Sore after installing apes
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Intermediate
Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 42
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From: Galesburg, IL
Sore after installing apes
2012 flhx... Stock seat.
Im 6'1" with 32 inseam
Stock bars were ok and never was sore or felt like arms or back hurt just was feeling a little cramped.
Installed wild 1 576 i think... 12.5 inches.
Everyone raves on comfort.
First 2 rides.. Each about 50 miles, I noiced my back, hands and arms feeling tired and sore.
Anyone else had this issue and did you get use to it after a certain time. Would suck to go back to stock and waste a bunch of money thAt Ijust put into wild 1's.
Thoughts..
Im 6'1" with 32 inseam
Stock bars were ok and never was sore or felt like arms or back hurt just was feeling a little cramped.
Installed wild 1 576 i think... 12.5 inches.
Everyone raves on comfort.
First 2 rides.. Each about 50 miles, I noiced my back, hands and arms feeling tired and sore.
Anyone else had this issue and did you get use to it after a certain time. Would suck to go back to stock and waste a bunch of money thAt Ijust put into wild 1's.
Thoughts..
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 5,190
Likes: 5
From: Eastern Washington
I have to say that my experience was opposite. Are you trying to fight the bike with the taller bars? That may contribute to being sore. I know mine too a little getting used to at first. Especially at slower speeds
Extreme HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 14,744
Likes: 402
From: Phoenix '53, '88, '09 Big Twins
hands up puts a lot more wind load on your chest.
and the position is completely different. if it continues to not work, you can sell your stuff on the classifieds.
mike
and the position is completely different. if it continues to not work, you can sell your stuff on the classifieds.
mike
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 56,052
Likes: 87,490
From: Western South Dakota
I think that what you say about back, arms, hands being sore, stands to reason for:
1. Holding your arms that high for a length of time is an unnatural positon.
2. Blood has more difficulty getting to places above the heart.
1. Holding your arms that high for a length of time is an unnatural positon.
2. Blood has more difficulty getting to places above the heart.
+1...IMO the stock bars were designed for distance/endurance riding comfort. Switching to Apes is surely a great look for the bike, but hold up your arms is against the "law of gravity".
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 5,542
Likes: 6,187
From: In your head rent free
He's 6'1".
12.5 bars aren't holding his arms in the air.
He also rides an FLHX, so there isn't a big parachute effect either.
Give it a couple more rides and see if you can pinpoint where and when you start to feel pain or fatigue. Could be that those size bars put you in the wrong position overall. Have you tried rotating them forward or back to try a different arm stretch?
It may also be the seat.
I've ride with 16" apes and there is no pain, blood flow issues, etc. You just need to find out where the stress point is.
12.5 bars aren't holding his arms in the air.
He also rides an FLHX, so there isn't a big parachute effect either.
Give it a couple more rides and see if you can pinpoint where and when you start to feel pain or fatigue. Could be that those size bars put you in the wrong position overall. Have you tried rotating them forward or back to try a different arm stretch?
It may also be the seat.
I've ride with 16" apes and there is no pain, blood flow issues, etc. You just need to find out where the stress point is.
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Club Member
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 15,420
Likes: 7,118
From: Beyond Fucital
[QUOTE=Toypuller;9573063]He's 6'1".
12.5 bars aren't holding his arms in the air.
He also rides an FLHX, so there isn't a big parachute effect either.
Give it a couple more rides and see if you can pinpoint where and when you start to feel pain or fatigue. Could be that those size bars put you in the wrong position overall. Have you tried rotating them forward or back to try a different arm stretch?
It may also be the seat.
+1
Maybe pull'em back alittle too
12.5 bars aren't holding his arms in the air.
He also rides an FLHX, so there isn't a big parachute effect either.
Give it a couple more rides and see if you can pinpoint where and when you start to feel pain or fatigue. Could be that those size bars put you in the wrong position overall. Have you tried rotating them forward or back to try a different arm stretch?
It may also be the seat.
+1
Maybe pull'em back alittle too
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Grand HDF Member
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 4,618
Likes: 290
From: Johnstown, PA
I agree with what some of the others say, 12.5" bars are not up there, especially @6'1". On my last bike, It took some tweaking to get them just right. Change the position until you exhaust all options before changing back. I had some issues with pain between my shoulders, but I did find the sweet spot, and the BINGO, way more comfortable then stock.
I have not found the need to adjust my 10" apes on this bike, but I did have a good idea from my past experiences for where they needed to be when I installed them.
Good luck to you, I hope you can find your sweet spot.
I have not found the need to adjust my 10" apes on this bike, but I did have a good idea from my past experiences for where they needed to be when I installed them.
Good luck to you, I hope you can find your sweet spot.
If you have the WO576's, they are 14's. The WO577's are 12.5.
You might need to roll them back a little, if you feel like you're having to reach forward to get to the grips. It's a bit of a pia, but you should get to the triple trees, loosen the clamp, and sit on the bike in the most comfortable position you can. Have a helper tighten down the clamp when the bars are set.
Take a pic. A side shot of you on the bike holding the bars, with your feet on the footboards. If you can see what you look like holding the bars, you might get a better idea of how they need to be adjusted.
You might need to roll them back a little, if you feel like you're having to reach forward to get to the grips. It's a bit of a pia, but you should get to the triple trees, loosen the clamp, and sit on the bike in the most comfortable position you can. Have a helper tighten down the clamp when the bars are set.
Take a pic. A side shot of you on the bike holding the bars, with your feet on the footboards. If you can see what you look like holding the bars, you might get a better idea of how they need to be adjusted.