A few years back I went to Mancuso looking around and they had a 2004 FXDWG they were selling that had some Ape Hangers on it. I really liked the look of the bike. I have never rode a bike with Ape hangers, but i am Ape-curious. The bike had over 70k miles on it at the time, so whomever had it rode it a lot.

What I am looking at is getting a Burly 16" Ape hanger kit. I think if I keep the gig line straight with the triple tree, it will bring the grip height up and back enough that I will be in the riding position I want. I am not sure. My goal is to be able to keep my back straight without extending my arms too much. Don't get me wrong, the current riding position is as comfortable as I have ever had, but I am trying to make it better.

Have any of you had 16" apes? Did you like them? Any suggestions are welcomed.

hey Kickstand, i added a mini ape to my shovelhead. Can't remember exactly, but think it was 14". I went with a 1 1/4 diameter bar so I could run wires inside. The standard bar was too wide but the reach seems to be the same. I like it. Got it thru J & P.

Nice look Dlowery .

You're gonna love them Kickstand. I had 12" on my '01 Ultra and it really made it a much more enjoyable ride. Keeping them stock....for now.

I rode a bike with apes on it, my preferences are lower bars- more control - less fatigue on the shoulders. Apes look cool.

Thanks dlowry, I have looked at J&P's stuff. I think Burly sells a complete kit, which I have considered getting. The apes look nice on your bike. Was it hard running your wires through the bars?




I remember the bars you put on that bike. They were the black oldskool ones if I remember correctly?


My main motivation is comfort, no so much cool. It ok for now, but I would really like ot be able to st up straight without streetching my arms out. If i have a TBag on the back, I want to be able to lean heavy against it and kick my feet up on the highway pegs (soon to be installed)... man... I can feel teh comfort just thinking about it.

and as a bonus... look cool t oo.

Wasn't too bad running the wires, one reason I went with the 1 1/2" bars, the other, I liked the massive look of the bigger ones. I taped them and sprayed silicone down the hole, they slid right thru. Now the other side of the story. Got it all done, everything worked fine, went for several rides, and when I was coming home on my bumpy dirt road, one of the wires shorted out in the bar on the right side. There was lots of smoke. I had pinched one of them when I was installing new grips. I went into my junction box in the headlight housing and determined it was the turn signal. Everything else seemed ok. Now I have no right turn, Bought a new throttle cable a while back and when I install it, I will run some new wiring. That is the only problem about running wires inside your bars, probably melted the wires to the inside surface.

KS -IMHO, you'd best be served by test riding a bike with the higher bars before converting your bike.
I have a bad shoulder and the higher bars stress it out and make it very uncomfortable. It's my right shoulder.

Thats sucks. My first inclination is to run the wires outside, like they are now. It would be cleaner running the wires internally, especially if the bars are longer. I appreciate you sharing the info.



A friend of mine had an FXR with wideglide forks and 16" apes on it. He said his right shoulder hurt after riding for a while. I think I would have to ride it for a while to know the long distance impact. It would be cool if they sold some temporary extensions so you could test it before you commit to the project. I have considered just getting 4" risers and see the impact. That would be close to 14" apes. I could do that with just adjusting the brake line I think. The wiring is a close call.

I just don't know any place I could test ride something long enough to know if the 16" apes would be painful.

Yeah, riding your bike shouldn't be painful. Maybe the local dealership has a demo you can sit on. I know right away if it's gonna hurt. Up to a certain angle is ok but once I elevate my arm over my shoulder it gets sore quickly. Since its my right arm I can't really rest it for too long because of the throttle.

Correction on my bar height. I measured them over the weekend and they are more like 10", still, I like them and are comfortable for my day trips.