Hoist & Others:
Well just got back from a 5 day trip to Sturgis....I fortunately was able to put the WO515's on prior to leaving....those being the 10.0" baby apes from Wild One.
Since My RKC is not a "serk" there is no need to post photos....but I look to you "big" boys for guideance. Anyway....the trip involved riding up there and back...mostly highway straight riding as well as 25-45 mph mountain riding through switch backs and such at slow speeds through the Needle's Highway....I have been left with the impression that these are the PERFECT bars. I ALSO love the "look" of the bars on the bike and most importantly the "comfort" and "performance" of bars on the bike for me personally.
I was a bit surprised to read Hoist that you decided to jump to the 12.5" Wild One Apes with most likely an 1 3/4" more rise and nearly the same of them coming back to you (geometrically just because one increases height 2.5" doesn't mean one sees it completely because of the angles).....As for me at 5' 10" with orthodics, socks and boots the 10.0" are perfect, I wouldn't want them any closer or higher for myself. (I am 5' 8" tall without socks, orthodics, boots etc...lol) I also am a 42" regular sport coat thus the width of the 10.0" was/is also very comfortable....I have a buddy that is 6' 1" tall with also a 42" regular sport coat application, with a 33" inseam (mine being 32" inseam) and he is running the 8.5" WO mini apes....after sitting on his bike after my install and feeling his bars and where mine were....I was quite excited that I chose the 10.0" ones.
I ended up with the stock clutch cable no change necessary, 4 inch over throttle and and idle with cruise cables, the brake line needed to be adjusted which meant bleeding them became needed.....Of course on a basic bike like mine keeping with the black vinyl look was perfect for me except for the stainless steel look already installed with the front brake line.
While not as many miles on this trip were being rolled up, time on the bike was still impressive. having spent 3 of the 5 days in the seat on the bike for 10 hours each.....I must also admit that anyone attempting to find utopia with their handlebars MUST first make a commitment to their seat as your seat placement along with your foot placement are the first important beginnings to finding which handlebars will work for you. Complicating this matter for 2008 owners of Road Kings or SERK owners in general will be the reality that the MOCO has modified the frame to accomadate the ABS and the new brembo brakes thus the swing arm will change as well....so what I am speaking to is only releveant for those of 1997 through 2007 framed bikes for a direct comparison....As we all know the geometry of the hands in relationship to over all comfort is at best a completely distractable reallity.
Hoist, having read your posts over the past few months with your 07 SERK I will be most interested to learn how you ultimately feel once you have some riding time with the 12.5". We all know that what feels comfortable sitting on a bike for 10 minutes is completely different from how our bodies feel with miles rolled up over back to back to back riding days.....So I was quite curious to see your jump to the 12.5" from the 10.0" bars but I also know from reading your posts that jumping back if such comfort is realized is no big deal to you. LOL
continued......