Handlebar alignment:

I recently added 4 1/2" risers to my 883 XLH. I also moved the speedometer and indicator lights forward so they sit 4" directly above the hood of the headlight & just a couple inches in front of the handlebars.

I had noticed the bars were not 90 degrees to the front wheel when I first bought the bike, but with the two rods suporting the speedo the mis-allignment is pretty noticeable, although I did get it closer when I installed the risers and new vibration dampers.

Is there a secret to getting them "right on"? I have a keen eye and can see things just a degree or two out of whack and it bugs the heck out of me.

Thanks in advance for any good tips!

Thanks LRG. I had a sneaking suspicion it would be as you said. Check, tighten, recheck, loosen, recheck, etc. It really isn't too bad and one heck of a lot better than when I got it. I'm getting a solid billet chromed top clamp for the handlebars and will wait intil I install it to do some more tweaking.

It's really a bear trying to get a 3/4" socket wrench on the bottom bolts to the risers. I'm going to buy a ratcheting box wrench and give it a whirl. It should make equally tightening them a bit easier. (I think)..

Good riding,

Can You Imagine

If someone came up with an open end wratchitting wrench? OK all you machinists out there, thats a billion dolla idea. So get busy. GUMBY PEACE

"Ask and you shall receive": http://www.webbikeworld.com/r2/alden-wrench/

I bought a set of rel flat profile box wrenches with an angle on the ends and ratchet (No, it wasn't rat s**t) at Harbor Freight for like $4.00 and I think they will work fine - at least on my bike.

I know Harbor Freight is no Snap-on or Craftsman, but for the occasional home use I find their products perform fine for home use. If you are a professional mechanic, that's a different story.

Many don't realize that their better items carry a lifetime gaurantee - just bring it in for replacement like at Sears and their Craftsman, so you can't go wrong. Only problem is we are supporting the Chicoms, but many would be surprised by how many "US companies" are actually at least getting castings from China and doing the final machining and/or assembly in the US!

After you look at the above hyyperlink, do another Google search and get some price comparisons since there are others that make these I believe. My other motto is NEVER, like in NEVER EVER, pay MSRP for anything!

I Hear You On That China Thing.

If U.S.A. companys can go right over the border into mexico and get slave labor to do the work that americans were doing. I have no problem with going to H.F.
I go there for many things such as tapes,tools,paint brushes, and so on.
I don't know if you relize this but you can see all the big U.S companys right there on the border of mexico and the U.S.
Look at all these people who worked for companys all their lives and now they are not taking care of them. They took their pensions and health benifits. The problem is that our govt. is letting it happen. They found a loop hole and they are going for it. I am talking about viable companys now. Not dead ones. It really sucks if you think about it.
I have other thoughts on this but won't dare let them loose here.
Thanks for the tip. I will hit them up today sometime. GUMBY PEACE

Gumby

NAFTA was the culprit... Now it is difficult to find a decent job with bene's.

Sounds like a soap box topic....

Of all the country's to lose our work go to, China is the worst possible in all respects. I don't trust the Chicoms and they have as many nukes as we do.

With that said, I'm not sure we can blame our government for this. It has become a "world economy" and it started years ago even before NAFTA. The hydraulic pumps etc. we used to get from US companies were made in Germany, Spain, India, and eleswhere. They were forced to do so to compete on the world market.

Isolationism won't work, so I IHATE to say it, but as the 3rd world standard of living increases, ours will begin to decrease. Sort of like water seeking it's own level. An excellent example is that China is now on a major factory building campaign in Phenon Penh, Cambodia. The Chinese found out labor was even cheaper in Cambodia, and they will rape that country of their natural resources - or worse. They may just take it over without a shot being fired!

I really feel bad for hard-working people who lost therir pensions etc. I am NOT a socialist, but I think in those cases our government should assist them. Yes I know it's out of our pocket, but these are our working brothers and sisters. I thought Pension Pdid have governmentt protection, but perhaps I'm wrong. Or maybe you're talking about stock ownership which is different and always a risk.

Gad, I'm sory for the long rant, but you brought up a subject I'm involved with in many ways: From selling this stuff to try to earn an honest living, to building orphan homes in Cambodia. We just returned from there about 8 weeks ago.

I have a few "not used often" items from Harbor Freight but since I don't live near one, the lifetime warranty sucks. you have to pay the freight to send it back and you're out the tool until you get the new one.

Yes It Was..

You see it really does not matter which knucklehead group is in office. The working class always gets screwed. I am retired now and don't have to worry any more about that stuff. I did my 30 years and gone. I had to worry about the motion picture biz. Canada was giving them so many tax breaks and non union workers it was hard for them not to leave the states.
They say that when you are buying drugs you are sending money to our enemys. Probably true but what about the lobbyists paying big bucks to get things passed. Then there is all our govt. workers SS package. You might want to take a look at that and see what they get when they retire. Plus what their wives get.
Then there are those raises they give themselves in the 12 th hour right before x-mas. That won't be contested. I can go on and on.
It is a very sad thing that in this country children go to bed hungry and live in shacks with no heat or a bathroom.
Then we are always at the ready to help other countrys whenever something happens. ITHINK THAT STINKS.....GUMBY PEACE

Hey Hrk,

Yes you have made some points. The thing is that the companys that are screwing the workers out of their pensions and benifits are still in biz. and doing very well. I am not talking about failures here. They found a hole and kept digging. Our fathers and grandfathers are paying for this corp. greed. thats just my take on it. I worked for one company for 30 years and I am getting what I deserve from them. I also just got a raise also. They are giving me an extra 2 checks a year. I am a lucky one. I feel for those who put their lives into a company and now are getting screwed.

It all has ENRON written all over it. BIg biz. is just a pig. There execs. get bonues on top of bonueses. They fail to relize how important the working man really is. MY felling and My take on the matter. GUMBY PEACE

You Have That Right

I was shocked one year when I went to make my spoke rims air tight. There is a place in calif. that did it and it worked. So I had tubeless spoke rims.
When I took the rim in and saw a sticker inside of my HD rim saying MADE IN JAPAN. I was a bit taken back. It's like you say though, we took our eyes off the prize. At least those companys are working in the states. Then we have american companys leaving the states completely. So then it's a loose loose for all american workers, union or not. No taxes are being paid by americans in Mexico. Thats why I am getting all the money I can that belongs to me from the govt. All that SDI taken out of your checks belongs to you. So I say go get it and use it. GUMBY PEACE