earlytimz wrote on 05/25/10 at 19:38:20:

that is all well and good Mike,the thing is there must be 100 bobbers to one cafe racer,to me that makes it more unique,I'm sure there would be more if the Savage had a shorter wheelbase.
The Savage ,because of it's wheelbase,and frame makes it Ideal for a bobber. so more of them show up.no biggee, beauty is in the eye of the beholder,Cafe racers remind of my youth,I rode nothing but.
BTW Mike did you read the comments on that cafe job in rubber side down ? not one negitive comment, so I'm not a loner.

I think Mick just used the wrong name, Mike....

I like the looks of apes, but not really high ones.  I have never ridden with any.  I see alot more drag bars these days, on high, even really high, risers.  That's weird to me, but to each his own.

Earlytimz -- since you like your apes...  a guy I work with recently changed his buckhorn style to mini-apes (terms used loosely).  He said the counter-steering is different with the taller apes.  Can you comment on that?

Mick... Although the cafe bikes aren't as popular, you're never a loner brother! You've always got the rest of us savages here with you!! These bikes do make fine bobbers, exactly the reason I searched for one.

Mike.. I agree that apes definitely complete a bob job! Some bikes look really good with drag bars. My brother's night train is one of them. Very long bike, lowered down & more of a mean, hot rod look. Some of the savages on here look good with them too. I made a set for mine, just messing around one day. I may try a set if I get bored later on...
I think baby (can't bring myself to call you a hog) touched on something I also have issues with... What's up with the low drag bars on high risers? Looks goofy to me too, but like you said... !a cada uno su propio!
As far as the counter-steer goes, I think you actually have better leverage with higher bars. Your body weight isn't pushing down on them at all, so when you lean into one side of the bars you're not fighting against your other hand. So yes, I definitely think counter-steer is affected but not necessarily in a bad way.  I have noticed, at least on my savage, that it corners very easily. I chalk it up to a short wheelbase, skinny front tire, low seat & the high bars. I'm honestly impressed with the agility...

I'm glad we're cool, Kim. I will gladly accept those hugs as well as your opinions! I'm sorry to hear about your beloved bike being totaled out. I wasn't aware of it & I hope you're ok! Is that the reason for the pain pills? I wish you a speedy recovery if so!
A totaled bike and a vision sounds like the perfect recipe for a bobber to me!

Piglet it is!! LoL
I figured there was a story behind your name, but I can't imagine why you wouldn't want to me to call you "Cutie"??? LoL

I was wondering.. What exactly did your co-worker say about his new bars and how they affected his bike? What's he riding?

Geez, every board has the same question about apehangers...

Most "riders" install them for the look at me ain't I cool on my bagged out Road King garbage barge with 24 inch rise bars (and a wimpshield at least half the time). Same sad sack group of goof balls who decided a station wagon/van hybrid body on a 1 ton 4 wheel drive farm truck frame and running gear made a perfect in town status symbol grocery getter. The same idiots who make lowriders out of 1 ton duallies. Who think you need a 300 horsepower outboard and 500 pounds of glitter to go catch a fish (that they throw back).

That said, I ride a lifted 98 Savage with 15" apehangers. My wife rides a lowered 800 Intruder with 10" mini apes and a windshield (with lowers). Why? Comfort and control. I was hurt (bad) on a job site in Feb 2002, to the point I was told I'd never ride again. With the stock pullback bars I wouldn't have, the Savage is a tiny bike when you clear 6"2" and at the time 250+ pounds. A set of 13.5" apes got me back in the wind, then my stepson technically totalled out the Savage. A couple years of reworking the bike, a set of Intruder shocks (my Savage shocks are on Lisa's 800 Intruder), custom fit seat, 15" bars and the Savage is almost comfortable. It handles better than it ever did stock, much more responsive to steering inputs, stops better with more weight on the front end.

Are there drawbacks to higher bars? Sure, if I wear a daypack to carry what won't fit in the saddlebags, my metal plated left shoulder slows my entire arm down. If I hadn't drilled and pinned the riser caps to the bars they would change position with every bump. And my fuel economy went from 77mpg in town to around 36mpg, and 85mpg highway to 48mpg.

I do have a low bar height bike, the remnants of a 250 Scrambler (1963 CL 72). Before my left shoulder got destroyed in a crash it was getting the full cafe racer treatment. Now, who knows, I can't handle the bar position.

I also have a bike with 8 inch rise pullbacks, a very rough 1957 Panhead barhopper, rigid frame, kick only, with stock Knuckle springer. With the 4" Flanders dog bone risers the height is perfect, the width is insufficient. No biggie, bars are cheap ($40 or less, VTwin Mfg).

Ride what is comfortable for you. I wouldn't ride clubmans or clip-ons on a dare. Painful and no control.