12" PY apes installed

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Mar 29, 2014 | 07:30 PM

bikehunter

Thread Starter

Tourer

Joined: Jun 2009

Posts: 331

Likes: 9

From: Hampshire UK

12" PY apes installed

I have just replaced my Harley bars for the Paul Yaffe bars and must say they are the dogs!
What did surprise me was the clutch only just fitted as did the throttle and brake.
It was the electric cable through the bars that required another 4" of cable!
Not seen this on this site but I'm sure that a lot of bikes are different form one another.

Last edited by bikehunter; Apr 1, 2014 at 12:21 PM.

Mar 29, 2014 | 08:22 PM

dochawken

Road Master

Joined: May 2009

Posts: 992

Likes: 2

From: TN

PY apes install

How difficult? Can the average guy do it? What resources did you use? I really like the py apes..just reluctant to tackle it myself? I am still trying to decide between the 10 or 12".

Mar 29, 2014 | 08:54 PM

scooper321

Road Warrior

Joined: May 2012

Posts: 1,388

Likes: 132

From: Baltimore, MD

Search the Touring Forums for "ape" or "ape install". Tons of threads to read on "how to". Best thing is to talk to the company from whom you're buying the bars. They can usually tell you how much longer (if any) of a cable or brake line you'll need. Also, search YouTube. Lots of how to videos there. Even if not your exact model, most of the touring bikes are the same (except for the fairing) so when you watch one install, you'll know what you're doing. Oh, and get the shop manual for your bike. Critical for making sure you do the little things right...

Mar 29, 2014 | 09:10 PM

sgriffin

Intermediate

Joined: Apr 2013

Posts: 40

Likes: 0

From: Atoka, TN

for the guys who are reluctant to try the install themselves, some companies sell the kits with the wires already installed in the bars so it makes it plug and play. these also already come with all of the controls installed which makes it an easy install. Try hill customs, they have great service and customer service.

Mar 29, 2014 | 09:23 PM

Brykwil

Tourer

Joined: Aug 2013

Posts: 467

Likes: 0

From: Ca

Quote:

Originally Posted by sgriffin

True for $$$$$. All you need is time PATIENCES and this forum! If you have all that it's easy!

Mar 30, 2014 | 02:31 AM

bikehunter

Thread Starter

Tourer

Joined: Jun 2009

Posts: 331

Likes: 9

From: Hampshire UK

Quote:

Originally Posted by dochawken

How difficult? Can the average guy do it? What resources did you use? I really like the py apes..just reluctant to tackle it myself? I am still trying to decide between the 10 or 12".

Its not a bad job, just be prepared to fork out for cables if you need them. Mostly it just needs re routing, my clutch cable is just border line on right hand lock, be careful of having too much over stock as it has to go somewhere.
What I did was to allow a week for the work and take time looking at every part. Throttle, brake hose (although that was a bit longer to start with as it was braided s/s) were fine. Clutch will have to routed the other side of the crash bar for now.
If you need to lengthen the wiring, what I did was to cut away the outer sleeve but left 4" near the cluster as this has to fit the hole in the bars . measured the new amount needed and cut 12 lengths of new wire, mine were 4, any suitable length can be pushed around the headlight afterwards. Then cut the wires on the cluster at different positions so you can solder and heat shrink in different places so the cable is the same thickness along the length. Add a new piece of heat shrink to the loom and your done.
Feeding it through the bars can be done by dropping a small strong chain down and tying to that. Guide the cable through carefully so not to snap any wires and your done! Bit of lube helps push it through like hand soap or o ring lube.
Have fun!
Forgot an important bit, you will need a manual to explain how to remove the connectors, very easy but make sure you have taken pics and have recorded colors to numbers on the plug.

Last edited by bikehunter; Mar 30, 2014 at 02:59 AM. Reason: added