The wife has a nightster and because she is height challenged she found the stock bars to be very uncomfortable to the point she really didnt enjoy riding the bike due to the pain it caused.

Well I bought her the 12 and a half inch mini apes hoping that this might help for a xmas present. It has been a while since then but finally we got the handlebars put on over the weekend.

What a difference they make to the bike. It is as if it is a different bike altogether. She cant get rid of the grin on her face, the change has been that dramatic. I will admit to taking the bike for a short test ride myself and will personally say that even I had lots of fun on it. It is a joy to ride now.

I have heard people say before how much the bike changes and becomes comfortable after changing bars .. I now know what they mean.

The handling of the bike went from a struggle to a breeze. The wife rode the bike home from getting the bars changed and with me in the car following, I could see for myself the change in  her riding. We have to go up along a windy road, MacQuarrie Pass, to get home and I could see by the way she attacked the curves and road in general that she was now enjoying the ride.

To anyone who has a nightster, I seriously recommend that you do the bar change, the bike is so much better to ride.

RKC,

That's good to hear. I just stuck 4.5" risers on my XL standard and found that made a great difference to the seating position, more laid back and more comfortable. Would be good to know what else needed changing to make the mini-apes fitt, ie wiring, cables etc?

Would also be good to see some pics of the mod.

I know with my 4.5 inch risers all I had to do to make everything fit was relocate the speedo, it was fairly easy, ie not wiring or cable changes.

Sorry for not updating the specs as to what was required.

The only changes required were the standard cables (clutch, brake, accelerator), no changes/extensions were required to the switch housing cables plenty of room with stock cabling

As to what lengths used on cables replaced, I am not sure but if you look in the 08 parts catalogue, you can see the nightster picture and all the changes made to it at the start of the sportster section, the cables listed there are the ones used.

Braided cables were used. The wife was bit concerned initially on how they would look, but once she saw them she liked it.

I will get pics as soon as possible and post up .. the bike really looks shit hot with the bars

 

Loulou may be happy but I think I will be lucky to see her now, she will be out riding all the time

Glad She's happy mate. She will get much more enjoyment out of riding the little beast.

She'll be haunting your mirrors now

cheers

Mick

Yep would like to see some pice, interestingly I'm happy with the position of the stock bars, it's the bloody hard ride I need to change, saw wot sportytrace has on hers & will be looking at a change before to long.

 

Glad to hear SWMBO is now getting some enjoyment out of her ride

Yup pics please so I can see the difference

Toxic,

You talk about a hard ride and I agree. The wife is very light so every now and then my fat arse is allowed to sit on it to help soften the shockies up a bit.

The amazing thing with the handle bar change is that it actually improved the ride as well. That is one thing the wifey commented on after the first ride. It has actually made the ride softer and she doesnt feel the same jarring that she did with the stock bars. I put that down to the change in sitting position, different dynamics through the body now.

Mick and Joe from Big Joe Choppers did the change for us

Pics will be up by the end of the week

Cool m8 thanks, might have to come for a visit for a look see, anything that make it ride better must be worth more investergation me thinks.

 

 

Jilli, Jilli, Jilli, my poor confused old dear, have you never heard of She Who Must Be Obeyed

otherwise known as the minister for finance or the war department or the handbrake

Toxic,

More than happy for you to come and visit, we are actually located at Robertson

Even, and I am not speaking for the wife so things may change, have a ride to see the difference

Hey RKC, hey Lou Lou,
Glad the new bars are working for you! Nothing worse than having a new bike that you want to ride but don't cause it hurts!!! My aunt has a 883L same age as my bike with 400kms on the clock, and won't ride it because it bucks too much. Prefers her Virago 

I like my stock bars, which I was suprised about - when I got the bike I thought that would be one of the first things I'd change. But I'm guessing I might have a slightly longer reach than LouLou. There are times when I think another 1" back towards me would be great, give me a bit more bend at the elbows for pushing thru those twisties. Been looking at some pull back risers, just can't find what I'm looking for yet.

As an aside, I've got a set of 290mm (11.5") black Hagon shocks 2810s sitting on my shelf set up for an EFI Sporty that would suit anyone heavier than 75kg. They have 10 click adjustable damping and 3 step preload. Were on my bike for 1000km. Just ended up too firm for me. They have the 16/20 kg/cm (90/110lb/in) progressively wound springs. Equivalent to Progressive 418s. PM me if interested. I should list them in the classifieds I guess.

Sportytrace

You would have a longer reach than the wife, but even I found the ride so much improved and I am 6'2"

totally different bike

tried looking for black risers as well, but couldnt find any. I enquired about one set of risers and got told they would work but the speedo angle changes, not so laid back, so be careful about that if you go down that path

Yep, another good option RT.

Yep, the cable clamps to the risers themselves was the way I had been planning to go... the eyebrow will most likely leave my bike eventually, just gotta figure out what to do with that mess of wiring it is hiding first. Chrome doesn't scare me... I've got a great relationship with my local powdercoater

 

ps Sorry to hijack your thread RKC!

No hijack at all sportytrace

this is how things should go ..one idea/suggestion and then it grows into whatever....and its all relevant