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Ape Hangers wobble

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  #1  
Old 10-28-2014, 11:42 AM
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Default Ape Hangers wobble

Has anyone installed apes and found the wobble gets worse
I installed 14's and the bike seems to track worse on the highway and wobble
 
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Old 10-28-2014, 11:59 AM
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What's the rest of your setup?
 
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Old 10-28-2014, 12:00 PM
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Got wild one 14's on mine no difference.
 
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Old 10-28-2014, 12:05 PM
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Did you change the riser bushings when you went with the new bars? The stock rubber ones may not be up to the task with the additional leverage of the new bars.
 
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Old 10-28-2014, 12:13 PM
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Check the steering head bearing tightness.
 
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Old 10-28-2014, 12:26 PM
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It probably depends on the position of the bars.. I don't have apes on a bagger but on an EGC, I have Khromewerks pull backs.. They can make the bike dance if I get lazy and let my body movement feed into the bars.. I've also got a bobber with 12 inch apes and depending on the position (front to back) the bike can dance more in sweepers from body movement.
 
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Old 10-28-2014, 12:28 PM
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This. I actually had my 12" bars set at true vertical but found that it was not only a little uncomfortable, but that the bike wanted to take off with any movement of my arms. I pulled them back to a more natural position and problem solved.


Originally Posted by bwoltz
It probably depends on the position of the bars.. I don't have apes on a bagger but on an EGC, I have Khromewerks pull backs.. They can make the bike dance if I get lazy and let my body movement feed into the bars.. I've also got a bobber with 12 inch apes and depending on the position (front to back) the bike can dance more in sweepers from body movement.
 
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Old 10-28-2014, 01:19 PM
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As said above, bushing change is a must and check your steering head tightness. Mine with 16" apes on there handled great.....better than with the beach bars!! Good luck!!
 
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Old 10-28-2014, 02:06 PM
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Does it depend how fast your going? It could be as simple as you gripping the bars tight and tensioning your arms, as speed increases. To confirm if that is the problem try riding with ear plugs in, they reduce noise and tension. If the wobble is reduced, you have identified your problem.
 
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Old 10-28-2014, 02:12 PM
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Originally Posted by Hogpro
Check the steering head bearing tightness.
My thoughts exactly.
The OP did mention it had more wobble with the new bars so he must have had a wobble in the first place it just got worse with the new bars.
I am using the 14 inch apes on our wide glide with factory rubber busing and I do not have a wobble.
The new style bushing are better for handling.

It would help if we knew what bike and year of bike. With enough miles the head bearings need to be readjusted anyway.
 

Last edited by dirtdobber; 10-28-2014 at 02:15 PM.


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