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As the title says, school me on Monkey Bars, Paul Yaffe and the like. I see more and more baggers running them and to me personally, I can't see how I'd be comfortable with my arms in that position for an extended period of time.
But hell, I've been wrong before. Pretty significant cost to "try them" and come to find out they don't cut it.
With that, share your experiences and especially coming from stock bars or more conventional bars to Monkey Bars.
I can see slow speed turning being a challenge say in a parking lot, maybe anyway.
They take no time at all to get used to in any riding situation. Have been through quite a few of them and try to stay with ones that are not so wide. 32" to 34" end to end is about where I like mine. I don't think you will find too many people that went with apes and took them off. They may have changed them to taller than what they originally went with but they are much more comfortable than you would think. There is such a thing as too high. Just below shoulder level works great for me. KST, Wild ones, plenty of others out there. Forget what I have on my Road King now but have 12" Meathooks going on my Road Glide, hopefully week after next. I could go taller but like keeping the airflow where they are not sticking up above the fairing. Everybody is different.
A lot of the more popular ones are way to wide for me. I found that the Khrome Werks had the narrowest bar ends and actually if I remember correct the best description of dimensions. Not the greatest fit and finish but the cost is appropriate.
The stock bars on my SG and my RGS sucked. For me. Had that pinch in my traps after extended time riding. And I ride far. And often. My SG I put on +2 sweepers not much higher but wider and closer with a much more natural wrist angle. On my RGS those bars were no better so I went with the 12" F47's and couldn't be happier. They're 36" wide. And it's not as bad as it sounds. About a mile or 2 into it and you're used to them. I'm not a fan of the bars way above the fairing so I opted for the 12's and they're perfect. With the CVO solo seat I run they actually are the same as if I got the 14s withoUT the look I'm not fond of. I've had 18" apes on my old shovels and my pan. They're comfortable to a point. And on some level when ya get so high it is a look at me thing and those guys usually don't get past bike night or the local bar. And that's cool. But it's a rare guy that turns 500/600 miles a day on a 7 days trip with bars that high.
I love mine. I can ride all day with no burn in my traps.
Agree with RFG. The stock bars on my RGS sucked. They angled my wrist to much. I got 12" Yaffes and they have been great. Didn't want to go too tall as, and this is JMHO, they look wrong on my bike.
I've had drag bars on every bike I've owned for the last 20yrs. I bought my SG used and it already had some parts on it. 12" YMB's, slip ons etc..... I was hell bent at first to pull the bars off and put something lower on it as soon as I got it. I took delivery of the bike and started riding it. While I probably would have gone with 10" instead, these 12" bars are among the most comfortable I've ever grabbed onto. I ride a 100mi round trip to work and where I used to get an ache in my upper back and neck, I don't on this bike. The grips are right at shoulder level, maybe 1/2" lower on me. The give good control of the bike and the wrist angle is good for me. So, while I still think they're ugly as homemade soap, they are very comfortable, so they'll more than likely stay. Maybe they'll grow on me one day.
Thanks, there seem to be more bars than Carter has liver pills. Wish there was a way to check the fit out with a ride before buying and be sure rather than toss a bunch of coin in a set up only to find they ain't worth a sh*t.
Yaffe has a new bar out, their monkey sport bar, their short, I love them! I just dont like the look of a tall bar on a RG, looks odd to me them sticking up over the fairing
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Monkey Bars: School me...
