What's up with ape hangers and highway pegs?

**Insanity_rules** · 4th September 2006, 10:06

Well I was stuck in the cage on my way home from work (as you do) and was day dreaming watching bikers go past, when this dude on a hog blew past with these huge ape hanger bars and WIDE highway pegs (That looked like they didn't have brakes or gear change on em). This guy looked like what I'd imagine a leather clad starfish to look like and his bike was about three quarters the width of my car (which is reasonably big by the way).

My question having only riden sporties is why? I mean he didn't look too stable and must have had the aero dynamics of a brick. OK it looked kinda cool but who out there would spend money to slow themselves down.

I like looking at Harleys don't get me wrong and I love the way they sound but I just don't get it. Do any of you?

**Wasp** · 4th September 2006, 10:13

Up on the hill the other weekend a guy on a hog came up with such high handle bars that he looked like one of those monkeys that jump through the air with their hands up (spider monkeys?). we quietly sniggered amog us at the foolish sight.

forget aerodynamics (although at 100km/h youd get sore after awhile) it looks down right uncomfortable.

**scumdog** · 4th September 2006, 10:15

It's all about S-T-Y-L-E, baby..

**Squeak the Rat** · 4th September 2006, 10:19

Why? Because they can......

**crashe** · 4th September 2006, 10:20

I reckon 'ape-hangers' are really cool.
Yeah I saw "Easy Rider" and that was it for me...

I also did wonder about how the arms being up there for long rides would be at the end of a long ride etc.
One day I got to ask a dude on his bike with these said 'ape-hanger's' on his bike as he pulled up beside me at a set of lights.

He said they are easy to hold and your arms get used to it and they dont get that tired.

There are some that are really high ones and some are really wide ones.
The ones that are really hard wouldn't be so great if you were wanting to lane split...

**Dooly** · 4th September 2006, 10:33

The starfish look always cracks me up.

**Motu** · 4th September 2006, 10:33

A lot of customising is about extremes,taking one point almost to a parody,ape hangers are one example - there are some sportsbikes customised into unriderbility too.

Mild apehangers are pretty cool to ride with,comfortable and handling is not a problem.Bizare is bizare,some people like the bizare....

**McJim** · 4th September 2006, 10:39

It's just horses for courses really - personal taste.

Personally if I spend a lot of money on a bike I'd want:

efficiency
economy
performance
handling

People who buy stuff engineered by Americans are willing to forego these attributes and pay a premium to boot. We are talking about a nation that can make a 5.4Litre engine that still only produces about 150bhp after all!

Europeans and Japs - the technologically enlightened - thats where I'll spend my money.

**pritch** · 4th September 2006, 10:44

Originally Posted by scumdog

It's all about S-T-Y-L-E, baby

There may be a fine line between "style" and posing, but apehangers are probably the wrong side of the line.

Then again that's just me being a believer in function over form rather than the other way around...

**Squeak the Rat** · 4th September 2006, 11:18

Originally Posted by Guy on bike with apehangers

Look at that guy on that F4 sports bike. How the hell can you ride with all your weight on your wrist? Fine for going faster than the speed limit, but what if you want to cruise around the waterfront or go perv outside the university? I just don't get it........

Each to their own I guess. Though I did see a guy with serious arm stretching ape-hangers get a wobble-on once on the motorway. Was a scary sight.....

**Finn** · 4th September 2006, 11:27

I don't know. Next time, why don't you ask one of them. I'm sure they'll offer a perfectly good explanation.

Sportsbikes aren't exactly super comfortable either.