Handlebar Restrictions - Harley Forum

03fxst · #1 06-01-2009, 06:49 AM

Hey Guys
Have you ever seen a logical explanation for the limits on handlebar rise. Is there a formula or trustworthy engineering guide.Where is the line between sky high apes and drag bars that makes a bike unsafe? It seems law makers are grabbing a number out of the air and setting guidelines accordingly. I have seen books that say fifteen inches and those that say ten. Someone told me in some areas it is 21 inches. Where I live the limit is ten inches of rise. I believe that makes a Crossbones illegal right out of the factory. It seems the size of the rider and reach should be factored in. If there is a good piece of literature out there it would be worth challenging the limits where they seem out of whack.

03FXST

Buzz Kanter · #2 06-01-2009, 09:50 AM

Good questions. I have often wondered the same myself.

Hobbit · #3 06-01-2009, 11:56 AM

I am with you on this one Mr Kanter, I have never seen anything about the correct height but i am sure it varies from state to state just like the helmet laws do. So I guess the best answer here is to google motorcycle laws for your state and see what they got to say I am sure there has to be something in the books cause the police have to have some sort of guidelines not just their imaginations when giving you a ticket. Hope this helps.

milindh · #4 06-01-2009, 01:08 PM

If you T-bone somebody and your apes are too high you go through 'em face first. If you have drags you'll do a handstand and go over 'em. Might even clear the T-bone-ee if you hit 'em in the fenders. A direct hit in the T-bone-ee's cab isn't so good....Then there's the Big Apes Hundred and Ten Mile An Hour Liftoff where you just lose your grip and become an airborne projectile. All these have high entertainment value for spectators. I feel sorry for those folks who live in states with anti Big Apes laws.

hd ryder · #5 06-01-2009, 01:45 PM

In Ca it's 6" over your shoulders. WooHoo!

hotrodsporty · #6 06-01-2009, 07:07 PM

Most of the rocky mountian states are shoulder height. They say that any higher than that and you loose leverage. I know guys who ride taller than shoulder height and leave the clamps a little loose so when they pull up to a cop in the city they can slide them forward to make it look lower than the shoulder. Not recomended.

BlueBob · #7 06-01-2009, 09:07 PM

South Dakota is the same way. I hear a bunch of folks that go to Sturgis do the same thing.

frisco-rigid · #8 06-05-2009, 03:35 AM

Mil
Where did you get that info, did any of that happen with you.?

When I lived in Kaliforgnia the limit was equal with the riders shoulders..

In the 80's the same cop in Marin Co. gave me 4, yes, four bar-height tickets in 3 stops?????? I never figured that out and neither did the judge..

I took him to court and argued a pretty darn good case which included possible harrassment charges and darn-it all,,,, I won my freakin case..!!

The judge said right to the cop that he did not want to see any more bar height ticket from him in his court,,, cool huh..!

hotrodsporty · #9 06-06-2009, 12:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by frisco-rigid

The judge said right to the cop that he did not want to see any more bar height ticket from him in his court,,, cool huh..!

WOW! Not very often does the judge go against the cop, even when the cop lies, yes I said when and not IF. Consider your self lucky, or you missed you calling as a lawer

. I bet that cop had a huge hard on to get you after that

unclepsycho · #10 06-06-2009, 01:23 AM

Frisco
They changed it a couple years back... so you can have apes no more than 6" above the shoulders....

Check out the motorcyclle Laws here:

http://home.ama-cycle.org/amaccess/l...t.asp?state=ca