1992 FLHTP, Batwing fairing.

Feels like there is a tiny bit of back-and-forth play in my handlebars. They are not "loose" or slipping. They feel like they just slightly rock back and forth. I can get to the bottom of what looks like the post of the handlebar clamps and they are tight. Before I dig into anything, anybody have any ideas about what needs to be tightened and how to get to it?

 

Your hbars risers are 'rubber mounted' for lack of a better term- you can see the rubber bushing in your photo.
A bit of movement is normal.
You can swap out the rubbers with urethane bushings to tighten them up- or even eliminate the bushings with a kit to solid mount them- but either will probably cause more vibration transfered to your hands through the bars.
I tried early on to solid mount my bars- and changed them back quickly when my hands kept going numb.

 

Thank you! I knew I felt something but it did not feel like they were "dangerous" (?).

I guess in a shaky old war-wagon like this a little bit of play can be a good thing!

 

Replacing the rubber bushings will make a world of difference - at least it did on my '94.

 

And how hard is that job?

 

On a scale of 1-10 I give it a 2

 

Just because of dealing with the batwing fairing. Radio isn't too bad but it's still going to take a minute.

Griz

 

So the front of the fairing and the stereo have to be removed?

 

I'm not sure exactly how it looks but you need access to the riser bolts and nuts on the bottom and be able to pull the bars out of the way to pull the riser to get to the bushings. You have a good picture of the bottom. Now what does it look like from the top?

Griz

 

If it’s a small amount of back and forth movement I’d just leave it alone.
They’re supposed to move to help reduce vibration. If you replace the bushings with urethane you’ll have a lot more hand vibrations.