Well I just finished it last weekend. Now I'm more comfortable when I ride but I can still keep up with the sport-bike guys I ride with too.
My buddy has a Suzuki GSXR 600 and I let him know he's not leaving me in the dust...well I told him that when he caught up. 8)
Anyway here is a pic of it. I don't know how to shrink them down so sorry for the size.
Steel braided cables are Barnett through Dave Dodge and the grips and sissy bar are from Kuryakyn. I'm loving it.
Enjoy
Instructor50
1996 Magna "Custom"?
Looks good! Sounds like your having fun and that is what its all about!
I never thought I would see ape hangers on a magna, but to each his own. Now if you can convince your buddies on the sport bikes to do the same (or at least put leather tassels on their grips . . .
Speaking of grips, are your iso grips new, or did you take them off of your old bars. If so, how did you get them off? I had to remove the throttle side grip when I after I installed it (I didn't get it on all the way before the glue set), and when I took it off to redo it, the rubber tore a bit.
Being that I want to replace my bars, I don't know if it will make it for one more change. I called Kuryakyn and the won't sell me the inserts, just a single grip (at $40 + shipping).
Lastly, did you have buy new cables? Something tells me that the original ones didn't reach that far. What entails such a mod? Thanks again, dc
QuoteSpeaking of grips, are your iso grips new, or did you take them off of your old bars. If so, how did you get them off? I had to remove the throttle side grip when I after I installed it (I didn't get it on all the way before the glue set), and when I took it off to redo it, the rubber tore a bit.
Being that I want to replace my bars, I don't know if it will make it for one more change. I called Kuryakyn and the won't sell me the inserts, just a single grip (at $40 + shipping).
Lastly, did you have buy new cables? Something tells me that the original ones didn't reach that far. What entails such a mod?
My ISO grips were purchased new and put on my drag bars I had. I got drag bars because I didn't want to have to buy new cables. However, I still had to buy new cables because now there was a great deal of binding in the throttle and the housings on the handlebars also hit on the tank when turning (NOT GOOD).
I figured since I had to buy cables I would buy the handlebars I wanted to begin with. Hence, ape hangers.
Getting the grips off of the drag bars wasn't too bad. The throttle side was easy because I disconnected the throttle at the engine after removing the chrome cover on the left side. The throttle stayed mounted to the plastic piece and just slid right off.
The left side was a little more difficult. I had to push a "ground down" flat tip screwdriver in between the rubber and handlebar to scrape the glue. I have about 7 different flat-tip screwdrivers so I took one and ground the rounded shank to make it flat all the way down at least the length of the grip itself. I then managed to push each rubber half at the top through one of the openings in the grip itself worked the screwdriver in more around the diameter of the grip. It finally came off. I used a small file and just shaved a little of the residual hard glue off (lightly though). I put them on the new bars and glued'em up.
The cables are 10" over stock from Barnett and cost about 55-59 per cable I forget the exact amount.
Hope this helps DC.
Instructor50
1996 Magna "custom"
First off, thanks for being gracious while I hijacked your thread. I know so little about motorcycles and really like to learn. I figure listening to those who have experience is the best way to bone up on knowledge.
Secondly, I know they are called ape-hangers, but after looking at them a little longer they really live up to their name. It looks like you have a good reach to hang on, and have to stand on the pegs just to turn!
As you tried out, I want to go with the drag bar look. I saw some guy who had put some road star bars on his magna and it looked nice. According to his write up it only took drilling one hole and 30 minutes and he made the swap. So I think I am going to keep my eyes peeled.
And as far as your signature, I noticed that you had a question mark after the word "custom" . . . I think with ape-hangers you now have a custom magna. Oh wait, you have to take off the reflectors on the radiator before it is truly a custom bike. Thanks again for your help. dc
Yeah I have to reach up pretty good but it's actually a very comfortable ride. I'm happy.
Instructor50
1996 Custom Magna[/quote]
Did you order the cables a specific length or do they just come in certain lengths? I have pull-backs off an 84 Madura and had to reroute the cables they're ok but if I get a chance to move them back a little closer to me I would need a little extra.
I ordered through Dave Dodge but they are Barnett cables 10" over stock length. Hope it works out for you. They will order to whatever length you want over stock...so when you order you will ask for a certain amt. of inches over what stock is...mine, like I said, I ordered 10" over stock.
Instructor50
1996 Custom Magna
How in the world are those comfortable??
QuoteHow in the world are those comfortable??
It may not look like it but they are. If you haven't ridden a bike with hangers...you really have no idea.
And what is comfortable to one person may not be to another. Someone earlier talked about how his arms would fall asleep just getting out of the driveway...and yet I rode from Seattle to Mt. St. Helens last weekend and it was one of the best rides I've ever gone on. YES more comfortable than the stock bars.
Instructor50
1996 Custom Magna
I rode a friends Triumph just down the road and back, about a mile. We had put some new bars on his bike. He loves it and I hated it. He's taller and the lower bars give him a comfortable reach. For me, all it did was put all my weight on my wrists. I was happy to be back even on that short of hop.