CrossBones Bars dont bite
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6th Gear
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 13
Likes: 0
OK... Here is the rest of my story. The boys in the shop tried to clean off the powder coat on the bars that go in between the risers and caps. They did not so a good job so new bars are on the way. Anyway... The corrective action that has mad these bars rock solid has to do with the riser itself. Apparently the bar was resting on the riser bolt and never actually contacting the cupped part of the riser properly. From what I can see and have been told is theycompressed the rubber by adding a couple of washers. This raised the riser up over the bolt enough for the bars to have proper contact. the Draw back is that now the dampening affect that the rubber bushings have is gone and now I have some vibration in my hands. Not much. Just a tingling sensation after about 100 miles. I think I will have them make it so the bushing actually work again. I will let you know. BTW.. The slight play that feel is ok.. meaning the very small back and forth motion but if your bars actually move in aspect then you need to check what I have mention above.
Cruiser
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 191
Likes: 0
From: Laurel, Maryland
Is anybody still having issues with their handlebars moving? I ask because mine are now doing it and I'm contemplating whether I need to take it in. I hit a bump over the weekend and the bars came toward me at least an inch, so much so that I could basically only see the ground moving through my mirrors. When I got home, I was able to physically push the bars back into place, so I'm wondering if they just need tightening or does something else need to be fixed.
Tourer
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 426
Likes: 0
From: On the road to nowhere, UK
It's only a matter of double checking the friction surfaces of the clamp inner faces and the bars to make sure there is something grippy such as knurling for the clamps to bite onto. If it's making a good surface contact, then check the bolts are torqued up correctly, too much and the threads will strip on the bolts or the risers, too little and the bars will move too easily. The dealers will do this for you FOC.
If you're still not happy, it's a matter of placing something grippy such as the aluminium can strip trick, or a little wet&dry paper or something we used to do years ago was to smear a little valve grinding paste onto the clamp before tightening.
The rubber mounts are there for an anti-vibration, comfort thing. You can get solid mount replacements, but you'll get more tingle. They do allow the bars to move, but that's the nature of the beast.
Another technique to practice is gripping the tank with your knees when braking, which allows your upper body some leverage against the braking forces from braking.
Of course, with a single caliper front disc, your feet may already be doing a Fred Flintstone impression...
If you're still not happy, it's a matter of placing something grippy such as the aluminium can strip trick, or a little wet&dry paper or something we used to do years ago was to smear a little valve grinding paste onto the clamp before tightening.
The rubber mounts are there for an anti-vibration, comfort thing. You can get solid mount replacements, but you'll get more tingle. They do allow the bars to move, but that's the nature of the beast.
Another technique to practice is gripping the tank with your knees when braking, which allows your upper body some leverage against the braking forces from braking.
Of course, with a single caliper front disc, your feet may already be doing a Fred Flintstone impression...
Last edited by Reverend; Sep 15, 2008 at 09:18 AM.
4th Gear
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 8
Likes: 0
Mine is an '08 with almost 4,000 miles on it and I have not felt or noticed any movement in the handlebars. FWIW most of my riding is done in a metro area and over some pretty crappy roads and tracks, but I will keep an eye out for any slippage.
6th Gear
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 10
Likes: 0
From: Tishomingo, OK
Mine did this right after i bought it less than 50 miles. I took it back and the dealer service tightened them and they did it again in only a few miles. Back we went to the dealer and got new risers and bars under warranty and no new problems since
Intermediate
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 37
Likes: 0
From: NYC
"the Draw back is that now the dampening affect that the rubber bushings have is gone and now I have some vibration in my hands. Not much. Just a tingling sensation after about 100 miles."
Hmmm...............It is a Harley.
Just try adjusting your hand position a bit when they tingle.....or take a smoke break.
If that doesnt work try polyurethane bushings....they will take out the play.
I have mine solid mounted.......no bushings..no play..solid as a rock.
Hmmm...............It is a Harley.
Just try adjusting your hand position a bit when they tingle.....or take a smoke break.
If that doesnt work try polyurethane bushings....they will take out the play.
I have mine solid mounted.......no bushings..no play..solid as a rock.
4th Gear
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 8
Likes: 0
Mine also.
Even across the ocean they would!
almost 5k on the clock and it happens every time I push or pull nasty on the bars. Keep tightening them every now and then. I can feel the wobbling due to the bushings play, and when that's over if you keep pushing the bars would rotate into the clamps!
Waiting for HD to change them both 'cause powdercoat somehow peeled of around the knurls, both on bars and risers.
Actually planning to go to badboy bars and plastic bushings... Too many bumpy, curvy roads around here.
almost 5k on the clock and it happens every time I push or pull nasty on the bars. Keep tightening them every now and then. I can feel the wobbling due to the bushings play, and when that's over if you keep pushing the bars would rotate into the clamps!
Waiting for HD to change them both 'cause powdercoat somehow peeled of around the knurls, both on bars and risers.
Actually planning to go to badboy bars and plastic bushings... Too many bumpy, curvy roads around here.
NOT A MODERATOR
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 27,730
Likes: 23,325
From: Paradise
COunt me in...my bars slid in the clamps with less than 500 miles on the bones. TOok it back to the dealer and they said it's a common problem. THey tightened them up and we'll see how long that lasts. If they slip again, i'll raise some hell with them.
Love this bike though...it gets attention everywhere it goes. Gotta love the springer.
Love this bike though...it gets attention everywhere it goes. Gotta love the springer.
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Tourer
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 421
Likes: 2
From: United Socialist Republic of Massachusetts
Mine don't slip, BUT when I took the bars off to add a windshield mount, the riser clamps stayed with the bars, didn't want to knock them of and temp a slipping problem.
Road Captain
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 619
Likes: 0
From: edinburgh , scotland
change your risers and this will not happen.
if its for the crossbones all you need is a new riser stud ($40) which will let you put any risers
of your choice on. i could swing from mine with no movement at all.
if its for the crossbones all you need is a new riser stud ($40) which will let you put any risers
of your choice on. i could swing from mine with no movement at all.