Man Rides with Apes

© Jerry “Friggs” Pryor

A man on his stylin' chopper at Bike Week.

You can't believe how they could be comfortable. How in the world can anyone safely maneuver a motorcycle with those things? Lots of bikers wonder the same thing, but others swear by ape hangers, those long handlebars that reach for the sky and, in some cases, require the rider to ride with his hands up above his head.

What’s up with those things?

It all depends on who you ask, but the one thing everyone riding with apes seems to agree on is style.

“Ape hangers are firstly about style,” says Lorenzo Perez, who has had apes on his Harley Sportster for 15 years.

“I like the look,” agrees Rob Taylor, whose Harley Wide-Glide came with moderate-height ape hangers as stock. “I’m contemplating getting higher ones.”

While not unanimous, the second consideration for many riders is – surprisingly – comfort.

“I'm six four and ride a small bike,” says Perez. “I need to stretch out, as I found the stock bars on my scooter to be cramped and would bump my knees in a tight turn. As far as tiring, not a problem. Wind blast actually supports some of my arm's weight. By the time I'm really ready to change positions, it's time to top off the tank anyway.”

Taylor concurs. “It’s better on my back. I’m not leaning forward. It keeps my back a little straighter that way.”

Go too high, however, and there can be issues including lack of control and stiff, tired arms. So why use them?

"They make a statement that isn't just about being different from the other guy," Perez explains. "They are a nod to our biker past, they denote a bit of the rebel that Biker Nation has always been part of and once a guy gets used to them, I can't imagine riding my bike any other way...except maybe Z bars," he says of the extreme ape hangers with sharp corners rather than curves.

They may be uncomfortable, but for some bikers, style rules over substance. And while it might sound cheesy, for some bikers, Ape Hangers will always be synonymous with freedom.