2014 Low Rider
Tourer
Joined: Feb 2017
Posts: 361
Likes: 56
From: Lancaster, CA.
I need some help guys. I was moving my '14 FXDL around the garage tonight and am saying to myself, "I don't remember the handlebars this loose." I checked the torque on the risers and clamps, but it seems to be elsewhere. Handlebar bushings? I can't find anything in the service manual about free play here.
https://youtu.be/sPPS7fRzyqg
https://youtu.be/sPPS7fRzyqg
Last edited by Dyna100; Aug 5, 2019 at 07:09 PM. Reason: mispelling
Thread Starter
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Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: May 2014
Posts: 15,468
Likes: 14,362
From: Illinois
I had the same feeling while moving the bike around the garage. I also found that I frequently needed to readjust my mirrors. One day I actually broke one of my mirrors trying to get it right. Then during a long ride, in a turn, the handlebars starting moving freely back and forth. Kinda scary. I was in the middle of nowhere, but did manage to find a tire store to loan me the tools to tighten the clamp. My bars had moved rearward so slowly I never noticed it.
Grand HDF Member
Joined: Jul 2015
Posts: 4,355
Likes: 1,967
From: PA
I did some research on the bushings. The Sportster I had previously doesn't have riser bushings, which is probably why my hands would get tingly.
The Dyna factory bushings are rubber and eventually lose strength and wear out. There are stiffer bushings made of polyurethane which is what I just ordered. They are still supposed to dampen vibration but last much longer. There are also solid bushings which last forever but offer no dampening at all.
They don't look too difficult to install so hopefully I have them in on the weekend.
The Dyna factory bushings are rubber and eventually lose strength and wear out. There are stiffer bushings made of polyurethane which is what I just ordered. They are still supposed to dampen vibration but last much longer. There are also solid bushings which last forever but offer no dampening at all.
They don't look too difficult to install so hopefully I have them in on the weekend.
Club Member
Joined: Mar 2014
Posts: 1,921
Likes: 241
From: Southeast Texas
I did some research on the bushings. The Sportster I had previously doesn't have riser bushings, which is probably why my hands would get tingly.
The Dyna factory bushings are rubber and eventually lose strength and wear out. There are stiffer bushings made of polyurethane which is what I just ordered. They are still supposed to dampen vibration but last much longer. There are also solid bushings which last forever but offer no dampening at all.
They don't look too difficult to install so hopefully I have them in on the weekend.
The Dyna factory bushings are rubber and eventually lose strength and wear out. There are stiffer bushings made of polyurethane which is what I just ordered. They are still supposed to dampen vibration but last much longer. There are also solid bushings which last forever but offer no dampening at all.
They don't look too difficult to install so hopefully I have them in on the weekend.
Tourer
Joined: Dec 2017
Posts: 391
Likes: 176
From: Leicestershire, United Kingdom
I did some research on the bushings. The Sportster I had previously doesn't have riser bushings, which is probably why my hands would get tingly.
The Dyna factory bushings are rubber and eventually lose strength and wear out. There are stiffer bushings made of polyurethane which is what I just ordered. They are still supposed to dampen vibration but last much longer. There are also solid bushings which last forever but offer no dampening at all.
They don't look too difficult to install so hopefully I have them in on the weekend.
The Dyna factory bushings are rubber and eventually lose strength and wear out. There are stiffer bushings made of polyurethane which is what I just ordered. They are still supposed to dampen vibration but last much longer. There are also solid bushings which last forever but offer no dampening at all.
They don't look too difficult to install so hopefully I have them in on the weekend.
Grand HDF Member
Joined: Jul 2015
Posts: 4,355
Likes: 1,967
From: PA
The poly riser bushings arrived today, and it took me 30 minutes to install them, which included triple checking everything and looking up torque values. With most bikes you can loosen one bolt and remove the other which allows rotating the handlebars enough to install one pair of bushings, then do the other side. But the headlamp visor on the FXDL didn't allow this rotation, so I just removed both bolts and carefully moved the entire handlebar assembly an inch towards the (heavily padded) fuel tank.
This was about the easiest job I ever did on a Harley, short of adding air to the tires. The difference is night & day. There's barely perceptible movement in the bars in relation to the triple tree, all the slop is gone. I could squeeze the old rubber bushings together with 2 fingers, but the poly are rigid. Looking forward to a ride tomorrow.
J&P Cycles had them here in 3 days, best $17 I spent in a while.
This was about the easiest job I ever did on a Harley, short of adding air to the tires. The difference is night & day. There's barely perceptible movement in the bars in relation to the triple tree, all the slop is gone. I could squeeze the old rubber bushings together with 2 fingers, but the poly are rigid. Looking forward to a ride tomorrow.
J&P Cycles had them here in 3 days, best $17 I spent in a while.
Last edited by Bluesrider.df; Aug 8, 2019 at 05:50 PM.
Thread Starter
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Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: May 2014
Posts: 15,468
Likes: 14,362
From: Illinois
Took Friday off of work because the weather was really nice. Got up early and hit the road when it was still in low 60s. Hit the IL SOS (DMV) Office to get my 2020 plate sticker. I do not use my local SOS Office because it is always too busy, so I take a nice long ride to the south and use a small one in another county. Great 35 mile ride there. No waiting. Walked right in and got it. Nice long 35 mile ride back. Hit the Great Clips and got a hair cut. No waiting. Finally, I took a nice ride to one of my favorite local eating places. A good 110 mile ride in total and got home before it was even in the high 70s.
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Thread Starter
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Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: May 2014
Posts: 15,468
Likes: 14,362
From: Illinois
Anyone see this 245 mile red 2017 Low Rider for sale?
https://www.hdforums.com/forum/motor...-10-600-a.html
That is a very good deal.
https://www.hdforums.com/forum/motor...-10-600-a.html
That is a very good deal.
Grand HDF Member
Joined: Jul 2015
Posts: 4,355
Likes: 1,967
From: PA
Anyone see this 245 mile red 2017 Low Rider for sale?
https://www.hdforums.com/forum/motor...-10-600-a.html
That is a very good deal.
https://www.hdforums.com/forum/motor...-10-600-a.html
That is a very good deal.