motorcycles and handlebars

In My Humble Opinion
1

I was out with my wife today and we saw a guy with a motorcycle like from easy rider - sort of like this:

so my question is to motorcycle people–is that comfortable? It looks so wrong to me and so painful and non-ergonomic. The motorcycles I have been on were the more traditional type with handlebars down at waist level so I don’t have any experience with this type.

But my gut reaction is that your arms would get damn tired after awhile. Is that the case? I think they are called ape hangers and I have only seen them on choppers, do they go on any other type of bike?

2

Too tall for me. I have seen higher. If he was taller, it would not look so silly.

I think crotch rockets are uncomfortable, but I’m 65 years old. Leg position is more important to me than grip height. I’m 6’4".

It is all opinion. Ride what you like, just ride…

3

I’ve never ridden with “ape hangers”, but I’ve ridden with neutral handlebars, as well as with the low set handlebars associated with sport bikes. Not to mention lots and lots of hours on road bicycles.

On road bicycles, as well as with sport bikes, it’s really surprising how much of your weight is supported by your arms. Which in turn redistributes the load from your lower spine and butt. On a long ride, it’s much more comfortable.

Is it possible that handlebars like those pictured have a similar benefit? Rather than supporting your upper body on handlebars below you, you actually support your upper body by hanging from the handlebars above you?

4

The ape hangers on that bike are illegal in my state (grips higher than shoulders). I cant see how they would do anything other than make my arms tired. But I’ve never ridden with them so I wouldn’t know for sure.

5

Bars like that turn the rider into a sail at speed. He can’t lean into the wind. He’ll have to hang on to the bars for dear life. They’re ridiculous. A triumph of form over function.

6

I rode a bike like that once, and hated it. I do not understand it at all. I felt completely unsafe.

7

Well guys have been riding ape hangers for decades. I don’t know how or why they do it, but they do it. I’ve never heard of anyone sailing away.

I won’t passenger on a bike with ape hangers. Tooo scary for me.