12.5 or 16 inch Ape bars

I'm going to purchase a set of Ape bars for my 01 Springer and what size would look and work better. I'm going to get the 1/14 Wild 1 bars so I can run wires internally and do the heat demons. So what experience do any here have with the different sizes any help or thoughts would be appreciated.

Got 12.5 on my Heritage
fits the same as a 16 on an RG

You have to sit on one to really know what's right
but the 12's look good and are at my shoulder

You will have to change clutch, brake and throttle cables from stock on either..

They go by + sizes ie

Stock +3 for 12.5s'

Stock +6 for 16's

you will need an HD wire stretcher too for the stock wires so they will connect to the harness...

That might be true but I found the brake line tight and the
throttle cables at the limit on mine, better to get new.

Also if you do replace them the new clutch cables are teflon lined, less effort and work great..

Remember 12.5 on a softail with the risers makes it 13.5 and it depends on the bend to the ends, straight out like mine mean you are up higher than a buckhorn type where the ends would be at 10.5

I've already got the really wide beach bars that came with it and they are from an Indian shop. The clutch cable is already to long and is a Teflon coated cable. I'm starting to think that the 12.5 might be better. Sounds like another big job again.

Just a couple of robusto's or a full churchill
some episodes of Pinks All Out

Time comes from running the wires internally so
get the 1 1/4 diam bars, more room, and pre-drilled

I run some string up the bar with a small weight until
it comes out at the handle, tied to the wire bundle
and pull through, putting string in first on both sides makes it
easy, Carlini sends bars pre-strung LOL

all you need to do is take apart the connectors
and put them back the same way...

On a softail they connect under the tank
so you have to remove the tank bolts and slide it back
don't have to take it off.

Not that big a deal

the 16 inch bars are legal here in Oregon.

The old bars that are on it now someone already lengthened the wires but they cut them and used those blue butt connectors when they put it back together. I know I'm going to have a mess to clean up with the wiring but doing it right will be worth while.
Sat on a guys Springer on our ride today and he has 16 inch apes, not bad.

I'm going to order them from Wild 1 and they are very well made 1 1/4 bars that are set up for internal wires.

when you stretch the wires cut off then ends to keep the pins from the stock connector
that way you save big bucks in not having to buy the pins again ($1 a piece) and then a crimping tool

Stagger your cuts, you can use black wire, white green it doesn't matter for the filler because the tips will all be back on with the correct wire color so it's easy to put back in the right place.

Stagger the cuts on each wire so you won't have a huge wad where they were put back together and it won't go through the bars...

Heatshrink, butt joints soldiered together will be fine.

Yep, your right and that's exactly how I did the wifes bars to as someone had also cut the wires on her old beach bars on the Trike and made a big wad. Got some very good metal butt connectors and soldered them. Went and bought some marine grade heat shrink, it has a sealer in them that oozes out the ends and seals them when its heated to shrink it. Staggered the splices and worked great. Just a lot of work but then its better than paying someone to do it and plus I know its done right then.

There is a marine store here and a really big Ace Hardware store that carries them. I've never seen so many fasteners all in one place before that this Ace Hardware store carries. They even carry Chrome bolts and nuts.

Like these?

nice pic of some guy spread eagle on his bike. I ordered a set of 12 1/2 Apes from Wild1. There the 1 1/4 bars set up for internal wiring. They had a new slightly blemished set for a pretty good discount. Sense there are already risers on the springer the 12 1/2 bars should be just about right.

That pointed bar in the back is enough to scare me.