Idiot behind bars - riser installation

Old Bear · 07-09-2019, 09:57 AM

Don't be like me! In the process of installing $60 risers on my Vaquero, I cracked an $80 handlebar clamp, plus a week of downtime - OUCH! All handlebar clamps are NOT the same, and neither are the instructions available online. I won't confuse the issue with the bad info that I got. Now that I have access to a service manual, I will share what you need to know.

The handlebar clamp is "cut" on one side of the bottom, creating a bevel. This is the back side, closest to the tank. Put a couple of drops of two-cycle oil on the threads of the clamp bolts, install the top bolt and torque to 25 ft-lb. ONLY THEN torque the rear clamp bolt to 25 ft-lb. If installed correctly, THERE WILL BE NO GAP BETWEEN THE CLAMP AND THE HOLDER AT THE FRONT OF THE BAR. This is straight from the service manual.

DO NOT center the clamp's gap and gradually torque the bolts down - THIS WILL COST YOU.

DO NOT look for markings on the bottom of the clamp for orientation - THE BEVEL IS THE ONLY THING THAT MATTERS.

Now, adding insult to injury, I find that for $10 more, I could have purchased the Kawi Billet Clamp. Well, crap on me.

mbarr10 · 07-09-2019, 07:49 PM

Great to Know, thanks for sharing.

**smokier** · 07-13-2019, 07:41 AM

Greetings OldBear,

What MBarr said.

Ride safe,
Smokier

Lumberjack · 07-13-2019, 08:31 AM

Too late...

I have 3 (of 4) pieces sitting in a box now...

Cause I did it before your post does this mean I'm NOT an idiot???

mbarr10 · 07-13-2019, 04:34 PM

Just Today I lubed my cables. After I stripped out the lower bolt on the throttle housing, using a Dremel to cut a slot. ( Yes I have JIS screwdrivers, too). I get a new screw and re assemble. Seemed to go kind of well, Until I saw this.

IMG_20190713_144626428_HDR.jpg

**smokier** · 07-14-2019, 06:32 AM

Greetings MBarr,

I have one of those t-shirts too. "Crap, got ahead of myself again!"

Look at it this way, you'll get to spend more quality time with her.

Ride safe,
Smokier

MrMikey · 07-14-2019, 07:46 AM

Hey Mike. I cannot see anything, blind yes, dumb yes but I can't :-).
How do you like those mirror extensions? any vibration and where's you get them...........'nother Mike

mbarr10 · 07-14-2019, 10:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MrMikey

Hey Mike. I cannot see anything, blind yes, dumb yes but I can't :-).
How do you like those mirror extensions? any vibration and where's you get them...........'nother Mike

1. I reconnected the throttle cables thru the bars, not back of the bars

Personally I'm up to 2.5 magnifying reading glasses, getting old

2. Mirror extenders is my second best/ favorite mod. They are solid, no more vibrations than without them. The cheap fancy colored ones fade quickly in the sun. Had to re paint in a year.

I am The Dumb Mike

MrMikey · 07-14-2019, 12:34 PM

Quote:

1. I reconnected the throttle cables thru the bars, not back of the bars

Duhhh, I saw that and was thinking doesn't look right and be damned if I could figure out was actually wrong.

Quote:

Personally I'm up to 2.5 magnifying reading glasses, getting old

LOL, ur still a youngster...bifocals here :-).
Think I'l get a set of the extenders then, I'm tired of looking at my shoulders. They'er both 10mm RH thread I believe?........Mike

07-09-2019, 09:57 AM	#1
Old Bear Sr. Member Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: Clarksville, TN Posts: 1,434	Idiot behind bars - riser installation Don't be like me! In the process of installing $60 risers on my Vaquero, I cracked an $80 handlebar clamp, plus a week of downtime - OUCH! All handlebar clamps are NOT the same, and neither are the instructions available online. I won't confuse the issue with the bad info that I got. Now that I have access to a service manual, I will share what you need to know. The handlebar clamp is "cut" on one side of the bottom, creating a bevel. This is the back side, closest to the tank. Put a couple of drops of two-cycle oil on the threads of the clamp bolts, install the top bolt and torque to 25 ft-lb. ONLY THEN torque the rear clamp bolt to 25 ft-lb. If installed correctly, THERE WILL BE NO GAP BETWEEN THE CLAMP AND THE HOLDER AT THE FRONT OF THE BAR. This is straight from the service manual. DO NOT center the clamp's gap and gradually torque the bolts down - THIS WILL COST YOU. DO NOT look for markings on the bottom of the clamp for orientation - THE BEVEL IS THE ONLY THING THAT MATTERS. Now, adding insult to injury, I find that for $10 more, I could have purchased the Kawi Billet Clamp. Well, crap on me. __________________ Jerry "Old Bear" Barker Clarksville, TN Americas Guardians PS MC President, Tennessee 16-A VBA #02203 "Blaze" 2017 Vaquero "Black Magic" 2011 Vaquero, 69k miles, handed down to my son for hopefully many more miles! Login or Register to Remove Ads
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07-09-2019, 07:49 PM	#2
mbarr10 Sr. Member Join Date: Oct 2016 Location: Minneapolis Posts: 1,565	Great to Know, thanks for sharing. __________________ Please post back after you have solved any issues 2016 1700 Vaquero 10/4/2016 2007 1500 Classic W/ Reckless Fairing, 42,000 miles 2004 600 Honda Shadow 18,000 miles 1989 500 Honda CX Custom 55,000 miles 1973 400 Kawi Triple 5,000 miles
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07-13-2019, 04:34 PM	#5
mbarr10 Sr. Member Join Date: Oct 2016 Location: Minneapolis Posts: 1,565	Another Idiot behind the bars Just Today I lubed my cables. After I stripped out the lower bolt on the throttle housing, using a Dremel to cut a slot. ( Yes I have JIS screwdrivers, too). I get a new screw and re assemble. Seemed to go kind of well, Until I saw this. IMG_20190713_144626428_HDR.jpg __________________ Please post back after you have solved any issues 2016 1700 Vaquero 10/4/2016 2007 1500 Classic W/ Reckless Fairing, 42,000 miles 2004 600 Honda Shadow 18,000 miles 1989 500 Honda CX Custom 55,000 miles 1973 400 Kawi Triple 5,000 miles Login or Register to Remove Ads
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07-14-2019, 06:32 AM	#6
smokier Join Date: May 2015 Location: DBQ Iowa Posts: 1,807	Doh! Greetings MBarr, I have one of those t-shirts too. "Crap, got ahead of myself again!" Look at it this way, you'll get to spend more quality time with her. Ride safe, Smokier
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07-14-2019, 07:46 AM	#7
MrMikey Member Join Date: Feb 2016 Location: Nova Scotia Posts: 405	Hey Mike. I cannot see anything, blind yes, dumb yes but I can't :-). How do you like those mirror extensions? any vibration and where's you get them...........'nother Mike __________________ '09 Voyager
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07-13-2019, 07:41 AM	#3
smokier Join Date: May 2015 Location: DBQ Iowa Posts: 1,807	Greetings OldBear, What MBarr said. Ride safe, Smokier
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07-13-2019, 08:31 AM	#4
Lumberjack Advanced Member Join Date: Sep 2015 Posts: 542	Too late... I have 3 (of 4) pieces sitting in a box now... Cause I did it before your post does this mean I'm NOT an idiot???
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