Slipping Handlebars
Road Warrior
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 1,286
Likes: 5
From: Arizona
I had Renthal aluminum bars on my CR 250R. The were not knurled like the factory bars. The directions said to take an emery strip and sand the bottom half and the top half of the bar clamps completely smooth. It also said to radius the edges of the clamps so that there were no sharp edges that could cut into the handlebars and reduce the clamping area. Essentially by making everything smooth you are just increasing the clamping area. The bars never moved on me following these directions. If the bars clamps have marks in them from knurled bars and the bars are smooth with no knurling I think you can see how the clamping area is reduced resulting in slipping bars. I think I would try this before sticking anything in there to try and tighten them up. Cut strips from a beer can...really!?...LOL.
Tech23
Tech23
Advanced
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 99
Likes: 0
From: Beaufort, SC
If the beer can trick does not work (that is too funny and brilliant), cut a piece of copper tubing in half with a hack saw. Anyone that has had apes 16+ for any length of time, regardless of the risers and the bars, has experienced slippage. Mine normally slip when I hit a really hard pot-hole/bump at road speeds or if I hit a suden gust of wind like the 25+ MPH headwind I rode in coming back from Daytona this year. Just part of being in the BIG APE club.
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 6,642
Likes: 48
From: Ogden, UT
I hate to disagree with a sponsor, but this is just not 100% true. It depends on the quality of the bars, I have run 2 piece clamps on apes for years without a problem. The size of the clamps will also have an effect, the small stock ones are not ideal, that's for sure.
Tourer
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 479
Likes: 1
From: Sharpsburg,GA
What worked for me and my 16" Burly Apes was Locktite Red. I applied a little bit on both top and bottom of the knurled area on the bars and clamped it down to the proper spec, then let it dry for a few and I have not had the bars slip since. I even marked the bars to see if there was any and nothing.
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cut some small strips of Emry cloth, (can be found at any hardware store) works great i have done it a TON of times now... helps grab the bar and prevent it from sliding... had it on my old bar set up for years! did it on a customer bike 2 nights ago as well... works great!
A few years ago the Motor Company issued a service bulletin regarding apes and the small stock two piece top clamps, stating that because of the leverage exerted on apes there was a tendency to metal fatigue and possible breakage of the handlebars between the two clamps over a period of time.
They recommended that their one piece top clamp be used when installing apes.
As you state, there are many larger two piece top clamps that may do the job just fine.
Kevin
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