Advice Please. Breakout Mini Apes
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Tourer
Joined: Jun 2013
Posts: 321
Likes: 0
From: CA
Advice Please. Breakout Mini Apes
I have the CVO bars now, but was thinking of the mini's. I've never ridden a bike with apes, so I was hoping anyone could chime in on the advantages/disadvantages of them and what I can expect. Handling, wind, comfort, cost for HD to install? Where to buy the Apes? HD? Other?
Thanks very much!
Thanks very much!
Road Master
Joined: Dec 2013
Posts: 1,238
Likes: 96
From: fort walton beach
Taller bars have more leverage so turning is a lot easier. Depending how high you go you will feel more wind but in town driving is a lot nicer. once I got to 18" bars I noticed that highway riding did get more difficult. Every small move I make on the bike is amplified and I get a wobble. So on windy days crusing at 70+ I get quite a bit of wobbles
Novice
Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 16
Likes: 0
From: Alabama
I went to 13" apes about a year ago. That first test ride was a very freaky feeling. I came back unsure what to think. I loved the "fist to the wind" attitude/feel but at the same time it was totally new and different. Mine put my arms straight out at shoulder height. I got used to it very quickly. It put's me in a more upright position which helps my back. It is easier to steer into turns even so that i have to be careful not to over steer especially at low speeds. My only con was that I started getting a wobble in my bike on the interstate. I searched and searched for weeks trying to figure out what went bad on my bike. Tires, tire pressures, steering stem bearings, swing arm bearings ect. Only to come to the conclusion that it was the install of the apes that did it. Now that I'm aware of it, it doesn't seem to be much a problem anymore. I've trained myself to lighten my grip a little and relax with more sensitive input on the bars.
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2013
Posts: 7,492
Likes: 103
From: Stuttgart, Germany
One of the main characteristics of the Breakout is the low contour. Drag bars contribute to this contour just perfectly. I probably wouldn't have chosen this bike, if it had come with stock apes.
Maybe think about getting slightly higher risers and a different drag bar with more pullback if it's just for the reach... just my .02
Maybe think about getting slightly higher risers and a different drag bar with more pullback if it's just for the reach... just my .02
Road Captain
Joined: Dec 2013
Posts: 631
Likes: 26
From: Rome (Italy)
One of the main characteristics of the Breakout is the low contour. Drag bars contribute to this contour just perfectly. I probably wouldn't have chosen this bike, if it had come with stock apes.
Maybe think about getting slightly higher risers and a different drag bar with more pullback if it's just for the reach... just my .02
Maybe think about getting slightly higher risers and a different drag bar with more pullback if it's just for the reach... just my .02
I totally agree! 
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Road Master
Joined: Dec 2013
Posts: 1,238
Likes: 96
From: fort walton beach
One of the main characteristics of the Breakout is the low contour. Drag bars contribute to this contour just perfectly. I probably wouldn't have chosen this bike, if it had come with stock apes.
Maybe think about getting slightly higher risers and a different drag bar with more pullback if it's just for the reach... just my .02
Maybe think about getting slightly higher risers and a different drag bar with more pullback if it's just for the reach... just my .02
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Road Master
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 994
Likes: 28
From: NC
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...m=321305563630
Handlebar mods from the dealer usually run about $1000-$1500 with labor, and depending on the brand of parts you choose. But handlebar swaps are pretty easy to DIY if you have the time and patience. Get the 10" mini apes from HD (FYI in the kit the black bars are flat black vs. gloss, and the riser is gloss but it won't work anyway, os just get the bars), the price is pretty good and spring the extra $200 or so for the CVO riser/speedo combo at the same time or you will get endlessly flamed on here for having apes on offset risers which, while comfortable as heck, look stupid in a lot of other people's view. Take it from me, I know...still recovering from all the burns...
The stock bars are no good for above average height riders, really. I went from a heritage with 18's to the BO with the mini's and the riser/bar combo is at 14", which is perfect. No wobble and no parachute effect with the fists in the wind as advertised, anything higher than this you may experience these things that ppl complain about. And wit the CVo riser setup you will get probably 2" lower. I can now ride a couple hundred at a time until my a$$ hurts, and not my neck/shoulders/back which with the stock bars brought me to a stop after an hour. GOOD LUCK.
Last edited by BlessedHellride; Jan 29, 2014 at 06:40 AM.
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2013
Posts: 7,492
Likes: 103
From: Stuttgart, Germany
!But neither those:
What I was rather thinking about was something similar to this:
