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I am looking to put apes on my RKC and have been searching through as many threads as I could find as well as checking out bikes all summer. I have settled on 14" Carlini gangsters. Where I am struggling is choosing between the 1.5 and 1.25 inch bars. I'm 6'1 185 soaking wet so I don't have a wide frame. The spread on the 1.5 is 41" vs. 38" on the 1.25. When I hold a pole up with both distances marked off the three inches feels considerably wider. I'm looking for some feedback because with dropping that kind of coin on the Carlini's I don't want to have any regrets. The 38" spread feels better but a lot of what I read says the 1.5 look so much better on the FL front end.
I had 18" Carlini Gangsters in the 1.25 on my Fatboy Lo, I can tell you after having them for 3 years, they were probably much better off and more comfortable than the wide ones. I am 6'2" and have fairly long arms, I am not sure I would have been able to deal with the extra 3 inches.
I wanted the 1.5 Carlinis for my RK , but just couldn't swing the amount of coin they cost then you have to buy a riser kit also and I don't think they fit under the nacelle. I found some LA Choppers 16" Tree Huggers they are 1.5 and fit under the nacelle , fully adjustable froward am backward and only cost 265.00. I don't have them installed yet but they are in the way.
I just got the Hill Country Customs Ape Hanger Kit so it comes with steel braided lines & wires. Also, the bars are bad ***. They are 1 in. thick at the base to fit in the stock clamps & the ends are 1 inch to fit stock grips & throttle but then the rest of the bars are 1 1/4 in. thick so they look a bit fatter. It is basically a complete package besides brake fluid to put the apes on. I don't have them yet, they are with Fed Ex currently, But i am super excited for them. I have looked around quite a bit and from what I have found they were the best for the price. I wasn't wanting to spend $800+ on bars & lines though. I was able to keep it under $550 total.
I will be posting a thread so I can look back at my mods and such. I don't have a ton right now but i have always liked having a build thread on other forums so I can look back at pictures and remember how things were originally. If you want to look through that in a couple days your welcome to.
thanks for the feedback so far. I am in love the curve of the gangster so I am not going to do it until I have the extra disposable cash. I am leaning toward the 1.25 like lawleywood said. Im just worried they might look to thin. Plus it would be nice not to drop another $140 on the riser for the 1.5. anybody have a pic of a road king and 1.25 bars ?
coolest thing about harley owners I found is it doesn't matter if your a rub or a 1% if you as them a legit question about their bike they are always willing to talk to you
This is about the best picture I have here at work to show the bars... not carlinis, but they are 1.25 inch bars. Another thing to keep in mind, 1.25 inch bars match the size of the crash bar. And I think they look great.
sizing is the interesting issue...... some companies call them ape hangers or monkey bars, so someones 16"s might not be anothers. So ask the vendor for measurements before you order...... I ran into this and almost ordered the wrong one's. I do dig the bars on hotrod and Harleys ride. The RK's look sick with the apes on them,,,,,,, real ganster.....
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Looking for Ape input
