Ive recently had some santee 10" mini apes fitted on my sportster iron but they are non knurled, I sometimes worry when cruising that they might slide loese how many of you guys run non knurled bars and any probs? I have tried to move but they seem pretty solid.

 

I have non knurled handmade bars on mine,never been a problem and cant see it would be unless you don't tighten the clamps enough.

 

I have non knurled 12" mini apes, and I've got the clamps as tight as I dare get them. They still move. It used to bother me, now I just consider them adjustable.. takes a hard bump one way or the other to move them intentionally, but I can make adjustments on long trips to change my position.

With 10" bars you've got less leverage, and they may never move on you. If they do, and it bothers you, search this forum for "knurled" and you'll find the topic's been discussed at length.. there are many threads with people offering suggestions as to how to solve the issue; I can't comment on any of them as I've never gotten around to trying to solve it. I'm used to it now and like being able to adjust them on the fly.

 

I have a springer and bought some bars that weren't knurled. I tried everything, including putting a roll pin in and nothing worked. I stripped the risers from trying to tighten. bought some quality risers from after hours choppers and that was much better but still slipped a little. a machinist friend recommended I get some better screws(i didn't know, i thought screws were screws) i think the company was mcmaster carr and i bought some military grade screws and i tightened them down good. that was 3 months ago and i can't even get them to budge a millimeter now. so if you still have good risers get some good screws, you'll be shocked, i sure was.

 

If your worried, and I can't blame you if you are. Open up the clamp and take a center punch and hammer some divots into the bars. The divots will push the metal up around them and give you more bite into the clamp. A buddy can hold the bars while you hammer away. He'll still have a free hand to hold his beer.

 

I think it could be a potentially dangerous issue. Please make sure those bars are tight, what if you had to brake hard and they let go?

John

 

What Jester 08 said.

 

Hmmm cheers for advice guys, I have thought about the hammer and punch method but then when I push and pull and they dont move I wonder if leave alone.

 

OP, During emergency braking would be the wrong time to reconsider your line of thinking. Ride Safe.

 

That's a common practice on non knurled bars and it will do the trick.