Hello I am new to site. Sorry to bring up an old question to you guys but I am looking for 16 inch apes for my 2003 fatboy. I just inherited it from my father because he passed away a mounth ago.
He did a lot of work to it and this is the only thing I want to change and olso a set of stainless braided cable. Thank you very much!

It's your bike, America is still the land of the free, but I have to ask you, why do you intend to mutilate your bike with ridiculous ape-hangers?

I mean, even Peter Fonda stated that his hands and arms went numb riding the Captain America bike. Apes are an anachronism from the 1960s. After all, do you actually think things like ape-hangers and spool hubs, over-length front ends and super wide rear tires enhance handling and safety?

Let me cite this example. If you look at my bike, Black Betty, you'll find that it mirrors a lot of the custom features of the "San Francisco" style. (My area has similar roads.) These are the same modifications that the Bay Area Angels use. It offers superior performance. If it's good enough for them...

Dadsfatboy,
Sorry to hear about your dad. At least he left you his pride and joy, that fatboy! You will need to see about the current laws in your area. Some states by law will only let you go so high on the apes. I am sure that if you google ape-hangers you will fine what you want. It is just a matter of what you want, you certainly don't want the local police to bother you every time you ride. Anyhow a big welcome to the forum and enjoy your dads bike.

Ride safe!

While true, I disagree with the concept. Just because something can be done doesn't mean it should be done. Running a spool hub because it makes your front end look cleaner is legal in most areas, but does it make a lick of sense?

For example, a few days ago I followed an Electra Glide out of the dealership parking lot. Obviously he had straight pipes. In truth, they were just for noise, they had not been purchased or tuned or even enhanced by the right download. The idiot just slapped an open exhaust on his bike.

At this dealership there is a frontage road, and then a stop sign before a entrance to a Class A highway, which leads to the slab. Both of us were turning left headed to the slab. When the traffic thinned, Mr. Noise climbed all over the throttle and pulled away--I also pulled out, but granny shifted my Sportster. Guess what?

While sounding like a rocket breaking orbit, the Electra Glide wasn't really moving at all. Just accelerating normally with a Sportster produced the same amount of actual distance covered. Mr. Noise really didn't accomplish a thing.

As for apes, I feel the same way. If you go to higher bars because you are taller or cramped that's understandable. But if you're trying to look like Peter Fonda and end up not being able to control your bike, then you're not cool. You're an organ donor. And Sportsters beat you through any curve.

Didn't the 1960s teach us anything about worthless modifications?

Welcome to the forum.
Sorry to hear about your pop.


I've ridden bikes with tall apes and I gotta say cool but not cool at the same time.
changing out the bars is more than just bars, you have to lengthen all the cables and brake lines and that can be a pain in the butt, and expensive.
If you have a buddy or someone that has the bars see if you can try it out, see if you still want em then.
I didn't like the strain on my shoulder, my bars I rest my weight on them, with the apes your arms are dangling and the bumps and vibrations start to do a number on the shoulder joint. I have a bad shoulder from a wreck years ago and the apes weren't good for me. Also on longer rides at speed, the wind will not be your friend.
You can always change them back if you don't like them, but the best way is to try it out first and then make the changes.

I did search term -16" high rise handle bars- and found some.
https://www.retrocycle.com/CustomChromeS ... ebars.html

Hope it helps.

Clearly, if you've been injured or "of a certain age" joint pain is a part of the game. For me it's a blend of fatigue, humidity, and sometimes later that day from just too many miles. Today my left delt and tri is sore from an aggresive work-out yesterday--and it's going to be about 95 to 100 degrees here later this afternoon.

No matter what the cause, a tired or distracted driver (on a bike or in a car) shouldn't be on the road. And most defintiely not in a pack of bikes riding in close formation.

And we've all seen it. A guy with huge apes and forward pegs he/she can barely reach. And what one guy does for style the next guy does to excess. I have nothing against customization and personalizing your bike. But there is a big difference between installing chrome, paint, better suspension and just bolting some goo-gaw on your bike for attention.

Apes became very popular here after the movie 'Easy Rider.' However, Fonda said his arms hurt every day. It's important to realize that the filming of the bikes while in motion averaged only 35 MPH, not highway speeds. They could stop often, and the bikes were props.

So...
You're welcome Newbie,
next time you're going to have to pay the dues before you get the info.

BTW, I still believe that this is America and bikers more than anyone should get all of the freedoms granted to them. If a 'biker' wants 20" high apes and has to wear his wife's spiked high heels to reach them, well, that his choice.

I also believe in being a mentor to younger guys. Apes hurt your arms and diminish control. I was witness to control issues first hand. A fellow club member got into a tank-slapper right along side of me when we were riding in a forty bike formation. He used a weirdo device of the late 1960s--a triple tree where the top mounts were of traditional length and the lower clamps longer. It kicked out the front end for that 'chopper look' without doing a high-boy to the front frame down-tubes. This completely destroys the rake and trail.

And I had a front seat to a near miss!

I have more money in my suspension than in my engine. Oh, and I just found out the Harley put Brembo brakes on some V-Rod models. I think Betty might benefit from a second front disc, and I'm going to see if these brake calipers fit a Dyna.

Sad part about it, the kids old man probably did the bike right and he's only going to junk it up.