I am going to change the handle bar clamp bolts on my 2012 Heritage from the factory zinc coated to chrome. I took one out and noticed it's a grade 8. The chrome bolts I get locally are not grade 8 and the replacement bolts Harley sells doesn't state the grade. Anyone have any thoughts on why these would need to be grade 8? I can't believe there is that much stress on the handle bars.


Jack

 

I wouldn't downgrade any bolts personally, but then again it seems as I get older I seem to be less of a thrill seeker too...lol

You know about bolts but just thought I'd share this link to a pretty informative article (I thought) reference bolts for others who stumble across here wondering about the differences etc.

Nuts&Bolts about Hardware

 

i would think next to axle bolts and nuts, the bar clamp bolts are the most important bolts on the bike.. i wouldn't be cheaping out on these bolts. if the bolts that HD are selling are for bar clamps then i would go with them.

 

I would say first of all a grade 5 bolt will work just as well as an 8 for what you are useing them for. You can't tighten a 5 to a point of breakage with the threads in the risers are not that strong to begin with. I do understand where you are comming from. I would be leery of some chrome bolts made in china as some are grade 2 or less and thats not good. The Harley bolts are cheap enough so just go with them and you will be ok