Good morning,
Perhaps I am being overly conscious about the front of my 00FLSTC since upgrading suspension myself but I have a question regarding handlebars. I have always been able to move my bars by pulling up on the grips. The bars are torqued at the clamp and never seem loose riding. Are the bars rubber mounted? Is this a place to inspect?
I can't find much in the FSM unless I am missing it.

Wishing you all a great New Year

 

Yes, the risers are mounted in rubber in the upper tree as a vibration isolator. They shouldn't move much, but will flex some if you put some effort into it. If they move easily, then I'd check the bolts (they go up from the bottom of the upper tree into the risers) that attach the risers to the upper tree. If the bolts are tight, then the bushings are likely worn.



See item 12 and associated parts.
https://www.harley-davidson.com/us/e...bfa324fbc678/y


Paul

 

Clarification, are you describing wiggling or actual slippage in the clamps?

Wiggling has been explained above.

Slippage can be addressed with a bit of shim stock from a beer or soda can in between the handlebars and clamps.

 

Thanks Paul, I will check/replace those bushings. Would have been easier to do last week when the fron was apart but I never thought about it

 

This play is definitely not from the clamp or the bar but I can appreciate the shim idea if it were. Nothing moves except the riser going through the tree
Thanks Foxtrapper for the help

 

They do shrink due to age. I have a set for my bike that I will put on one of these days. They are polyurethane, I believe the OEM bushings are rubber.
Getting to the bolts underneath is the only hard part if you have the front chrome fascia like mine does.

 

As mentioned, you can get stiffer riser bushings. You could even go solid metal and eliminate all play.

But, your price for that will be increased vibration in the handlebars.

 

I took a quick look under the top triple tree. Looks like a long 3/8 extension will get in there. I ordered a set of urethane bushings. I don't think my bars are dangerously loose but will renew them.

 

I will pass on the solids, urethane sounds better

 

I went with solid bushings and noticed no difference in vibration from the polyurethanes I had prior, but any slop in the bars was eliminated. Just FYI, I am running 16" apes on 1.5" risers.

Cheers!