The truth about Ape Hangers: srkcycles

[@smorgasgeorge]

I recently built a bike just like this, but with a few small modifications to make the ride more enjoyable: the front brake lever is underneath the seat, the horn button is inside of the exhaust pipe, and the tachometer is actually an old chicken mcnugget inside the glove box of my grandmother's 1994 Cadillac Deville.

[@johnspringer9451]

smorgasgeorge Dude that's funny as hell!

[@stephengross9441]

smorgasgeorge damn! That had me laughing for a while.

[@jx7410]

Oem chicken nugget or aftermarket?

[@mathieudager4234]

Just reading this a year later and it just cracked me up 😂

[@cycloopnl]

😂🤣👍

[@rfrmobile4314]

I'm 73 and have been on different bikes....that is the dumbest bike in the world. Before you sell it please set it up to factory stock. That is not a safe bike at all.

[@Srkcycles]

lol yeah

[@Srkcycles]

Wyatt Black the bike sold the way it sits , other than we change the jockey shift to stock, but the buyer asked about getting the jockey shift.

[@wyattblack7437]

Srkcycles nice stay in the wind man all your bike needs wyatt at anything custom

[@rayb7414]

I'm 70 been riding 57 years on 4 continents I know bike geometry and you are correct, form over function may work on cars and trucks but motorbikes are in a different world. Their entire existence requires stability and balance to get the most out of a machine and you keep you alive. Like many foolish lookatme junk fools add to a decent vehicle ape hangers, tassels, extended front ends simply put one closer to the ditch, ll while the pretence of cool deludes the poser.

[@sightblack]

I agree. This is just silly in a "I have more money than sense" kind of way.

[@mathieuclement8011]

when Srkcycles puts full gear on to test ride a bike at 15 mph in what is basically a parking lot, you know the bike wants to kill you.

[@rwiiiw7335]

Did the bike come with a free coffin?

[@KevinGarcia-jv6sk]

RW III W lmfao

[@maraudostrogoth747]

No. You still have to pay for the coffin.

[@TheNostorian]

Look at it this way. The bike had built in theft protection.

[@sneakyweaselchannel7135]

The original owner of this bike or who ever did this, is definitely a stereotyped Harley owner. The guy that makes fun of metric bikes, but never rides his and owes almost twenty grand on the bike. Meanwhile it sits in the garage, because it is such a major pain in the ass to ride. Iv'e met plenty of people that acted like this.

[@Srkcycles]

+Ryan's Channel I feel like you know him lol

[@lastactionmedic5677]

SneakyWeasel Channel furthest is goes it to the bar, 3 miles away on weekends he's not watching his kids cause he's divorced 😂👍

[@skiduplightup6962]

also guaranteed to be all highway miles

[@townhall05446]

More cred in your response than anything else here.

[@southsidecrew101]

Bars are stupid. So are metric bikes😎😎

[@unreal2023]

my main reason for riding my bike is that immediately release of stress and utter relaxation! This bike would cause more stress then it would relieve haha! like he said having the APE bars without the shifter or the shifter without the bars would make it a lot more practical! This is just to much lol!

[@theoriginal11charlie]

Wow I've seen some dumb set ups but that takes the cake.

[@ricklaine6583]

Totally agree,,,"MORONIC"!!

[@yermama69]

Super uncomfortable and super dangerous, but atleast all the mouth breathers will think youre cool..

[@townhall05446]

Fun to impress people with low IQ's.

[@skiduplightup6962]

that bike must be fun in traffic

[@townhall05446]

It's lots of fun being surrounded by laughter.

[@TheDarkLordsofHell]

If they moved the clutch to the left foot, it would be a lot better. This is the first time I've seen the clutch on the suicide shifter before. Looks like a massive pain in the ass.

[@Srkcycles]

it was

[@TonyMontana-es4zt]

TheDarkLordsofHell agreed, if he could control the clutch with his foot, he would b able to use it on turns and have his left hand on the bars and wouldnt stall the engine.. foot clutch = alot more control... the dude he got the bike from probably went the cheap and easy way out on suicide shift.. im just gna assume that one with foot clutch wouldve been more expensive and harder to install.. i can hear the guy now, "what difference does it make where the clutch is? besides, this ones way cheaper!".. 😂

[@youtubechangedmyname]

TheDarkLordsofHell Ya thats not even Suicide shift without the foot clutch ...just a stupid setup for a poser

[@townhall05446]

Replace the hand throttle with a gas pedal next.

[@The_Downstairs_Attic]

TheDarkLordsofHell Agreed. I've never seen a suicide shifter with a hand operated clutch. Might as well just left it on the handlebars.

[@scotthausam6445]

if there's one thing about the bike i like; it's the exhaust note.

[@TENN12]

This isn't "The Truth about Ape Hangers". This is "What happens when your Ape Hangers are too tall for you and you install a suicide shifter on the same bike."

[@jimgustafson7256]

If your apehangers are above your shoulders in Florida, they're not legal! I've ridden with 18 inch bars and I'm almost at my reach limit. (I'm 6') If your arms aren't bent, you're riding dangerously.

[@Seriousnogames]

Looking at those bars they are on backwards you idiot

[@Scratchingforcash]

As a rider myself, I was always under the impression that you needed 2 hands to ride any bike? I’m not sure what you meant by that, are there 1-handed riders?

[@cbkeith2241]

Sorry, that is a stupid bike. Even if you ride all the time, you would fuck up when you need full control. I don't get why it was done. "Just sayin" Anti theft maybe?

[@Jajeweet]

Coming to an emergency stop on this thing would be an absolute nightmare.

[@dblu7119]

Fucking, not impressed.

[@sheikhyaboooty]

That`s right up there with a 5 foot swing arm on a Busa when it comes to ruining a perfectly good bike.

[@GeorgeCee]

Unless that bike gets converted back to a traditional format, it's dangerous and a pain in the ass to operate. Some people just do stupid shit to their bikes. Imagine trying to dodge a deer in the road with thing. Imagine being on a high speed corner on a mountain and having to downshift at 75mph while there are semi's next to you. Be careful riding that thing. It's dangerous for sure.

[@PeterDad60]

It's for cruising slowly. That's the entire point of the set up. It allows you to operate motorcycle heavy machinery at a safe road speed without getting board! Too good for the likes of you with your closed mind and lack of riding experience with this type of set up. Also by operating this machine it will build up your body , you get stronger by riding. Yea, it's not a NYC or any large City bike. It's a down home easy cruising on empty roads back road type of bike. All you need is 25-30-35-40 mph to go anywhere. I ride that way on my 2015 FLHP Road King Police. Yes on highway's I'm forced to go 45-5-55-60-65-70 mph but on such a road there is almost no shifting. No stop signs, no red lights and no intersections. Just straight roads with a few curves.

[@GeorgeCee]

OK. dude. It's just not for me and I have a hard time understanding it. I've been riding for 31 years in the USA and Europe. I'm a good rider. you'll never see me with Ape Hangers because I never know where my ride will take me and I need to be ready for anything. Good luck and be safe. :)

[@DouEditz]

PeterDad60 bored*

[@maddog7999]

PeterDad60 thats the dumbest shit ive read today.....

[@MrRuger1977]

Its not for anyone that actually rides, Its taking a nice machine and then completely destroying the handling because you think it makes you look cool. Its straight up stupid.

[@alp3771]

Had a buddy who lost his left leg, years before, when his bike was broadsided by a red light runner. His bike after he lost the leg had a Shifter almost exactly like the one shown (he couldn't shift with his prosthetic foot), he had beach bars on his bike so the reach was much shorter and more natural. I do have apes on my bike BUT they are much shorter than those on this bike, below the level of my shoulders while seated. I have tried riding a bike with "skyscraper" bars that raised my hands well above shoulder height. My shoulders and arms fell asleep almost immediately and like the poster said control was severely compromised. Can you learn to control and ride a bike like this? Sure, but never as effectively as a bike with more ergonomic controls.

[@bagotoetags801]

Don't know how you acquired that bike but it needs to be rearranged. The clutch should not be on the suicide shifter and should be a left foot clutch so you can shift right; clutch in by left foot and reach down to shift with left hand thereby always returning your left hand to the handlebars. As of now you are trying to maneuver the bike with only one right hand. It is not the apes that are the problem but the location of your clutch. Also, apes are great except yours are way to high for your arms. They should not be so high that you have to reach for them.

[@j.ramone4116]

shifter looks shit and no doubt shit to use.who'd spend money to fuck their bike up?

[@lcdubs7847]

That is seriously the stupidest modifications someone could do to their bike.

[@slurmitshighlyaddictive5641]

does the blood in your hands drain out since your arms are elevated like that? shouldnt your hands be getting tingly after like 10 minutes of that?

[@BillyJoe1305]

Slurm its highly addictive Yes, properly set up ape hangers are below your heart when you sit up. I'm not a fan but they do make for comfortable highway riding, taller ones just make an experience unpleasant. Either way though, I agree with him that I wouldn't want a jockey shifter on either. I don't think I've ever seen them on bikes with the old tank shifters or stock jockey shifters either. I suspect there's a reason they took so long to come about.

[@Srkcycles]

Slurm its highly addictive it does, I'm completely uncomfortable after 3 minutes lol

[@townhall05446]

You don't understand. Someone else pointed out that it builds up your body like a piece of exercise equipment. I think I'd rather ride a Bowflex down the street.

[@RichSPK]

I'm guessing it might pinch a nerve, too.

[@DoubleLLL]

I love riding motorcycles because of how easy it is. Shifting gears with the smallest movement of my fingers and toes. Driving cars feels so clunky because of how much you move your arms and left leg. This takes away all that is satisfying about motorcycles. Each to their own though. I still wanna have a try of this setup haha.

[@txrick4879]

I am a cable maker and brake line maker and am always warnig my costomers about the ride they will get. They dont care.Then others come to shorten ther cables.Live and learn i guess.

[@bulletben5837]

Those bars are Tim Alan Wild Hogs cringe worthy.

[@redneckwithajeep5001]

bullet ben wild hogs was less cringe worthy than those bars

[@batman1989keaton]

Man that looks super uncomfortable. I'm with you those bars are way too high.

[@DrFrankn8ter]

Depending on your state it is illegal to have the handlebars a certain distance above the seat. In Washington state it's 30 inches above the seat and I do know that it is higher than most other states.

[@nbgaf1040]

It's a gorgeous bike but with those apes.....wth. How do you steer that thing. Somebody had too much money and spent too much time customizing rather than riding.... accident waiting to happen on such a nice bike

[@luckyfawker2646]

Needs an auto clutch w the suicide shift. Makes life easy and becides that set up is for a disabled guy on a trike.

[@dontjh8448]

He kept smacking his mouth 😤

[@Blueseas4Joe]

Yup might as well change out the shifter if that thing is to sell.

[@crispernator]

You are a brave man i wouldnt even think about riding something with those tool bars on what a waste of a good bike i bet the guy who sold it was glad to get rid of it .

[@stacys3857]

The trick is to ride it Segway-style and shift by banging the lever with your knee. You should only be using the clutch from a stop anyway.

[@lexian5602]

You had me laughing until you mentioned giant segway. Now I'm jelly.

[@fredir3596]

7'12"! Exile Cycles sells an "automatic" clutch. I think its centrifugal and it allows you to sit at idle in first gear. What cam are you using? The sound is perfect.

[@billm4262]

The person that did this to that bike deserves to be punched in the face.

[@t77snapshot]

lol

[@joelarson1733]

It was their bike and they must have liked it this way. Riding is about personal freedom

[@fitzyholden1036]

Often wondered if ape hangers are similar to working under a car where after a while your hands and arms go numb from a lack of circulation. Each to their own but not a mod I'd do.

[@mk-vgkfan]

Clearly you should have named this video anything other than "The truth about Ape Hangers". A more appropriate title should have been, "Trying to ride a bike with oversized ape hangers and a ridiculous suicide shifter". I own a Harley with 16" apes that are safe, appropriately sized for my physical frame, and way more comfortable than standard bars that cause me to bend forward too far. Apes can be safe, fun, choice that can make your bike look awesome if that's your choice.

[@Wildmilly]

mike k- Your bike is still less safe and handles worse than stock, but hey at least it's a bit more comfortable and I imagine your riding a cruiser around 10 under the speed limit anyways like all of the riders down here

[@townhall05446]

He didn't indicate that he went with a weird clutch and shifter setup for 'looks', which means he can keep his hands on the grips at all times, another key to controlling the bike properly.

[@Thth-xo7cn]

Eli S, how can you say his bike is "less safe and handles worse than stock" without proving you are an idiot? Do you have his exact frame or know exactly what position Mike physically handles the bike best at? If not then your opinion is worthless.

[@johnpotter4210]

Eli S What a D bag comment! Who gives a fuck what u think?!?!

[@johnpotter4210]

David Johnson thats why its called a cruser you fuck tard!

[@MrJimmy1437]

You deserve a medal . You have taken a Harley which is a very awkward bike and made it 90 percent more awkward and hard to handle. Would you write something about the mental defects in your brain that would cause a person to do this! My goodness those pieces of shit are bad enough with footboards, forward controls etc with out adding that suicide shifter and high bars!

[@wadeguidry6675]

Ridiculous. What a way to make a dangerous hobby more dangerous.

[@eagle94haslanded]

I like how you default to calling it "driving" instead of "riding" because of how much work goes into it.

[@saliston]

crap like that needs to be made illegal. riding that bike you are a danger to yourself and everyone around you.

[@zososldier]

some states have bar height limits. I think where I live, they can't go over the riders eyes. Don't crae about apes so I never looked to deep

[@jerrynapier1669]

I love apes but 16 inches is my comfort limit...and adding a suicide shift to it for an everday ride is out of the question for me...hats off to you for gearing up and running it that far brother be safe and God bless

[@GeorgeCee]

If the Ape Hangers are such a great up upgrade, then why don't any of the major manufacturers offer them on their models? When will Harley Davidson sell a model with factory Ape Hangers?

[@rcrites]

Street bob

[@jamesknopps4583]

They do

[@neowolfe]

high ball

[@cg-zp5qt]

Look up victory high ball I own one its the most comfortable bike I've ever been on

[@2001redz28]

Harley's been doing it for at least a decade

[@MikesGarageReviews]

That shouldn't even be street legal

[@MegaRyan123456]

it seems pretty much un rideable ! I would think someone was a poser ! if they came past on one

[@landonjones8819]

Why would anyone make a bike so difficult and uncomfortable to ride? All in the name of “looking cool”?

[@iwasadeum]

Glad to know everything I've always thought about ape hangers is completely true 😂

[@space8053]

Exactly. They are awesome.

[@twister4489]

@@space8053 Yup I love ‘em. All these salty guys whining about something they have never ridden….

[@TraderDan58]

I hate that bike. Either convert it back to foot shift or put a lower set of apes on it. Its FKN stupid and dangerous like it is. Someone will get killed. Ive owned/ridden over 50 different bikes, even a few suicide or jocky shifters (this one is actually a jockey shifter not a suicide). I know what Im talking about. Someone will die... Period. But hey they can say they looked cool dying!!!!

[@arthurmchugh5184]

taking a marginal bike,and making it ridiculous.

[@rustypotatos]

That ending with these boots Eric church… wow dog that really is an awesome song and thank you man.

[@stevemejia3887]

I would drop that thing so quick lol

[@gohjohan]

Steve Mejia me too

[@114bob]

Apes are great for airing armpits, but suicide shift is called that for a reason 🤣

[@phantommonkey26]

What is the point of this bike? Smh

[@itzFYEB]

dying, dying is the point

[@TheBabyDerp]

if you have to ask, it's not for you.

[@qvo3426]

Starting at 4:44 wouldn't be so tough if you were seven twelve ( 8feet) . I like the videos Paisano keep up the good work. Do you ride alot? You should vlog....

[@sneeriousgrinch1311]

haha 7ft 12

[@jayy7618]

sneerious grinch lol someone else caught that... saying 8ft taller is overrated. Not to mention, I can't think of a single 8 foot tall human being alive now.

[@davidschomer9655]

That's like saying 13 feet and 11/12th

[@TheQueenSpider]

I almost killed my self riding a low rider bicycle with ape hangers. This motorcycle will kill you with a quickness

[@doubleaaaron]

If I had this bike I'd wear a t-shirt (sleeveless of course) that said I'm with stupid with an arrow pointing at me.

[@E2Moto]

I'm planning to put ape hangers on my first cruiser with a height not higher than my shoulder. I've sat on one that has it, and it felt comfortable for cruising. That will also make it easier for me to mount a windshield between the bars.

[@anthonyg6221]

i ride that bike right to the junkyard where it belongs

[@dozergyp]

The only thing good about that bike is the sound, Get if you have death wish As a dealer you replace them

[@kaelinmcintyre226]

"I'm surprised i haven't wrecked the bike already"

[@Mogwizzle]

What needs to be done is move the clutch to the front brake location and join the front and rear brakes together. That config is sketchy too but more practical than clutch on the shifter.

[@wickedleeloopy2115]

🙄 bike belongs to someone from the blue oyster bar in leather chaps , hat with moustache that's into bondage with his mates . bring out the gimp indeed.....makes me want a metric bike just to stay STRAIGHT. 👀 wtf were they thinking with ape hangers. 🤔 mmm gay

[@willispeacock4019]

A quick point I didn't see anybody else make. That is a jockey shifter. A suicide shifter has no linkage and typically requires a foot clutch.

[@1nkr3dibl3]

7ft 12 had me laughing bro. I love your videos. I like how you use your platform for the Lord. Ride on!

[@rsc68er]

whats a 2011 fatboy like that worth in the USA ? i am in Austalia

[@eddieetheridge3601]

I Have Drag Bars On My Bike

[@marcuse.9522]

What is the brand and model of those double air intakes on this bike. cant find them anywhere.. does anybody know? ?

[@joshyoung1281]

for the same guy with chrome skulls plastered on his bike and rockstar wheels on his truck.

[@Srkcycles]

+Josh Young haha

[@Chromosome1919]

That bike is a drag to ride. I would change the handle bars remove that silly suicide shifter back to normal.

[@1980dandeb]

stupid dangerous, poor risk to reward ratio.

[@PBMS123]

"I'm reaching as far as I possible can to get to this thing" And that right there is dangerous.

[@FCTANK]

that is a crime against motorcycles!!

[@BobTheHatKing]

Man seeing you take off in that thing just looked like you were gonna crash

[@dennisschell5543]

It is IDIOTIC....

[@MohdAminudin]

it is possible to add normal hand clutch on the bar without removing the suicide shifter?

[@chuttawoolco946]

It screams I'm with Stupid

[@chrisrenek7699]

YOUR A FKN IDIOT

[@bigbay1159]

@@chrisrenek7699 yes...yes YOU are...

[@johntomlinson9876]

I think if you'd like to keep the set up put a foot clutch on it so you can still have both hands on the bar when your stopped and starting or you could sell it I'd love to have that set up I have 20 inch apes on mine and I love them

[@vicosdivicos]

stupid dangerous bike

[@dand7130]

Can someone explain the purpose of ape hangers? And the suicide shifter?

[@Let_the_feast_begin]

Dan D Well, for me, ape hangers are just more relaxed and also, it's à different type of bike to ride with just that modification. That being said, these ones are too high, unless you are very tall, and that shifter is really dangerous... just my opinion of course.

[@donovanatwood7672]

Dan D the original reason apes existed were in the world wars when the enemy would run cables across the road to kill messenger bikes. So they discovered if they put apes above the head of the rider, then the cable would hit the bars and slide over the rider leaving them alive instead of in two pieces. Now a days they are a fashion statement. If they are done right with the right height and such they can be comfortable but if not they are silly.

[@dand7130]

Ahhh interesting. Thanks for the history/trivia.

[@leathers970]

Dan D not suicide clutch

[@redazi1]

No good

[@seanhawkins1344]

I made a suicide shifter for my vtx 1300c, my bars are nowhere near that high. It starts conversations and draws so much attention....like I said I made mine, pretty much looks like what is on that bike, but I designed it and made it from scratch. It took some getting used to, but is easy now.

[@wrzl1675]

What a stupid looking bike.

[@billbright1755]

I think a six inch diameter Crome 1/4 welded chain link steering wheel would work better.

[@road_king_dude]

Everyone who is complaining about this setup, grow some hair on your balls. This bike looks, operates & by default turns it's rider into a stone cold badass. I have 3 bikes that are just like this one. no joke. and I can ride em both at the same time. ya know why?? Cuz I'm a stone cold badass.

[@cbkeith2241]

Reinvent the wheel then. I'm dying to see what you come up with. WTF!?

[@lastactionmedic5677]

Road Glider keep telling yourself that guy

[@MrCheaterpipe]

Road Glider ok post a video of you performing an emergency stop with this same setup since your such a stone cold badass

[@TheNostorian]

Road Glider dude that bike looks like your mom never paid you any attention and now you try to get it from anywhere else. you think everybody looks at you cause you look cool. but people look at you cuase they think you look stupid.

[@donkeythong4081]

Road Glider you scare me for all the wrong reasons.

[@michaeljenkins6284]

Most states that are illegal to have handlebars like that hoorah

[@Snake75055]

Without the Ape hangers the suicide shifter seems like it would be nice in a different kind of way if you pair it with one of those auto clutches so you don't have to keep your hand on it when your slowing down or taking off from a stop

[@invaderdag711]

i will say this, my dad use to teach motorcycle safety and if your arms raise above your shoulders you have less control over the bike espicaly at low speeds like in a parking lot. i have drag bars on my bike and find it comfortable but im also short at 5'8". ad as to the suicide shifter i like the look but dont think id ever want that kind of shifter. its called a "suicide shifter" for a reason. some have a hand clutch like the one you are showing, but i think the safer style would be a foot clutch. way safer cuz you can keep 2 hands on the bars for control.

[@68weebee]

Did that bike come with the stock stuff they switch out of?

[@jaskaranzworld]

You should probably have a foot clutch it will be more compatible with the jockey shifter

[@coors1800]

Shoulder height is where you have the most control. Mine are at my eye level and although I'm a really experienced rider so it don't bother me, they are too tall. And hand clutches suck! I love foot clutch hand shift. You gotta master the art of neutral coasting to a stop if on uneven ground or gravel, but it's so much more comfortable once your used to it. I can wheelie, jump, and drift my bike all day with a foot clutch.

[@Mysmero425]

Seems scary to ride with Ape Handlebars plus suicide shifter

[@alp3771]

Do want to say this is NOT a "suicide Shifter". A Suicide CLUTCH is a foot clutch attached to a spring so the bike is normally in gear. This is often paired with a jockey shifter but not always.

[@Balithazzarr]

I doubt people rode 75mph when these were a thing. People probably mainly died from all the beer

[@peteyboy6629]

The video and comments show why, most provinces here in Canada have legal height restrictions. With the exception of Quebec's 60cm above seat, most others are maxed at shoulder height, or around 30cm above mounting.

[@Srkcycles]

i did not know that but thats very interesting

[@travisfarrell9222]

Wonder if you could hook up a foot clutch like on the old knuckleheads, along with lower bars

[@deimosphob]

Are you able to change the handlebars?

[@richardhodge4556]

"Chuck Norris, we have your bike"