The most radical ape-hangers ever!

**PrincessBandit** · 12th February 2008, 20:47

Originally Posted by scumdog

There is actually a giant man running behind the bike holding onto those great big chrome handles sticking out of the back of the bike,

Like those toddlers bikes which they can ride but have a big handle out the back for mum or dad to push along when their little legs get tired.
What I'd like to know is what happens to his body when he has to stop very very suddenly (cos he can't very very carefully) Arms and, ahem, legs spread like that surely must be asking for instant thoracic surgery or vasectomy on high impact?

Just read the tassles post. I thought they were the bike equivalent of fluffy dice...

**Motu** · 12th February 2008, 20:50

I've never ridden with those really high ones like in the picture - but a mate of mine had them on a bike back in the early '70's.We gave him so much stick he took them off before he got it going.....but he didn't take off the Model A rear tyre.But that's another topic that will get the nay sayers going....you can't ride a bike with a car tyre.

Apes weren't that bad to ride with,I didn't even find them a problem on gravel.I remember getting into some lurid front and rear wheel slides on a T'Bird with ape hangers....didn't seem to have any control problems.Worse thing that happened was clipping some girl standing on a street corner as I went around - your hands lean over a long way in corners....like right over the curb! But they really put a strain on the clamps.I cut a pair down into a nice pair of large pull backs.Oh no,that'll get them going again - welding handle bars!!

**AllanB** · 12th February 2008, 20:53

Welding handlebars.

I remember when I was about 12-14 there was a guy with a Triumph close buy that had apes that were made from welded chain then chromed.

Without a doubt he was very confident in his welding abilities.

**biggerbud** · 12th February 2008, 21:14

Even had a push bike when I was a kid with a banana seat and apes...LMAO.

Yeah,

I put apes on my honda 350 twin in the early days. Awsome, great, loved em!
Even on very long rides.

I also had apes on the Harley for a while.
Took them off for two reasons

1. flex. The front end wobble that every bike gets to some degree was amplified at the grips by the flex in the bars. Controlable but not a nice feeling.

2. numb fingers. Your hands are so high, on long rides, the blood drains from your hands. Apparently a common
problem I have now found out.

Would I use them again, yes on the right bike, Harley or old school chopper.

**Motu** · 12th February 2008, 21:28

Urban legend time - You know why ape hangers came into use on bikes? The outlaw riders would put a condom full of wine up their sleeve,with a tube coming out the collar of their jacket.They could drink while riding by putting the tube in their mouth and squeezing their arm.Remember,you heard it here first......

**Big Dave** · 12th February 2008, 22:05

A man reaches a certain age and no matter how fit he is there are bits that tend to flap in the breeze like a flag.

The higher the bars the worse it is.

DAMHIK.

**heyjoe** · 12th February 2008, 22:07

Reminds me of the apes on the raleigh chopper cycle.

I guess he turns by counter-steering pushing up! LOL

**Bruiser** · 12th February 2008, 22:19

Done over 50,000k on the wideglide with 14" apes, but then I'm a shortarse. Tried T's and straights before that, and couldn't get comfy.

The apes have given me great cornering confidence, provided long comfy rides and given none of the aches, pains or challenging ride issues mentioned in previous posts.

I guess whatever works, works, eh

**scumdog** · 12th February 2008, 22:40

Originally Posted by Drider87

whats the idea behind tassles too? Do they serve a purpose?

Wellllll.....n the old days cowboys had 'em on their jacket to wick the water away from their elbows when riding in the rain.

Not sure if it still is a valid purpose at a 100kph...

**biggerbud** · 12th February 2008, 23:35

Originally Posted by Dodger

How do you corner with these?

These bars are made for a specific purpose and do the job extremely well.

They were designed by a Mexican biker who found out that the police rarely shoot mexican bikers when they have their hands in the air, a symbolic gesture of submitting.
The police, being a bit slow on the uptake, have still not figured out that, yes, the mexican biker has his hands in the air but he is not stopping, so he gets away every time. ( It's very hard to ride any bike with your hands in the air when you don't have apes. )

Although on most of todays modern bikes speed is the simple answer to get away from the police, these larger cruiser style bikes can't match the speed of the police cruisers, so they have to use cunning tricks.

That's why they are called apes. Not because the rider looks like an ape but because it makes the police look like apes.