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Everything Breakout! Find out everything you need to know! Some topics include:
• Customizing you bike
• Seats
• Risers
• And much more!
For more information check out these threads:More Threads
• Customizing you bike
• Seats
• Risers
• And much more!
For more information check out these threads:More Threads
The Everything Breakout Thread
#6011
Thanks Jim. I've got my new Avons on now and have a few hundred miles on them and I've got to say they feel great. Obviously comparing old worn Dunlops with these new Avons isn't fair but the bike definitely handles better than I remember.
I went for the Cobra AV71 120/70-21 68V on the front and a Cobra AV72 250/40 R18 81V on the back. The 120 front, as Jim says makes a massive difference to the handling and the 250 is only millimeters wider than the Dunlop but has more of a radius on the cross section, the bike tips into corners so much easier now.
I'm running the Avon recommended pressures of 36 front and 40 rear which feels fine but the temps here in sunny England are on the chilly side so think these are good for now.
If it's not obvious I recommend the Avon Cobras.
I went for the Cobra AV71 120/70-21 68V on the front and a Cobra AV72 250/40 R18 81V on the back. The 120 front, as Jim says makes a massive difference to the handling and the 250 is only millimeters wider than the Dunlop but has more of a radius on the cross section, the bike tips into corners so much easier now.
I'm running the Avon recommended pressures of 36 front and 40 rear which feels fine but the temps here in sunny England are on the chilly side so think these are good for now.
If it's not obvious I recommend the Avon Cobras.
#6014
got the new Thunderbike risers and installed them this morning. (I know people love the apes - so no further comments needed! haha) the question I have is do I need to use some loctite on the upper riser bolts? I went for a quick run after the install, and at the end I could feel movement in the bars. or do I just need to tighten it down with a ratchet instead of an allen key. (for more leverage - as it was about as tight as I could get with the allen wrench)
#6015
got the new Thunderbike risers and installed them this morning. (I know people love the apes - so no further comments needed! haha) the question I have is do I need to use some loctite on the upper riser bolts? I went for a quick run after the install, and at the end I could feel movement in the bars. or do I just need to tighten it down with a ratchet instead of an allen key. (for more leverage - as it was about as tight as I could get with the allen wrench)
The cure is this: You need to first get the specific torque that the bar manufacturer recommends be applied to secure these bars against rotation. If, incredibly enough, that torque spec is not anywhere in the instructions that came with the bars, you need to get it IN WRITING (for liability reasons) from the bar manufacturer.
Then you need to get the specific torque that the bar clamp / riser manufacturer recommends be applied to the relatively small diameter bolts that prevent bar rotation. Again,if, incredibly enough, that torque spec is not anywhere in the instructions that came with the bar clamps or clamp/riser assembly, you need to get it IN WRITING (for liability reasons) from the bar clamp/riser manufacturer.
Hopefully,these 2 differently calculated and developed torque figures will be similar.if they are not, you will unfortunately have to go with the lower number.This is because a torque higher than recommended by the bar manufacturer can crush the bar. A torque higher than recommended by the bar clamp or riser assembly manufacturer can strip,or even fracture, the bolts. EITHER of these bad outcomes obviously gets you falling off the bike at speed.
If you have to go with the lower number, it is possible that the torque may be insufficient to keep the bars from rotating, ESPECIALLY right at the worst time: when you apply a particularly high load to the bars because you have an emergency situation. So, if the 2 numbers from the 2 manufacturers are more than minimally different, I personally would find either a different bar or a different bar clamp/riser assembly, because the one thing that must NOT happen EVER is that the bars rotate. If they do, there is a good chance they will kill you.
If the 2 torque numbers are reasonably consistent with each other, use a RELIABLE torque wrench ((i.e. good one, not cheap one, and one that you KNOW is properly calibrated and has not been overstressed) when torquing those bolts.
Someone may suggest that if the numbers are too different, that you get the bars crosshatched in the area where they pass through the bar clamps/ risers (I forget what they call this process). However, if they are NOT already crosshatched there BY THEIR MANUFACTURER, do not have that done retroactively,as then you(a) destroy any anti-corrosion coating and thus weaken the bars, or (b) you weaken the bars just via the crosshatching process itself(it displaces metal).
You have got yourself a serious safety issue. Don't treat this casually.
Jim G
#6016
got the new Thunderbike risers and installed them this morning. (I know people love the apes - so no further comments needed! haha) the question I have is do I need to use some loctite on the upper riser bolts? I went for a quick run after the install, and at the end I could feel movement in the bars. or do I just need to tighten it down with a ratchet instead of an allen key. (for more leverage - as it was about as tight as I could get with the allen wrench)
I also read that there's a correct way to tighten the bolts, so this time I tightened the front 2 bolts (sitting on the bike) until cap is just touching the raiser, so there's no gap, then tightened the rear 2 bolts, before torqueing them all down. The only gap should be at the rear of the raiser. I've tested it by pulling/pushing on the them, and have almost 1k miles on the bike since mounting them it this way, and the bars haven't moved a bit!..... and yes, I use a ratchet/torque wrench, I don't think you can get it tight enough with an allen.
Last edited by Rocker B; 10-05-2017 at 08:21 PM.
The following 3 users liked this post by Rocker B:
#6017
#6018
I will look at the manual that came with the risers - it is in German, but I should be able to see a torque # if it is listed. also the bars are do have the machine marks where they contact the risers, but the risers themselves (both stock and the new ones) are smooth chrome on the contact points.
I think I will get that grip tape and lock them down again. thanks for the tip!
I think I will get that grip tape and lock them down again. thanks for the tip!
#6019
I will look at the manual that came with the risers - it is in German, but I should be able to see a torque # if it is listed. also the bars are do have the machine marks where they contact the risers, but the risers themselves (both stock and the new ones) are smooth chrome on the contact points.
I think I will get that grip tape and lock them down again. thanks for the tip!
I think I will get that grip tape and lock them down again. thanks for the tip!
#6020