The roads out here in CT are ridiculous...potholes everywhere...after hitting a pretty decent size sinkhole my bars literally pulled down 6 inches...i was able to push back on them to move them back in place but they seem to move with little force.....they are 17 but do have the poly bushings installed so im curious, is it normal or common for them to move so easily with minimal force?? Is it a real concern or do i just tighten the fasteners a bit and ride on...thanks

 

The old tried and true method is to drill a tiny hole through the riser top clam and through the bar. Then you tap it and run a bolt through the bar and clamp hole you just made and tapped. No more shifting. Another method is buy bars that have that etching on the riser clamp area.

 

I suggest you read the HD Manual to find out the torque of the 4 bolts. If you have mechanical skills you can tighten them more that HD specs, be careful not to strip threads. 'Leverage' is not your friend when running tall bars. Also by moving them back & fourth, you my damage the top clamp/ lower mount.

 

Skate board grip tape wrapped around the bars at the clamp area works pretty good to prevent movement. Also tighten the crap out of the bolts.

 

yeah I did the trick listed above, tap a hole in bar clamp and drill hole in handle bar for a stainless cap head bolt to to locate in, no further probs then

 

Had the same drama with my Burley Narrow Apes.. and that's with them being torqued to correct specs. Thinking the T Bars could be my solution... same deal, pot holes for days out here.

 

This is the easiest way without damaging anything through overtightening.....

 

Apes are to motorcycles what a 24" breaker bar is to a 6" ratchet; a longer lever that requires less force to move them. Short of drilling the bars there isn't a 100% solution. The up side you can rotate them to your liking while going down the road. The down side is you can rotate the, while you're going down the road.

 

Another old trick is to apply hair spray to the handlebars and riser surfaces. What is exposed will wash off but what isn't, won't. It is a really strong glue.

 

Thanks fellas...the bars are knurled and have poly bushings so i will be drilling and tapping this evening..ride on!!!