Ape Hangers are extra tall handlebars. Choppers have elongated frames and/or forks, and may or may not have ape hangers.

Ape Hangers


Ape Hangers on a Chopper


New School Chopper


Old School Chopper

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1980 300TD-China Blue/Blue MBTex-2nd Owner, 107K (Alt Blau) OBK #15
'06 Chevy Tahoe Z71 (for the wife & 4 kids, current mule) '03 Honda Odyssey (son #1's ride, reluctantly) '99 GMC Suburban (255K+ miles, semi-retired mule) 21' SeaRay Seville (summer escape pod)

If you ponder it very long, NO motorcycle looks safe: only two wheels, rider sits on or by the gas tank and straddles the engine....

I think it would be fun to not wash my arm pits for a couple of weeks and ride one of those ape handle choppers around town.

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I apologize for calling it a "rant" However, it is still misleading.

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'85 300SD (formerly california emissions)
'08 Chevy Tahoe
'93 Ducati 900 SS
'79 Kawasaki KZ 650
'86 Kawasaki KX 250
'88 Kawasaki KDX200
'71 Hodaka Ace 100
'72 Triumph T100R

"chopper" has a very loose definition. Orginal "choppers" were called that because people used to "chop" pieces off the bike. Modifications usually included stretching the frame.

__________________
'85 300SD (formerly california emissions)
'08 Chevy Tahoe
'93 Ducati 900 SS
'79 Kawasaki KZ 650
'86 Kawasaki KX 250
'88 Kawasaki KDX200
'71 Hodaka Ace 100
'72 Triumph T100R

let me guess, back when you were 20 something? I could never ride an apehanger hard tail for any distance no way no how, way too many pot holes in Cincy for that. anyway, I was just talking about the guys I know, all with backs gone from long hours and more show than go Harleys

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1982 300CD Turbo (Otis, "ups & downs") parts for sale
2003 TJ with Hemi (to go anywhere, quickly) sold
2001 Excursion Powerstroke (to go dependably)
1970 Mustang 428SCJ (to go fast)
1962 Corvette LS1 (to go in style)
2001 Schwinn Grape Krate 10spd (if all else fails)

I have never met a Harley that was more go than show.

__________________
'85 300SD (formerly california emissions)
'08 Chevy Tahoe
'93 Ducati 900 SS
'79 Kawasaki KZ 650
'86 Kawasaki KX 250
'88 Kawasaki KDX200
'71 Hodaka Ace 100
'72 Triumph T100R

you haven't looked hard, they are out there, but it takes serious cash.

I was young, in my twenties. Rode someone else's in my early 40's not as much fun, but still doable. There are better suspension methods than your own back....

Yes, I have.

__________________
'85 300SD (formerly california emissions)
'08 Chevy Tahoe
'93 Ducati 900 SS
'79 Kawasaki KZ 650
'86 Kawasaki KX 250
'88 Kawasaki KDX200
'71 Hodaka Ace 100
'72 Triumph T100R

That's not my understanding of why they were called choppers. I believe they were called choppers because the frame was chopped and re-welded in a fashion that changed the angle of the steering axis, to tilt it back so that it could accommodate the longer forks and still keep the frame parallel to the roadway.

And why are you so annoyed by the original post? I don't find it misleading at all.

It is 6 of one and half-dozen of the other. But do you think servicemen coming back from WWII all had welders to weld frames together? Not all choppers had modified necks. I am sure some of them did but a majority of them just started chopping stock parts off the bike. Hence the term, chopper.

I never said I was annoyed. The title is misleading.

The title of the thread is "chopper forks"
Then the author talks about apehanger handlebars in the original post.

__________________
'85 300SD (formerly california emissions)
'08 Chevy Tahoe
'93 Ducati 900 SS
'79 Kawasaki KZ 650
'86 Kawasaki KX 250
'88 Kawasaki KDX200
'71 Hodaka Ace 100
'72 Triumph T100R

Seems like a picky complaint. I can't speak for others, but the title didn't mislead me.

Apologies again, but I am 37 and have owned motorcycles since I was 6. I am motorcycle picky.

__________________
'85 300SD (formerly california emissions)
'08 Chevy Tahoe
'93 Ducati 900 SS
'79 Kawasaki KZ 650
'86 Kawasaki KX 250
'88 Kawasaki KDX200
'71 Hodaka Ace 100
'72 Triumph T100R

As noted, it's an appearance thing. The riding position on a contemporary "chopper" (think reality TV shows) is low bars, arms forward, legs forward. It bends the entire body into a big "C" shape. Not comfortable for any distance, at least for us old and inflexible guys.

Look at the size of the fuel tank on the photos SwampYank posted - see how small it is on the modern, low bar chopper? These bikes frequently have an operating range of less than 100 miles. They ain't made for going very far. Distance riders favor mounts like the goldwing, big Harley baggers, or BMW sport-tourers - all of which have very different ergonomics than these bikes.