Road King owners: Check your bars!

The taller bars need to have the strock rubber bushings replaced with poly bushings. The clamp from MoCo that costs around $20 won't fit under the nacelle without some grinding. The one piece that does fit has a zinc finish and runs closer to $40, it's part# 55918-08. Larry
 
ON my '99 Road King I had to change out the bushings that the bars are clamped to. The originals were worn out rubber the new ones were Teflon. This removed a lot of flex.

A couple of weeks after I did this job, my wife and I got cut off by a truck and that bike is gone. Sorry I do not have any pictures of the job.

I just figure that if you are in there.....
 
I've seen this before. I'm inclined to think that the problem is more the opening that's been cut into the bars creating a weak spot than the top clamp design. Probably several million RK's on the road with a two piece top clamp, no internal wiring and no problems.
 
This summer I replaced the two clamps with the one piece HD clamp, and changed out the rubber bushings with some firmer urethane bushings. Prior to this, the two little clamps did not hold well and the bars would move forward and back from time to time.

Big difference with the single clamp and better bushing. Well work the 45 minutes of labor on my part.

Now I have much more peace of mind.
 
A few months ago, I was riding and noticed the handle bars had a bit of play. Almost 10 degrees difference. Replaced the bushings with poly. Rigid as you'd ever want it to be now. Only thing is the new bushings hold the short risers up just enough to keep the hole plugs that allow access to the top bolts on the risers (under the cap) from seating properly. I had thought of using the one piece clamp, but wasn't sure if there was ample clearance for those.

Got enough info from this post to satisfy my questions. Thanks all...
 
I had a '99 Road King and found the bars were almost cracked all the way throug in the middle, they were Harley Reduced Reach bars. The reason for this was, the guy I got it from tied it down by the bars for years. I replaced the bars with the same ones( I loved those bars) and the 1 piece clamp, problem solved. Sold that bike, now on my '03 Classic I put the Wild 1 Chuby's on, and their website highly suggests changing the clamp.
 
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