I wouldn't go over 10" if you are doing alot of long distance. If you're mostly going local with ocassional long rides anything goes,lol. I say this based on the 10" apes on my 2001. No problems ever on long trips. In fact loved the 10" apes on it. Except for the shitty job the dealer did putting them on. The handle bar grommets covering the hole where the bars go in the housing on Ultras was opened to much and I couldn't do anything to keep the grommets in for to long.

Ape hanger are excellent and I found gave me more precision handling. Sucked when I had to push bike as the lower the bars are the better it is for pushing, for me anyways. And why I am keeping my 2012 bars stock...for now.

Hell, I thought bicycles were the only thing you had to push.lol

For starters I have to push bike backwards out of the garage everytime I go for a ride. I find it easier with the lower stock bars then the 10"apes. My bagger is about 940 pounds or so.

Yeah 10 inch rise is probably shoulder height, and might be a better riding position.