Installing ape hangers
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Novice
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 21
Likes: 0
From: Manchester, NH
Installing ape hangers
I've been considering getting apes installed for a while now (even before I bought my bike). I've sat on a Road King at a local dealership that had apes and I found them to be really comfortable. I asked them what height they were and was told that they're 14" and that it would be $1300-$1500 to get them installed. That seems like a lot of money to me, and I suspect that it's the dealership charging a ton of money for labour.
I'm not mechanically inclined, but I want to learn how to work on my bike. I don't think this would be a good start for me though. There's a good chance that my bike would end up in pieces in my parking lot. It seems like I should get someone who knows what they're doing to do this for me. I just don't really want to pay that kind of money for it. Or maybe I just don't know how much getting apes installed should cost. I dunno.
I'd really like to find someone who I could pay to do this, without paying dealership prices. Does anyone have suggestions on how I could find someone? I need someone to give me some advice, help me pick out parts, and put it together for me. I would of course pay them for their time. The easy answer would be "ask a friend", but I'm pretty new to the area and I don't know very many people here. I'm sure there's some dude in a garage around here that would love to help. I just don't know how to find him.
I'm not mechanically inclined, but I want to learn how to work on my bike. I don't think this would be a good start for me though. There's a good chance that my bike would end up in pieces in my parking lot. It seems like I should get someone who knows what they're doing to do this for me. I just don't really want to pay that kind of money for it. Or maybe I just don't know how much getting apes installed should cost. I dunno.
I'd really like to find someone who I could pay to do this, without paying dealership prices. Does anyone have suggestions on how I could find someone? I need someone to give me some advice, help me pick out parts, and put it together for me. I would of course pay them for their time. The easy answer would be "ask a friend", but I'm pretty new to the area and I don't know very many people here. I'm sure there's some dude in a garage around here that would love to help. I just don't know how to find him.
Cruiser
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 234
Likes: 1
From: Saskatoon SK Canada!!
i dont have anyone i can suggest (im sure theres people that are local on the forums that would do it for some beer)
but my brother and I did it on my deluxe, and my my brother and I, i mean me.
its not a hard job to do, id honestly suggest doing it yourself
but my brother and I did it on my deluxe, and my my brother and I, i mean me.
its not a hard job to do, id honestly suggest doing it yourself
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 10,637
Likes: 1,246
From: Lake, Ms
It's not that hard of a job. Do your research on bars and read up on others installs. There's lots of info on that here in the forums. Changed mine out to 14's for $420 but I did all the work myself.
Good luck.
Good luck.
Intermediate
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 39
Likes: 2
From: Mid-Atlantic
I was in a similar position just a few years ago...best advice I got was to buy the Service Manual for your bike. It will help you learn most everything about your bike. This forum has Plenty of threads on "How To" with various brands and styles of Apes on different models, several good ones with pictures included. Just don't get in a rush. Can't beat the feeling of satisfaction of 'done it yourself' job 
Cruiser
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 174
Likes: 1
From: Harrisburg, PA
Apes
Buy a service manual. Do some research on these forums there are a lot of great posts to help you along. By your profile you have a Road King so you don't have the batwing fairing to deal with. Get some awesome bars and save on labor and do it yourself...
Road Captain
Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 687
Likes: 1
From: Texas
Find an independent Harley mechanic/shop (Indy). I used an Indy to put apes on my Ultra and saved 100's vs dealer prices. It gets a little more complex changes out cables (if needed) and Harley will have to re-charge the ABS system (if equipped).
Road Captain
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 520
Likes: 37
From: houston, tx
Road Kings should be a piece of cake. I did my FLHT yesterday installing my second handlebar selection and took 8hrs, installed 12" Vindikta Baggers. I have inside the fairing: an amp above a Sony radio, a radar detector, and the Biketronic module, installed new clutch cable and upper ABS brake hose, not to mention also removed the upper triple clamp to retension/regrease my steering neck bearings. (also ran the wires inside the bars) The first time I changed out my bars I went with Chubby 575's, and that was in a garage. I think it took 5hrs being careful and that was before the radio and not changing out the brake line but rerouting the clutch cable. (I swear that I must have spent 2hrs of that trying to pull the cables through the bars.)
Road King, I think shouldn't take more than 4hrs for a first time. Be sure to use some GOOD riser bushings! I have what I think might be Wild1 poly bushings and wish they were firmer... Also, for wire extensions just add the extensions yourself and stagger them so it's not a big clump. I have the NAMZ kit and wasn't impressed nor bothered using it for the 12".
Road King, I think shouldn't take more than 4hrs for a first time. Be sure to use some GOOD riser bushings! I have what I think might be Wild1 poly bushings and wish they were firmer... Also, for wire extensions just add the extensions yourself and stagger them so it's not a big clump. I have the NAMZ kit and wasn't impressed nor bothered using it for the 12".
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Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 7,101
Likes: 1,013
You might consider some 10" mini apes, you won't have so much work to do.
I did them on my road king, and used all the original cables and brake line.
I only had to extend the wires 6 inches, the worst part was soldering the wires, and even that was pretty easy.
No need to mess with a new clutch cable that way, I didn't even
disconnect it or the brake line, just let them hang wrapped in a cloth on the tank.
Wild One 10" minis were $199 free ship, add about $4 worth of wires, and a couple of evenings in the shop.
Add to that the one piece bar clamp if your bike doesn't have one,
It took me a little longer because I was adding new spots and turn signals too. Maybe 6 hours tops, taking your time.
It was a LOT easier than concealing the wiring on my 77 gold wing, a dozen wires inside a 7/8' bar was a real PITA!
Compared to that, the harley was a real piece of cake.
I see so many folks paying huge money for this, so if you have some skills , minimal tools,
and the manual, save yourself a ton of money.
It also a good way to get to know your bike better!
If you go higher than 10", plan on a new clutch cable.
I did them on my road king, and used all the original cables and brake line.
I only had to extend the wires 6 inches, the worst part was soldering the wires, and even that was pretty easy.
No need to mess with a new clutch cable that way, I didn't even
disconnect it or the brake line, just let them hang wrapped in a cloth on the tank.
Wild One 10" minis were $199 free ship, add about $4 worth of wires, and a couple of evenings in the shop.
Add to that the one piece bar clamp if your bike doesn't have one,
It took me a little longer because I was adding new spots and turn signals too. Maybe 6 hours tops, taking your time.
It was a LOT easier than concealing the wiring on my 77 gold wing, a dozen wires inside a 7/8' bar was a real PITA!
Compared to that, the harley was a real piece of cake.
I see so many folks paying huge money for this, so if you have some skills , minimal tools,
and the manual, save yourself a ton of money.
It also a good way to get to know your bike better!
If you go higher than 10", plan on a new clutch cable.
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Club Member
Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 468
Likes: 222
From: NorCal
I put 16-inch bars on my Road King recently, and it took a while. If you want to run the wiring through the bars, you are going to have to extend wiring and re-connect the plugs to the extended wiring. If you are confident in your ability to cut the wires, solder on extensions, pull them through the bars, and then solder the connectors back on to the correct wires, then it should not be too much of a challenge. Brake lines and clutch cable are the easy part. Before you get into it, consider the switches on the bars, and think about the wires that are connected to them. As others have said, a manual is worth it's weight in gold. The only way to learn to wrench on your ride is to dive in and do it.
Elite HDF Member
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 3,766
Likes: 16
From: Roseville, CA
You may also find some local forum recommendations and someone on Craigslist or Yelp with good recommendations.
Get the height you want, not the one that is easy. You can also buy complete, pre-wired kits with the clutch and brake cables already measured from vendors. I used Hill Country Customs.
Get the height you want, not the one that is easy. You can also buy complete, pre-wired kits with the clutch and brake cables already measured from vendors. I used Hill Country Customs.