What's up (Way up!) with ape hangers?

  What's the low-down on ape hangers?

You've wondered many times, haven't you, about those guys going down the street on motorcycles with handlebars that rise up over their heads. So have I. How can those things possibly be comfortable? How do you steer the bike with that kind of set-up? What is it about them that they find appealing?

Ape hangers, that is. That's what they're called, in case you aren't aware.

Ever eager to satisfy my curiousity, as well as yours if you share mine, I started asking around. And I went to a Harley online forum to see what people there could tell me. On the forum it turned out that someone else had already asked exactly the same question I was planning, so I copied down some of the responses. Here's what I found.

Cool factor

First off, the guys who have ape hangers like the way they look. No surprise there; you wouldn't put them on your bike if you thought they looked ugly, or even if you were indifferent to their look.

Says Ugly John on the forum, "I used to ride a hardtail chopper that had some radical apes on it. Just made the chopper look right for the style of chopper it was. My current ride is an Ultra and in my own personal opinion, apes would look out of place."

"Ape hangers came stock on my Wide Glide," says Rob Taylor, "and I do like them. I'm contemplating getting higher ones."

Adds Lorenzo Perez, "Ape hangers are not for everybody and I've seen them taken to some crazy extremes, but they make a statement that isn't just about being different from the other guy. They are a nod to our biker past, they denote a bit of the rebel that Biker Nation has always been part of, and once a guy gets used to them I can't imagine riding my bike any other way."

A choice for comfort

Perhaps more surprisingly to a lot of people, ape hangers are appreciated for the comfort they provide.

Says Lorenzo, "Form, at least in my case does not compromise function. I'm six four and ride a small bike, I NEED to stretch out, as I found the stock bars on my scooter to be cramped and would bump my knees in a tight turn."

"They're better on my back," says Rob. "I'm not leaning forward and that keeps my back a little straighter."

The higher you go, though, the more the situation changes. Says dblkick from the forum, "If you stay between 12" and 16" you can benefit from them. Try not to go above the shoulders. Apes keep your back straight and your head is a decent position for riding. So if your neck gets too stiff or you get that knot in your back between your shoulder blades, try apes."

Rhino, on the forum, says "I've got tall apes on my chopper. Puts my hands about level with my ears. They're really not comfortable and definitely have control issues. The bike is basicaly a bar hopper and street cruiser that doesn't see many miles so I can tolerate it. Certainly wouldn't have 'em on my hiway bike."

What about safety?

So what is it like trying to steer the bike with those high apes? Iffy seems to be the consensus.

"The ride does change the higher you go," says martin14 from the forum. "If your hands are above your heart, eventually they will fall asleep on a long ride, so you need to shake them once in a while. Apes make the bike more difficult at slow speeds, but better for cruising."

Also from the forum, ugocon adds, "Sure, they're not fit for riding fast in a winding mountain road, braking hard before each curve and dropping the bike on its side to run it: you need a lower handlebar and a more advanced position on the bike to do it! But going quietly, no hurry, slowing properly before hairpins.... it's a great ride and I enjoy it!"

RichardS, also from the forum, expresses his skepticism saying, "There are a LOT, and I mean a LOT, of 'weekend warriors' who want the iconic look of the colors-wearing patched member of whatever movie they saw that looks so 'cool' to them, and those posers do up their rides with these bars and will NEVER admit to anyone that they have a hard time negotiating the bike around town with those super high apes on the bike and they would have been much better off never installing them.

"They are INCREDIBLY hard to ride with! Lack of control, arm fatigue, and the kind of attention from the police that we often don't find pleasant. If they are right for YOU, hey, I respect that, absolutely! But try before you buy, and the high likelihood is, you won't buy!"

There are those who do buy, however, and have no regrets. We'll let ugocon sum up his take on ape hangers.

"I do love the look of the bike with the Ape Hanger: it really looks like........freedom!"

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