 Original
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Joined: Nov 2007
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Complete Newb
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OP
Complete Newb
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Hi
I´ve got a original American that i like to make much nicer. Should I put on a single seat and a ape bar and put some tape ( correct word) on the pipes? Whats the easiest way for a poor guy?
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Re: Original
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Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 3,611 Likes: 1
Loquacious
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Loquacious
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 3,611 Likes: 1 |
The bars and header wrap would be cheap enough to do. But for the bars, you would probably need to rework the brake line, wires, and throtle cable. Solo seat could probably be done cheap enough depending what your after.
Check out the photo galleries for some ideas.
Stewart
.......
"It's outside your field of expertise."
"Poppycock normally is."
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Re: Original
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Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 18,825
"Lighten up, Francis."
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"Lighten up, Francis."
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 18,825 |
I think you can go with buckhorns without changing cables. Several people have done that here and I think newspeedmaster.com sells them.
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Re: Original
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Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 23,217 Likes: 61
Fe Butt
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Fe Butt
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 23,217 Likes: 61 |
I have 4 1/2" risers with America bars using all the stock America cables and break line. It's about the limit for the throttle cables though,hope that gives you some idea on the amount of slack you have. (had to run the throttle cables on the other side of the frame to gain length)
It is a fairly easy job to remove the seat cover and shave the foam down with an electric bread knife then replace the cover. Mark the cover for alignment purposes when reinstalling.
The "tape" is header heat wrap and has it's pluses and minuses.
I learned all I need to know about life by killing smart people and eating their brains.
Eat right ,Exercise ,Stay fit, Die Anyway!
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Re: Original
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Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 5,537
Check Pants
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Check Pants
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HD Hertitage bars work with stock cables. $15 on ebay for mine. I'm a cheapskate...
Al
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Re: Original
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Joined: May 2006
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Adjunct
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Adjunct
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MY VOTE? BUCKHORNS. APE HANGERS RENDER THE BIKE USELESS. IT ALSO MAKES THE BIKE VERY UNSTABLE.
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Re: Original
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Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 5,537
Check Pants
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Check Pants
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 5,537 |
Quote:
MY VOTE? BUCKHORNS. APE HANGERS RENDER THE BIKE USELESS. IT ALSO MAKES THE BIKE VERY UNSTABLE.
Definitely personal preference. Try what you want. I had buckhorns on my old 650 Special and my wrists couldn't take that angle. My mini-apes keep my wrists straight, no cable change, cheap - winner (my wrists are just about shoulder level). The bars are slightly narrower than the stock America bars, no handling issues.
I put them on, rode for a while, made sure they were comfortable than did the in-bar wiring, so they are on for good.
Al
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Re: Original
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Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 291
Adjunct
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Adjunct
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Quote:
MY VOTE? BUCKHORNS. APE HANGERS RENDER THE BIKE USELESS. IT ALSO MAKES THE BIKE VERY UNSTABLE.
How do you figure that apes render the bike useless? Unstable as well? One mans opinion...
I have BA risers with 14 inch apes on my SM and the ride is just awesome! Much more comfortable than leaning forward with stock bars. As for stability-if you have riding experience and are comfortable on a bike, you will have NO ISSUES! But, the custom cables are EXPENSIVE. about 200 for cables, 45 for bars. I also recommend the black wrap versus white on the exhaust. what ever you choose, remember its YOUR bike and only YOU have to like it!
Just my 2 cents worth...good luck.
Best looking black girl around!
2004 SM-spokes, solo seat, lowered rear, 14 in apes, bobber rear fender, no front fender. Flat black all the way around.
Jeff
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Re: Original
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Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 5,537
Check Pants
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Check Pants
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Al
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Re: Original
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Joined: Jan 2006
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Monkey Butt
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Monkey Butt
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Posts: 7,693 Likes: 22 |
I think he lives in Sweden, shipping may be a bit high on that item.
I try to aggravate one person a day. Today may be your day.
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Re: Original
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Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 23,217 Likes: 61
Fe Butt
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Fe Butt
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 23,217 Likes: 61 |
Quote:
Quote:
MY VOTE? BUCKHORNS. APE HANGERS RENDER THE BIKE USELESS. IT ALSO MAKES THE BIKE VERY UNSTABLE.
How do you figure that apes render the bike useless? Unstable as well? One mans opinion...
I have BA risers with 14 inch apes on my SM and the ride is just awesome! Much more comfortable than leaning forward with stock bars. As for stability-if you have riding experience and are comfortable on a bike, you will have NO ISSUES! But, the custom cables are EXPENSIVE. about 200 for cables, 45 for bars. I also recommend the black wrap versus white on the exhaust. what ever you choose, remember its YOUR bike and only YOU have to like it!
Just my 2 cents worth...good luck.
I ride with a couple HD friends of mine with apes on their bikes and I tell you they ride the twisties so that it's hard to keep up. Only thing that slows them down is the primary cases on those dinosaurs tend to scrape at times. And I am talking APEs too big guys with their hands at about the top of their heads. Illegal here but they seem very stable and in total control. Not my cup of tea nor would I want to ride like that but they seem to do just fine.
I learned all I need to know about life by killing smart people and eating their brains.
Eat right ,Exercise ,Stay fit, Die Anyway!
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Re: Original
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Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 5,537
Check Pants
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Check Pants
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 5,537 |
Quote:
I think he lives in Sweden, shipping may be a bit high on that item.
Hmm, yeah, that would be an issue. Bet he doesn't have too many manufacturer options in Sweden though.
Al
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Re: Original
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Joined: Mar 2006
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Adjunct
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Adjunct
Joined: Mar 2006
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Check out the classifieds section someone has buckhorns up for sale.
You may say I'm a dreamer but I'm not the only one
John Lennon
Imagine
Anyone who stops learning is old, whether at twenty or eighty, anyone who keeps learning stays young, the greatest thing in life is to keep your mind young.
Henry Ford
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Re: Original
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Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 1,284
Learned Hand
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Learned Hand
Joined: Mar 2005
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Quote:
MY VOTE? BUCKHORNS. APE HANGERS RENDER THE BIKE USELESS. IT ALSO MAKES THE BIKE VERY UNSTABLE.
My 18" apes only render the rider unstable. When I'm riding with my hands already up there, I'm always fighting the urge to step up on to the seat.
Strangler
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Re: Original
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Adjunct
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Re: Original
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Joined: Feb 2005
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Fe Butt
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Fe Butt
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 20,096 Likes: 2 |
Quote:
Apes rule
Uh huh! I remember that movie alright, Sheldon!
(1968) Director: Franklin J. Schaffner
starring: Charlton Heston, Roddy McDowell, Kim Hunter, Maurice Evans, James Whitmore.
Other than THAT, youse can keep those dumb lookin' handlebars all fur yourself, Sheldon me boy! 
(yep! thare be nothin' "smarter" in all the world than movin' your control input area[read: handgrips] even further from your tire's contact patch, ALL in the name of "lookin' cool") 
Last edited by Dwight; 11/23/2007 11:22 PM.
Yep! Just like a good Single Malt Scotch, you might call me "an acquired taste" TOO.(among the many OTHER things you may care to call me, of course)
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Re: Original
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Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 5,537
Check Pants
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Check Pants
Joined: Jan 2005
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******, dirty Apes! Quote:
Quote:
Apes rule
Uh huh! I remember that movie alright, Sheldon!
(1968) Director: Franklin J. Schaffner
starring: Charlton Heston, Roddy McDowell, Kim Hunter, Maurice Evans, James Whitmore.
Other than THAT, youse can keep those dumb lookin' handlebars all fur yourself, Sheldon me boy!
(yep! thare be nothin' "smarter" in all the world than movin' your control input area[read: handgrips] even further from your tire's contact patch, ALL in the name of "lookin' cool")
Al
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Re: Original
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Joined: Aug 2006
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Adjunct
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Adjunct
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maybe I should have said apes kick ******.....the further you move the handlebars upward, the more sensitive they are to input. Thats why as dog said above the guy's he knows go thru the twisties pretty hard with them.
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Re: Original
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Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 2,531
Loquacious
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Loquacious
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 2,531 |
Quote:
Hi
I´ve got a original American that i like to make much nicer. Should I put on a single seat and a ape bar and put some tape ( correct word) on the pipes? Whats the easiest way for a poor guy?
Just remove pillion , and as for bars...drag bars or better yet, club-mans look pretty sporty and no cable changes.. 
Lots of ideas in the picture galleries..go for it 
Last edited by hill8586; 11/24/2007 8:16 AM.
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Original
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Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 807
3/4 Throttle
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3/4 Throttle
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 807 |
Hi, Ola, and welcome. You've asked a question that you're going to get a million and one different answers to.  As people have said, look through the photogallery for more ideas that you can see. My only advice would be to sit down and plan, not just your next modification/change but the 3 or 4 after that. Try to create a mental image of how you want your bike to look in 5 years time or so. It means not spending money on mods that don't fit into the big picture but it might be that 2 mods can be done at the same time, saving you time and/or money in the long run. Hope this helps. Post pictures when it's done. Neill PS The title of this thread is 'original'; just because no-one's done it before doesn't mean that you shouldn't do it if you like the idea. Do it. If it doesn't work then at least you tried. If it does work, then you've got something original to be proud of.
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Re: Original
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Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 20,096 Likes: 2
Fe Butt
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Fe Butt
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 20,096 Likes: 2 |
Quote:
maybe I should have said apes kick ******.....the further you move the handlebars upward, the more sensitive they are to input. Thats why as dog said above the guy's he knows go thru the twisties pretty hard with them.
Sorry Sheldon, but your logic is a might flawed here. The farther you move your handlebars upward the LESS sensitive your tire is to your input. Why do you think racing motorcycles and sportbikes have clip-on handlebars?
And one day, when I'm in PA visiting my friend Ian, I hope I have my '02 BA with me, which still has the OEM bars on it and which have always reminded me a bit of Flander's flattrack handlebars(in my estimation, still the best lookin' and most comfortable handlebars ever invented for a motorcycle), AND I'd surely like to witness anyone of these "expert" H-D riders with apehanger pass my a$$ mid-turn on some twisty mountain road.(which BTW, ain't never gonna happen...just ask anybody who came to the Southwest Triumph Fest last May)
(and BTW, that's with those LOUSY stock rear shocks that have absolutely no REBOUND adjustment still unfortunately attached to the back of my BA....BOING BOING, WALLOW WALLOW)
Last edited by Dwight; 11/24/2007 12:48 PM.
Yep! Just like a good Single Malt Scotch, you might call me "an acquired taste" TOO.(among the many OTHER things you may care to call me, of course)
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Re: Original
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Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 23,217 Likes: 61
Fe Butt
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Fe Butt
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 23,217 Likes: 61 |
Quote:
PS The title of this thread is 'original'; just because no-one's done it before doesn't mean that you shouldn't do it if you like the idea. Do it. If it doesn't work then at least you tried. If it does work, then you've got something original to be proud of.
NO! Everyone must do the same mods and CONFORM! No different mods! If you see everyone else do it then it's OK. 
I learned all I need to know about life by killing smart people and eating their brains.
Eat right ,Exercise ,Stay fit, Die Anyway!
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Re: Original
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Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 153
Adjunct
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Adjunct
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Sorry D....I'm speaking from personal experience. Yea, I own a HD...mini apes...the works. Maybe by the time your making your visit to PA I'll have the rebuild done on the lowrider.
We'll take a ride...
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Re: Original
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Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 23,217 Likes: 61
Fe Butt
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Fe Butt
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 23,217 Likes: 61 |
I'm always up for a ride as long as there are no icicles hanging from my beard! Let me know and we will go for a ride with ya. Maybe we can get Tom to join us as well.
I learned all I need to know about life by killing smart people and eating their brains.
Eat right ,Exercise ,Stay fit, Die Anyway!
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Re: Original
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Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 6,821
Bar Shake
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Bar Shake
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Posts: 6,821 |
Contra todo mal, mezcal; contra todo bien, también
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Re: Original
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Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 23,217 Likes: 61
Fe Butt
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Fe Butt
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I never said pass you Dwight I said hard to keep up with. Those clowns I am talking about drag pipes and primary in almost every curve. I also never said apes were for performance but once used to them these guys fly up the back roads where I live. I am talking roads where you don't get much above 45 to 50 most of the time anyway because they are too curvy and most of the curves are on hills or banked the wrong way. Same guys have quite a bit of money wrapped up in their bikes. Only thing left that is HD is the tins and frame. Delcron cases,S&S jugs and wheels, Wiseco pistons, dual plug heads (can't remember who makes those anymore STD?),2 barrel S&S carbs,etc... the list goes on. I still keep up but it isn't easy.
I learned all I need to know about life by killing smart people and eating their brains.
Eat right ,Exercise ,Stay fit, Die Anyway!
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Re: Original
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Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 6,821
Bar Shake
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Bar Shake
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The guys I know with HDs (in various configuration) drag their metal pretty easily. I've ridden behind some in the twisties, watching the sparks fly while I'm a loooooooong way from dragging anything. I have to stay way back so I can have some fun without running up on them.
When I'm in front, I invariably end up waiting for them to catch up.
These are experienced riders too, not noobs.
And from what I've seen, the lower the bike and/or the higher the bars; the slower it is in the turns.
Contra todo mal, mezcal; contra todo bien, también
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Re: Original
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Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 23,217 Likes: 61
Fe Butt
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Fe Butt
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 23,217 Likes: 61 |
Quote:
And from what I've seen, the lower the bike and/or the higher the bars; the slower it is in the turns.
That is true. I am talking guys with open primaries too and drag pipes but not lowered. Trust me any faster and any one of us would be in the woods. It's not so much the scraping as the amount of speed one can carry through a corner and keep the tire stuck to the pavement. What they scrape is a little guard they put there so they don't actually hit the clutch on the ground.
I learned all I need to know about life by killing smart people and eating their brains.
Eat right ,Exercise ,Stay fit, Die Anyway!
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Re: Original
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Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 153
Adjunct
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Adjunct
Joined: Aug 2006
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wow...just glad I also own a bonneville so I can fit in with you guys around here. < insert the biggest eyeroll you've ever seen here >
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Re: Original
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Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 5,537
Check Pants
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Check Pants
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 5,537 |
Funny thing is, the guy who started the thread seems to have checked out...
Al
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Re: Original
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Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 291
Adjunct
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Adjunct
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 291 |
Quote:
Quote:
MY VOTE? BUCKHORNS. APE HANGERS RENDER THE BIKE USELESS. IT ALSO MAKES THE BIKE VERY UNSTABLE.
My 18" apes only render the rider unstable. When I'm riding with my hands already up there, I'm always fighting the urge to step up on to the seat.
LOVE IT!!! THAT THE FUNNIEST S*(* i HAVE HEARD IN FOREVER!
Best looking black girl around!
2004 SM-spokes, solo seat, lowered rear, 14 in apes, bobber rear fender, no front fender. Flat black all the way around.
Jeff
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Re: Original
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Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 2
Complete Newb
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OP
Complete Newb
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 2 |
Im back. Been to Egypt for a week. Thanks for all. I will look on the photos and decied. Anyone know if someone ever built an chopper with the Hickley motor?
Ola " Who lives in Sweden"
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Re: Original
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Joined: Feb 2007
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Adjunct
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Adjunct
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Have a look at this months Back Street Heroes,
December 2007.
Nice radical chop with the Bonny engine as its base. Looks really good.
Cheers
Chris
All the best
Chris
Do it today - tommorrow it may be illegal.
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Re: Original
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Joined: May 2006
Posts: 120
Adjunct
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Adjunct
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i've been reading along with some of the comments. the ape hangers are useless to me. i still feel they more for a look than control. they do limit most riders. you can get really good at riding with almost any of the handle bars. it's personal preference. i'd rather not try the dragon with apes. drag bars would be the best.
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Re: Original
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Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 23,217 Likes: 61
Fe Butt
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Fe Butt
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 23,217 Likes: 61 |
Yes quite a few choppers have been built using the our engines. They are selling hardtail frames now and semi-rolling chassis.
I learned all I need to know about life by killing smart people and eating their brains.
Eat right ,Exercise ,Stay fit, Die Anyway!
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Re: Original
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Joined: May 2007
Posts: 19
Complete Newb
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Complete Newb
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where? how many do you have already?
been there, done that
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Re: Original
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Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 23,217 Likes: 61
Fe Butt
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Fe Butt
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 23,217 Likes: 61 |
stopped ignoring you just to see what you had to say. Mistake since you are just some punk hiding behind an alias that doesn't have the stones to face me. Back on my ignore list blab away,didn't bother me before won't bother me now.Jealousy is ugly.
I learned all I need to know about life by killing smart people and eating their brains.
Eat right ,Exercise ,Stay fit, Die Anyway!
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Re: Original
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Joined: May 2007
Posts: 46
Greenhorn
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Greenhorn
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just by asking two simple questions?
Last edited by the_mutt33; 11/27/2007 1:18 AM.
million mile club member.
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Re: Original
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Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 3,210
Loquacious
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Loquacious
Joined: Jun 2007
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Oh?....I see what you guys did....you took Ians user name and changed it slightly....ahahahah...thats sooo funny...hahaha....
This way it.....hahahaa....haha...oh hold on....i cant stop laughing...hahaha...what..hah...i wanted..haha..to say..hahhaha...
WAIT...NO...YOU GUYS ARE LAME
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