Adjusting handlebars? Maybe one is bent??? (2002 Sprint)

[sean79]

I've never owned a bike with clip-on bars, and I don't know a lot about some of this stuff.  I just picked up a 2002 Sprint RS, and I have a handlebar question.

When sitting still, if I turn the front forks all the way to the right, I still have room for my thumb between the grip and my gas tank.  If I turn all the way to the left, the bar/grip almost hits the tank (no room for my thumb).  At first, I thought it was just out of adjustment, and I could loosen, rotate, and re-tighten.  Upon further inspection, it looks like there are a couple of bolts that go down into the triple-tree, making a clockwise turn of the left clip-on impossible.  

Am I mistaken?  Can the clip-on handlebar be adjusted?

I'm assuming it's not normal for the left bar to have less tank clearance than the right bar????

If it's not normal, and if the clip-ons can't be rotated, do I probably have a bent bar.  Or does it indicate other issues?

Thanks.



P.S. - I hope you guys/gals can tolerate some newbie questions over the next couple of weeks.  I'm not new to motorcycles, but I am new to this type of motorcycle.  

[Croak]

There's no rotation/fore/aft adjustment on riser bars (it's not a "clip-on", those, well, clip-on to the fork tube).  

As long as it's not hitting, you're probably ok, a severe bend would be rather obvious, and tough to bend outward at that.  I'd say it's your brake line and/or clutch cable that are preventing it from turning as far to the left, giving you the impression that it is at full lock.  Triumph was a bit stingy on the brake lines in particular on the 955's, and they're braided stainless so there's no give.

[Rincewind]

Did you check if the forks are slightly twisted?  Is there evidence that the bike was down before?

[sean79]

Thanks. I know the bike has been down - the right front panel (the part with the big RS) is broken.  And, there are actually scratches on both sides of the bike's plastics.  Didn't check to see if the forks looked twisted, but if they are, it's not so obvious that it jumped out at me.  I'll have to go out and check.  

If the forks are twisted, what do I need to do?  Can I adjust/twist them back?

[Rincewind]

If they are twisted - not aligned to the grips when riding or when standing astride the front wheel - then you can loosen the fork pinch bolts, hold the wheel with your legs and get them straight. 

Don't forget to post pics of it in the minivan or elsewhere.

[sean79]

Thanks.  When I get it out of the van, I'll check the forks out better.

In the meantime...

It took three of us to get it in there.  Not yet sure when it's coming out.  

[pushr0d]

AWESOME PICTURES!

I love it!

You might want to take off the left fairing (at least) so you can get a better handhold, and not bust any plastic when you go to muscle it out.


Re: the bars.  The forks will not affect the 'travel' of the trees, and thus the handlebars.  Maybe one is actually bent, but it sounds trivial.  As long as it doesn't hit the tank, you're golden.

I'd say you could pull down both bars and compare them to see if one is different, but the job would be a rather large PITA.

[Hatepylons]

Most likely not, but it could be a Triumph thing. My Girlie is tighter on the right side compared to the left.

I live in Central PA too, if you haven't gotten it out of the van yet I can provide a useful pair of hands. Or beer.

I'm assuming it's not normal for the left bar to have less tank clearance than the right bar????

[APEowner]

It's also possible that the fork stop is damaged on one side so that the bars can turn further than they did originally.

[sean79]

I live in Central PA too, if you haven't gotten it out of the van yet I can provide a useful pair of hands. Or beer.

It's not yet out, and I appreciate the offer, but the bike still sitting in the van has more to do with my work schedule and the weather than it does with lack of people to help.  Besides, I'm waaaaay up north (just south of the NY state line).  I'm shooting for Saturday.  Thanks.

Edit:  Got it out after work.  Need to charge the battery, but it's raining anyway.  Tomorrow is supposed to be dry - high temp around 64 degrees.  Might put a few miles on her and check the forks out a little better then.