Have Mini Apes - wanting to get closer to stock

[Fatboyman05]

I have mini apes on my bike from the PO and while they are very comfortable on the highway, they are a little bit of a reach in parking lots for me. they wouldnt be for a taller rider, but I'm 5'8" and manuvering in a parking lot puts my arm at full reach.

So the concern I have if I just switch to stock bars is that I see many people who put on risers from 2 to 4 inches. Is the stock bars and risers the best choice OR are there other bars out there that are better?

What are your thoughts and what have you done that worked well for you?
(ps I have a 99 interstate)

[G-Man]

Flanders has tons of choices.

[Jess from VA]

I wonder what kind of risers you have on the mini apes?  IF they are 4", you could try to go to a very low riser without changing the bars.... then maybe loosen the riser clamps and bring them back an inch or two.    Just a thought before going to new bars.

If you go back to OE bars, you will want 4-5" risers.... nearly everyone does.

[Fatboyman05]

I just realized that I have risers that look more than stock. how do I measure them and what do the factory ones look like?

[Jess from VA]

Look at this old Tim Skelton link.  (There are a couple of inaccuracies, but mostly spot on)

http://www.timskelton.com/valkyrie/how_to/risers.htm

The first riser in the pic, is the stock riser (around 3 1/8")


What I'd be looking for is the shortest bargain riser I could find.  Like one inch. These are probably not a good choice, but for example.

http://www.motorcycle-superstore.com/1/5/83/13889/DPITEM/Street-Bike-Handlebar-Risers-Roland-Sands-Designs-Assault-Streetfighter-Risers.aspx?WT.ac=SLIsearch

[Fatboyman05]

Good news, I now know more than I did before your help.

I have stock risers.

bad news
the width of the bars at the bottom only clear the tank by 3/4" now. I would be very concerned that lower risers would make them too close and if not the bottom / flat part of the bar, the upright would also be a concern.........

[Jess from VA]

When I was trying to find a different set of bars looking at the SideRoadCycle Site (Flanders bars), I found it useful comparing measurements from their chart, instead of just trying to visualize a different set of bars on the bike and hoping for the best.  You must add your riser height&pullback to the bar's height&pullback for an accurate measurement to your hands.  Watch "center" measurement for tank clearance (and riser height).

What I did was sit on the bike and put my hands on the bars, then moved them to where I wanted them to be, then estimated the inches of different height, width and pullback from stock, then did the math and looked for bars of those measurements (with my same risers).  Choices were limited and about the best I found were bars for a Harley........... but I couldn't get just what I wanted, and gave up after trying to figure the hose and cable lengths.  I wanted some 2" narrower, 8" rise, close to the stock 14" pullback, and a flatter hand grip with straighter wrists.  I also looked at drag bars (with no riser) by Wild Chubby and Milwaukee Twins (which have the perfect straight grip).  And a flatter drag bar with really tall risers........... I don't think about it anymore.  LOL

The Valk measurements: (Interstate is 32 3/4" wide)

 Height    Width    Pullback    Center    Clamp Area    Factory #   
   6"              33"       14"            9"           3" x 5"            53100-MZ0-000

All measurements are made in normal riding position.

Height or Rise:  Total height measured in a level plane.

Pull Back:         Vertical lines from the furthest forward to rear in a level plane.

Center Width:   Straight flat section before the start of the bends.

Width:             Total overall tip to tip width, no grips or bar end weights.

New cables and new brake lines? When buying new bars, a rough formula to follow is to measure the increased heigth + 1/2 the increased pullback that the new bars will give you. This amount will be very close to how much additional cable and brake line that you may need. However, the best method is to fit the new bars to the motorcycle and then make the increased length determinations, if needed at all.

Additionally, make sure to allow room for your new bars to clear your gas tank on full lock turn. 



http://www.sideroadcycles.com/ImportedMotorcycles/ImportHandlebars/ImportHandlebars.html

http://www.sideroadcycles.com/AmericanMotorcycles/Handlebars/Stock_Bars.html

http://www.sideroadcycles.com/AmericanMotorcycles/Handlebars/AmericanHandlebars.html


Or, offer to swap your apes and longer hoses/cables to someone for their stock parts even trade.

[BudMan]

At Inzane last year I had Big BF put on a set of 6 inch risers that brought ny bars back to an excelent riding and handling position for me.  I too am 5'8" and the reach is just right.  Increase in height and pull back did not require new cables, but did require some slight re routing on the right side.  I remember him "saying" to me that that was the most riser you could add without new cables.

(If you're out there reading this Big BF, thanks for having patience with someone that finger-spells as slowly as I do!)   

[Fatboyman05]

so I can compare my bars I just measured them and here are the numbers

Center based on the image above for measuring - 13 inches (with the outer bar to outer bar being 16 1/2 inches)
9" is stock
Width - 42 inches including grips, the actual bars may be a little less. I dont know.
33" is stock
Rise - at least 16 and closer to 17 inches
6" is stock
Pullback - 12 to 13 inches
14" is stock
I guess I qill have to stop calling them mini apes...

[Jess from VA]

Yeah, I'd be changing those too (immediately).

If you take your measurements, and then look around the Flanders bars, you will likely find your bars (or very close) on there.  Unless you want to go back to stock or close to it, it would be nice if you could find a compromise bar (between the two) that let you keep the same lines, even if a little long in places (you just don't want to be catching things on them riding by  LOL).