What new Handle Bar Bushings Did For Me!

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Jul 30, 2009 | 01:25 PM

chiefparry

Thread Starter

Tourer

Joined: Oct 2007

Posts: 438

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From: Euless, TX

What new Handle Bar Bushings Did For Me!

All this is probably not new news for most of you but maybe something to think about for others, so here it is. I never really noticed any play in my handle bars before, but last week while stopped at a light I noticed my handle bars had a lot of play. I could actually move them up and down a few inches without much effort. When I got home I put the muscle to a wrench and cranked the nuts down as much as I could, which actually wasn’t much. The bars still moved, they even became “****-eyed” while pushing and pulling on them. Being a very quick witted kind of guy (meaning slower than most) I figured it was the bushings. The next day I popped them out and replaced them with a $40 polyurethane set from the dealer; WOW what a difference, sold as a rock now. The dealer said that even the new bikes on the floor will have some play in them, and the rubber bushings are crap, which I now believe. Now here is where I really expose my donkiness. I thought I’d try messing with the bars and readjusting them a bit; since I owned the bike (3 yrs) I wanted to put some new bars on, but never got around to it. On tight turns my knees got in the way, but I just lived with it learning to **** my knees out a bit on those turns. Will I moved the bars up a few inches, which changed the angle of the pullback to more of 45 degree instead of a 55-65 degree. Again WOW what a difference, I not only get more knee room on the tight turns, the bar position is more like mini apes and totally changed the ride position. If only I had done this a LONG time ago. Moral to the story, check your handle bar bushings and mess around with the adjustment before you go out and buy a new pair.

Jul 30, 2009 | 01:43 PM

hythomasf

Cruiser

Joined: Jul 2008

Posts: 171

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From: Gifhorn, Germany

what is the p/n of the bushing?

Frank

Jul 30, 2009 | 07:56 PM

emwolb

Ultimate HDF Member

Joined: Aug 2008

Posts: 5,413

Likes: 17

From: eastern oklahoma

that's a good write up on the bushings chiefparry. now i got something else that i gotta check on my streetglide.

Jul 30, 2009 | 08:29 PM

Beemervet

Ultimate HDF Member

Joined: May 2006

Posts: 6,590

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From: Ohio

As effective as better bushings are, replacing the two-piece handlebar clamps with the newer one-piece is equally great.

Jul 30, 2009 | 09:11 PM

BadPiggy

Outstanding HDF Member

Joined: Jul 2007

Posts: 3,410

Likes: 8

From: Knoxville, TN

People never really take the time to set their bike up after purchasing it.
They just ride.

Take a weekend to personalize your bike.
By that I mean, adjusting floorboards for comfort, handlebars..the whole she-bang.

Jul 30, 2009 | 09:19 PM

RKKY

Outstanding HDF Member

Joined: Nov 2006

Posts: 2,049

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From: Oregon City, OR

Poly bushings are a huge upgrade compared to stock. I just put a set in my 09 Street Glide when I went to black bars and will be putting a set on my 00 FXD when I install my 16" apes. No play in the SG bars at this time, but since I was going to be swapping out the bars and front end I decided to make a premptive strike.