There are many things to take into consideration when deciding on the right ape hanger for your Harley Davidson Road King. You might not know what you need, or want, so we’ve created this article to help make it easier. In this article, we’ll answer some common questions about ape hangers and share our top 5 best picks of the bunch!
Table of Contents
Our Top 3 Ape Hangers for Harley-Davidson
What are ape hangers and why should I buy them?
Ape hangers are typically characterized by their elongated shape and sweeping curves which provide an excellent rider feel while also increasing control. They’re used on choppers or other custom motorcycles and can be found in two different widths: regular apes (with the “ape” part) or low-profile apes (the “ape” part). The main difference is that with low profile apes there’s less space between grips – if you have wider hands then we recommend trying out one set of narrow apes over another pair because they’ll fit into your hand better! Read more about it below to learn why ape hangers might work for you, how to install them correctly, and what our top five best recommendations are!
1. XMT-MOTO 16″Ape Hanger HandleBar for Harley-Davidson Touring Models
Your Harley is incomplete without this. The XMT-MOTO Ape Hanger HandleBar adds some street cred to your touring bike with aggressive styling and a touch of attitude. It doesn’t matter if you’re cruising the open road, coasting down to old town for lunch, or letting off a little steam on an abandoned industrial site: You give it what it’s asking for any time and anywhere although we recommend you reconsider that last one. (As long as you have some clearance) keep your head straight up in the air when riding high and mighty on our meticulously crafted handlebar.
Lightweight, chrome-plated metal and finishing bolts assemble quickly with no hassle by following the easy instructions required – just remember to tighten those bolts.
Cons
Other things to note about these are how smoothly they install without any issues (make sure you read all of the instructions first) and that although there were some difficulties pulling wires through it wasn’t too bad!
2. WeiSen 1-1/4″ Handle Bars Compatible with Harley Road Glide/Road King
Easily the most comfortable bars on the market, WeiSen offers comfort and style without sacrificing strength. With no drilling required for installation and triple chrome plating to protect it for years of use, these handlebars are a must-have! The 10-1/2 inch center width is perfect for Harley riders with lots of grip space no matter what model bike you ride.
3. Dominator Industries 1-1/4 Inch Bars Ape Hanger 2017-2021 Harley Road King
Choosing the right bars for your bike can often be a daunting task. You should consider both the physical and aesthetic qualities of a set of handlebars to find what best meets your needs. Let Dominator Industries help you make that choice! With their 1-1/4 Inch Bars, you have all the benefits of our quality products with an added 16-inch rise for increased comfort on long rides. They offer Compatible Stock Cables and Control so that you don’t have to struggle without these essential pieces when installing your new bars. Additionally, they know from experience the importance of decent wiring installation in order to avoid unwanted interference with stock cables or other parts on your Harley Road King (2017-2021).
4. Hill Country Customs 1-1/4″ Chrome 16″ Ape Hanger Kit for Harley Road king
This kit will turn your Harley into a much more comfortable cruiser. The Hill Country 1-1/4″ Chrome 16″ Ape Hanger Kit for Harley Road king, includes the most complete chrome ape hanger handlebars and stainless braided cables and brake lines. It’s designed to fit 1996-2006 Harley Road King and Road Glide models without Cruise Control and without ABS brakes, with a height of 16 inches total width 36 inches center width 10.5 inches pullback 7.5 inches -everything you need to make an awesome transformation on your bike!
5. Kemimoto 14″ Rise Ape Hangers for Harley Davidson Road King
For those of you who are looking to improve the ride quality for your motorcycle or even for something as simple as a musclebike, this product is perfect! It’s made of high-quality iron and comes with drilled wiring holes which will generally result in a very good working condition and easy installation. Furthermore, it has an attractive rust-resistant coating that will prevent any scratches from happening. The Kemimoto 14″ Rise Ape Hangers have 37″ wide hanging bars that offer comfortability when sitting on the bike, resulting in less strain on your hips, hands, and shoulders while riding. Due to demand for these amazing products given their affordable price point, make sure you get yours before they run out!
How to install ape hangers on a Harley Davidson Road King
Installing ape hangers is a fairly straightforward process, but if you have any doubts or questions feel free to reach out and ask us! As long as your motorcycle has the necessary clearance for installation (ape hangers are usually used on choppers) then it’s easy. Just take off all the old grips from your handlebars by unscrewing them – there might be some adhesive residue so use gloves when installing new grips because that can get pretty sticky! After you’re done with that just attach those beautiful apes onto their new home and tighten down accordingly – this should work unless they don’t fit properly.
What to look for when buying ape hangers?
There are many factors to consider before making your purchase, but for the bare minimum, you’ll want an inch of clearance between the grips and handlebars. For a bike that’s got more space then we recommend going with regular apes – if it doesn’t have enough room then go with low profile ones. The width should also be taken into consideration, as well as how much space there is on either side of the chassis bars (the part where the grip meets throttle). That way they don’t impede movement or feel too close together!
QUALITY
It might seem like a no-brainer when buying ape hangers but quality always comes first. You can spend less on something cheap in hopes of saving money at some point down the line but this will cost you more in the long run. If you buy a low-quality product then it’ll break faster and need to be replaced sooner, not to mention that they can’t withstand as much weight or use which means that you’re paying for something less sturdy than what’s actually needed.
PRICE
The price isn’t tied to quality because you can find a good product at any price. You might have to spend a little more but in the end, it’ll be worth it for something that will last longer and provide better performance!
SIZE
A wide set of ape hangers is good for the rider. It gives them more control over the bike. Tall apes are not as good because when your hands are high, you will have less control of the bike. But if you have short handlebars that are close to your body, then it’s easy to ride your bike and take full control of it.
WARRANTY
Just like with any other product, a warranty is helpful. You can buy something without one and hope for the best but it might break or don’t work properly in which case you’ll be left out of luck! Ape hangers are especially important because they’re used to control your bike so if there’s anything wrong then that could have some major consequences on how well you ride.
It’s not even worth spending money on cheap products – just spend more upfront and get something good that will last longer and provide better performance.
FAQ
Are ape hangers comfortable?
Yes, as long as your hands are in a comfortable position. If you have wider hands then we recommend trying out one set of narrow apes over another pair because they’ll fit into your hand better!
If there’s anything wrong with the ape hangers or if something breaks down – that could cause some major consequences on how well you ride.
Do I need an expert to install, or I can do it myself?
Ape hangers are very easy to install, so if you’re confident enough then by all means give it a shot! You can also find installation instructions on YouTube – just search “ape hanger installation” or something similar like that.
Are the ape hangers safe for my ride?
Absolutely – as long as the ape hangers are installed properly. There’s not likely to be any problems with them and at worst, you’ll have a slight issue with how they feel; but that can happen even if they’ve bought from an expert! Always make sure that your hands don’t touch the handlebars when riding.
Conclusion
As you can see, there are many things to take into consideration when deciding on the right ape hangers for your Harley Davidson Road King. We hope this guide has been helpful and made it easier for you! If you’re still unsure about what you need or want then we’d love to help – just reach out at any time with questions, tips, or feedback that might be relevant. Have a great day!