2000 Road King???
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5th Gear
Joined: Jun 2013
Posts: 9
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From: Memphis 10
2000 Road King???
I just traded my Sportster for a 2000 Road King and I love it but I did notice something weird today. Do the handlebars have any movement back and forth or should they be super tight? It doesn't seem to be loose like the bolts aren't tight,there is just some slack that I didn't have on my sportster. thanks
Extreme HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 14,744
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From: Phoenix '53, '88, '09 Big Twins
like most harleys you can replace the bushings with rubber- like stock or polyurethane- aftermarket usually.
I use the rubber bushings as they don;t transfer vibrations as much- I have carpal tunnel syndrome.
poly are almost a must for high bars, more leverage
mike
I use the rubber bushings as they don;t transfer vibrations as much- I have carpal tunnel syndrome.
poly are almost a must for high bars, more leverage
mike
Extreme HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 14,744
Likes: 402
From: Phoenix '53, '88, '09 Big Twins
I believe for your model you have to remove headlight ( cover fender) then remove the spear, then you can get at the handlebar clamp under the trim piece.
of course a factory manual is better than my memory ( or opinion)
for diagram:
http://partsfinder.onlinemicrofiche.....asp?make=hdmc
select year, then model then assembly
mike
of course a factory manual is better than my memory ( or opinion)
for diagram:
http://partsfinder.onlinemicrofiche.....asp?make=hdmc
select year, then model then assembly
mike
Road Master
Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 836
Likes: 230
From: Deep South
one piece top clamp ...
here's one on ebay ...
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Gorilla-Grab...lVWlCQ&vxp=mtr
or you could get a stock one piece from a street glide , drill and tap it like we did the one on our 14' SG
hope this helps !!!
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Cruiser
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 153
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From:
I believe this is a common problem on older Roadkings and recommend that you make the repair a top priority. I painfully learned how quickly they can become loose in a two up riding situation. At first it appeared that I had lost my balance while making a slow 90 degree turn to go up a steep incline but later noticed that the bars had slipped about an two inches and that was all is took.
This is not at all difficult or time consuming. In addition to the factory manual, there is a YouTube video that I found helpful. Just tightening the clamps won't likely last very long so plan to replace the bushings too.
This is not at all difficult or time consuming. In addition to the factory manual, there is a YouTube video that I found helpful. Just tightening the clamps won't likely last very long so plan to replace the bushings too.
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Tourer
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 252
Likes: 50
From: Georgia
+1 for Bwanns comment about riser bushings.
I have a 2000 Road King, and I struggled with feel in fhe handlebars as well. The bars weren't loose in the handlebar clamp, but particularly at slow speeds they felt like they weren't "tight" with front fork. On gravel, it was a real curse. I never went down, but it always felt like I did not have control. I changed tires to get a different tread pattern, and later changed to monotubes in the front suspension. I tinkered with the stock air shocks, and finally switched to heavier Progressive rear shocks. All of those things helped a little but it didn't completely solve my problem.
Finally, I saw a post on this forum about checking the tightness of the riser bolts, that you access at the bottom of the top triple tree. I found them to be only slightly looser than spec, so I torqued them to the top of the torque spec range. Immediate night and day difference. Figuring that helped, I subsequently replaced the riser bushings with the new harder ones, and the front end feel got even better. Combined with the other suspension changes I had already done made this old Road King great handling bike.
I also have an Ultra Limited that was having the same front end feel issues. Did the same repair to it, and it immediately corrected my problem.
I have a 2000 Road King, and I struggled with feel in fhe handlebars as well. The bars weren't loose in the handlebar clamp, but particularly at slow speeds they felt like they weren't "tight" with front fork. On gravel, it was a real curse. I never went down, but it always felt like I did not have control. I changed tires to get a different tread pattern, and later changed to monotubes in the front suspension. I tinkered with the stock air shocks, and finally switched to heavier Progressive rear shocks. All of those things helped a little but it didn't completely solve my problem.
Finally, I saw a post on this forum about checking the tightness of the riser bolts, that you access at the bottom of the top triple tree. I found them to be only slightly looser than spec, so I torqued them to the top of the torque spec range. Immediate night and day difference. Figuring that helped, I subsequently replaced the riser bushings with the new harder ones, and the front end feel got even better. Combined with the other suspension changes I had already done made this old Road King great handling bike.
I also have an Ultra Limited that was having the same front end feel issues. Did the same repair to it, and it immediately corrected my problem.
Last edited by GaJayhawk; Apr 19, 2016 at 05:44 AM.
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