,067
Likes: 2
From: New Hampshire
Beach Bars Suck (no they don't)
vs.
Apes Suck (no they don't)
Try them both, see what you like. Personally I did not like the mini-apes on my Heritage, I tried a friends bike with 16 inch apes and felt like I was reaching and in an awkward riding position. I tried traditional Beach Bars and they were so wide I was again stretched out to the max a felt awkward. I settled on a WO518 Chubby Wild Ones RKII bar. No extended reaching, great riding position, and no back pains
http://shop.wild1inc.com/CHUBBY-CONV...L-BARS_c11.htm
vs.
Apes Suck (no they don't)
Try them both, see what you like. Personally I did not like the mini-apes on my Heritage, I tried a friends bike with 16 inch apes and felt like I was reaching and in an awkward riding position. I tried traditional Beach Bars and they were so wide I was again stretched out to the max a felt awkward. I settled on a WO518 Chubby Wild Ones RKII bar. No extended reaching, great riding position, and no back pains
http://shop.wild1inc.com/CHUBBY-CONV...L-BARS_c11.htm