Knurling or not?
Thread Starter
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Cruiser
Joined: May 2014
Posts: 105
Likes: 8
From: New York
Knurling or not?
Recently picked up a set of big als bars and risers. I didnt notice when i ordered the bars that they do not have knurling. Honestly im not sure how much it really does but i have always run bars with it. Is there a way for me to make the smooth bar more secure? Or is it fine as is and im just over reacting?
Club Member
Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 468
Likes: 222
From: NorCal
I think the bars you have are pretty low rise (judging from Big Al's site), so not a lot of leverage on the risers. You will probably be ok without the knurl. I ordered a set of low bars for my Panhead without knurls since I am running older trees with a different riser spacing than later years. I have not had any problems with them being loose. We used to run 2-piece bars back in the day without knurls, though the 2-piece bars made that a bit dicey. I know one guy that hit a bump and had one side of the bars come loose. I think he swapped out the risers to run a 1-piece bar soon after. Just make sure you get them tight.
Thread Starter
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Cruiser
Joined: May 2014
Posts: 105
Likes: 8
From: New York
I think the bars you have are pretty low rise (judging from Big Al's site), so not a lot of leverage on the risers. You will probably be ok without the knurl. I ordered a set of low bars for my Panhead without knurls since I am running older trees with a different riser spacing than later years. I have not had any problems with them being loose. We used to run 2-piece bars back in the day without knurls, though the 2-piece bars made that a bit dicey. I know one guy that hit a bump and had one side of the bars come loose. I think he swapped out the risers to run a 1-piece bar soon after. Just make sure you get them tight.
Thread Starter
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Cruiser
Joined: May 2014
Posts: 105
Likes: 8
From: New York
Grand HDF Member
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 3,727
Likes: 3,072
From: Brighton, MI
This works fine, or drywall sanding screen from home depot, tear a strip of it and wrap around bars at the clamp. Works great, only need a thin strip per clamp (1/2 the width of the clamp). YD
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Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2020
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From: the South
Knurling
100% always go with knurled you may regret not doing so! Bars will slip in the risers and clamps without knurling..
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