I am gonna be riding from new york to florida and then back in late july. I was wondering what the most comfortable set up for the handle bars would be. Im about 5' 10" and having the stock bars is a little bit of a reach, my elbows are pretty close to locking postion. I thought of getting some mini apes, but i was wondering how long i would be able to hold that. Do you think just getting some pull back risers and keeping my stock bars would be better? I am basically looking to be sitting back and more relaxed rather then rigid and forward.

 

Havea buddy hold the bike upright for you so you can sit on it with your feet on the pegs where you'd normally ride. Just close your eyes... rest your hands in your lap... then after about a minute or so, reach up for your grips. Where your hands end up should be about what you'd want for your handlebars. When I did that, found out mine are about 2" too close and about 4" too low... I'll be gettin new ones I guess. Hope this helps some. Oh yeah, if you're coming south on 95 (or rt 1) let me know I'll ride with ya for a little ways

 

If you are satisified with the bars except for the extended reach issue, hwo about a set ofpullback risers? Least expensive, quickest option.

New bars would do it also.

Seat change is also an option, but at 5'10" you might not prefer tomove forward more than stock.

 

Yea I-95 all the way down haha. Ill be in touch.


Its hard to get someone around to hold the bike up, and its also hard to figure out what im really lookin for because im the only one with a harley in the area really. Are the mini apes comfortable?

 

I really like the mini apes. At 6'3", they are just below shoulder level for me. You can try out a Wide Glide at the dealership to see if they fit you, btu beware, you might just want a WG if you sit on one.

 

Being that you didn't metion the kind of bike you have, I offer a easy way to avoid being not os stretched out.

Try rolling your bars back an inch or two. I have the opposite problem you do and I actually rolled my stock FXD bars forward about 3-4 inchesand they are actually pretty comfy now.

 

oh yea haha...i got an 05 FXDI, i tried rolling the bars, but it did nothing for me. Still too much of a reach.

 

Here ya' go-
[IMG]local://upfiles/5489/4CFB7CDE5BA14C788578DCF95A5E07F8.jpg[/IMG]

 

dang.those bars look comfy !!! [sm=icon_rofl.gif]

 

Easier on the rear end if you have a Hardtail with those apes. Your arms would act as shock absorbers!