More or Less control with 16 inch apes?
Thread Starter
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Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 3,275
Likes: 669
From: The Rust Belt!
Yeah and I like the Carlini Ganster apes which are super wide. I think they are like 42 inches wide or something. Hell if i get another RoadKing and install those i wouldn't get it through my 36 inch wide basement door and be able to park it in the house anymore for the winter.
Road Captain
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 616
Likes: 70
It would definitely be for comfort more then even looks. But looks are important as well. I just know with the stock RoadKing Special bars I was always uncomfortable. Always felt pressure on my shoulders and upper back. I'm 6ft and those stock 9 inch or whatever they where just weren't cutting it.
I think at 6ft 14 inch bars or 16s would be ideal. Bars are so dam expensive these days that id definitely want to know the exact fitment for sure before going all in.
I think at 6ft 14 inch bars or 16s would be ideal. Bars are so dam expensive these days that id definitely want to know the exact fitment for sure before going all in.
as for control, I never noticed any drop off when I put my apes on. my belief is that comfort is control, so if your comfortable with whatever you end up with, you'll also have control.
Advanced
Joined: Dec 2020
Posts: 64
Likes: 40
From: Murfreesboro
Interesting responses
I have had mini apes Or apes on every touring bike I have owned. It would be the first project that I would do on any bike as I am extremely uncomfortable with stock bars.
with that said, my current sg has 16s and it is a bit too much. I am about 62 so its not the reach but my comfort/ confidence in turning maneuvers is much less on the 16s than a nice pair of 12s
1. 12-14
2. 16
3. stock (gross)
with that said, my current sg has 16s and it is a bit too much. I am about 62 so its not the reach but my comfort/ confidence in turning maneuvers is much less on the 16s than a nice pair of 12s
1. 12-14
2. 16
3. stock (gross)
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 11,475
Likes: 3,000
From: Charleston, SC
No I haven't. I've seen baggers dressed up like a performance bike though. It's nice that people can cross-dress and play pretend without judgement.
I've never seen a "performance bagger" with 30K in bolt-ons/mods that couldn't be beat with a 6K metric bike so I'll just leave this bike's primary role as a Touring bike with Apes. So comfy
I've never seen a "performance bagger" with 30K in bolt-ons/mods that couldn't be beat with a 6K metric bike so I'll just leave this bike's primary role as a Touring bike with Apes. So comfy
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You cant beat body mechanics and physics. Above your shoulders you lose a lot of control/ strength and wider bars have more leverage.
so if you have more/ less control with apes will be dependent on your height, and the height and width of the bars. General rule of thumb says the taller and more narrow the bars the worse the control. But any reasonable set of bars where your arms are at or below your shoulders and greater than 28 wide will give you the best control IMO.
so if you have more/ less control with apes will be dependent on your height, and the height and width of the bars. General rule of thumb says the taller and more narrow the bars the worse the control. But any reasonable set of bars where your arms are at or below your shoulders and greater than 28 wide will give you the best control IMO.