So I went change my bars today and discovered the air valve in the end of my bars....connects to a hose inside the bars which comes out of the bars up under the gauge cluster and into some metal hoses that are bolted to the top of the forks...is this air for the forks and how the hell do I swao the bars with this set up???

Thanks

 

I believe that is for a bike with front air ride forks right? I would guess that the handle bar connection is just an end for the air purge system. Again this is conjecture and I am not 100%

 

The handlebars are the air tank for the forks. You must have an FXRS-SP or Convertible. You can eliminate the handlebar tank but, you will reduce the volume of air in the suspension system. It probably won't be to big a deal but, the bike may ride a little stiffer.
You can add separate schrader valves to each fork leg or mount one in the hose and move it to a place where it's convenient.
You can also eliminate the air altogether with standard fork caps and just have regular forks.

 

You could also add a small air tank and just go with regular bars.

 

I got er figured out guys, thanks. Just gonna eliminate the air.

 

If your anti-dive worked before, you may be disappointed going to regular forks. Went that way for a while, didn't like it, too much front end dive. Had a bud at work fab up a flask type reservoir, looks cool and really makes the front end feel much lighter. jmho. 90 fxrs-sp. Most folks ruin the anti-dive by not using a bicycle pump to set the correct pressure, if you're not careful you may blow fork seals. Love mine, don't know what I'm gonna do when I can't get parts anymore. P.S. , using a 1 cup measure the bars only held 3/4 cup I think, not sure, but not much, can be hid anywhere.

 

Got any pics of your reservoir? I started putting 14' apes on my 92 FLHTC tonight and I had originally planned on moving a schrader to the bottom of my inner fairing.

I really like the anti-dive effect and the light feel in the front-end and I'd rather it not change any if possible. I've been coming up with some ideas for a reservoir after reading your post but I'd love to see how it was done successfully by someone else before i attempt it.

 

Seems a brief description of what you have is in order! You have air assisted front suspension, with anti-dive. The handlebars are an air reservoir that you can pressurise up to 20psi, to provide adjustment for the stiffness of the forks. When you operate the front brake, you operate a solenoid that shuts off the handlebar reservoir, leaving only the air in the forks. This stiffens the fork action while the brake is applied, reducing fork dive.

The forks also have springs, but they are soft for use on their own. The air system is remarkably effective and mine still works on my 1990 bike. If you junk the air system you would do well to fit stronger springs, to compensate.

 

Graham is right on the money, soft fork springs with no air. Progressive springs may solve all your problems if you go without air assist.

 

I moved the air valve out of handlebars on my 91 FLT and used no resevior. It works fine, but when I pump up air it takes about two short strokes with air pump compared to several softer full strokes with air pump when valve was in bars. Like I say, air suspension works fine with no resevior, any down side to no resevior.