Tricks/tips for aligning hand controls?
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Cruiser
Joined: Mar 2023
Posts: 217
Likes: 78
From: Michigan
Tricks/tips for aligning hand controls?
I'll take any shame/grief for asking this, but what's some of your guys best tips/tricks in aligning hand controls? After dusting off the bike last night, I realized my hand controls were cockeyed from when i swapped barss last season, right hand is more parallel to ground and left has a slight angle down. After F'ing with them for like an hour, just like my mirrors, I can't get them even. anyone got any little tricks or tips youve picked up over the years? thinking if i throw it in the chock, maybe lay a meterstick across them and throw level on them.
HDF Community Team
Joined: Oct 2018
Posts: 4,347
Likes: 3,392
From: Seattle
You shouldnt be worried at all trying to get them into any level or whatever position looks right.
You should set the bike on a lift/stand that you can sit on the bike without it falling over, and then bring out your T27 and loosen the perch clamps and adjust the grips downward to be aligned with your arm and shoulder angle.
Why on earth would you try to level them? They're infinitely adjustable and not keyed in for a reason, so you can move them up and down around the bar circumfrence to make them comfortable to your shoulder and hand positions.
And they shouldnt match each other either, they're going to be slightly different on both sides because each arm will have a slightly different comfortable angle.
The best tip/trick is get your hand controls positioned where they are the fastest, easiest, and most comfortable to handle. Not level with the ground or each other.
You should set the bike on a lift/stand that you can sit on the bike without it falling over, and then bring out your T27 and loosen the perch clamps and adjust the grips downward to be aligned with your arm and shoulder angle.
Why on earth would you try to level them? They're infinitely adjustable and not keyed in for a reason, so you can move them up and down around the bar circumfrence to make them comfortable to your shoulder and hand positions.
And they shouldnt match each other either, they're going to be slightly different on both sides because each arm will have a slightly different comfortable angle.
The best tip/trick is get your hand controls positioned where they are the fastest, easiest, and most comfortable to handle. Not level with the ground or each other.
HDF Community Team
Joined: Nov 2012
Posts: 6,189
Likes: 2,419
From: USA
I'm not one to get obsessed with what is the "correct" way to have my levers. I go with what is comfortable and works well for me.
Something I've noticed, but never studied or measured, is that my left and right controls don't seem reflective of each other. If the mirror shafts happen to match, the levers will not. They'll be close, but not spot on. Far more off are the switches. They really don't match up side to side when the levers roughly do.
Something I've noticed, but never studied or measured, is that my left and right controls don't seem reflective of each other. If the mirror shafts happen to match, the levers will not. They'll be close, but not spot on. Far more off are the switches. They really don't match up side to side when the levers roughly do.
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Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2010
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From: Upstate New York
I'm not one to get obsessed with what is the "correct" way to have my levers. I go with what is comfortable and works well for me.
Something I've noticed, but never studied or measured, is that my left and right controls don't seem reflective of each other. If the mirror shafts happen to match, the levers will not. They'll be close, but not spot on. Far more off are the switches. They really don't match up side to side when the levers roughly do.
Something I've noticed, but never studied or measured, is that my left and right controls don't seem reflective of each other. If the mirror shafts happen to match, the levers will not. They'll be close, but not spot on. Far more off are the switches. They really don't match up side to side when the levers roughly do.
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Advanced
Joined: Oct 2021
Posts: 97
Likes: 74
From: Mount Dora
Two pieces of painter's tape, one up against where the controls end on the handlebar. So if you're sitting on your bike, you place the tape vertically, with the edge against the controls. That keeps your how far in/out position. The next piece of tape you put on horizontally on the handlebar lining up with the brake reservoir on the right (that's how I do it). Then, on the left, pick a reference point, this will keep you forward/backward position. I've used this method every time I've replaced grips or any of the controls and you'll always get it right. In your case, once you work on the in/out, keep adjusting the horizontal tape until you find a place that feels good, then do the other side. Stare at it, feel it. and adjust as necessary.
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Cruiser
Joined: Mar 2023
Posts: 217
Likes: 78
From: Michigan
I'll be honest, my old bikes had chrome bars, so id just mark with sharpie and windex right off after. Since these bars are black, sharpie dont work to well...and my duma$$ only keeps electrical tape in the garage. Until your note, it never dawned on me to grab some painters tape from the house LOL thanks man!
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