Please forgive the stupid question... but I've never worked on a bike and before starting wanted to ask you guys for some advice.

I purchased a set of 39mm clip ons for my 2010 Iron. I understand I have to remove the top fork stem bracket to slide the clip ons on to the forks, but will I need to remove the tank as well? I cant see the bracket sliding up and off the forks without hitting it.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks! - John

 

Wouldn't it be easier to slide the forks down in the trees and slide the clip-ons on the forks than trying to remove the top triple clamp if that's what you're thinking about?

 

Like I said, I never worked on a bike before. So if I jack the bike up and loosen the pinch bolts on the top and bottom trees I can just slide the forks down?

 

Yep. It's easier to do with the wheel removed so you can do one side at a time but if you put the bike on a jack with the wheels one the ground, loosen the tree clamp bolts then jack the bike up (leaving the front wheel on the ground) they'll slide out of the upper tree.

 

Do you have a service manual for your bike? If not, STOP and go get one before you do anything else. It will be the most valuable $60 you have ever spent on your bike.

 

Ahh...very wise. When you retighten your clamp bolts they need to be torqued to a certain spec or you risk damage to the threads, bolt or tree itself...and that's just the tree.

 

Thanks guys! I did pick up the manual (you can actually download it for 6 bucks instead of buying it for $60) so I have all of the torque specs. Hopefully I'll post some pics tomorrow and let you know how it went. I would have ended up taking the bike apart just to install them if I didnt ask here first lol

 

Then you're off to a good start! Do you have an adequate motorcycle jack or safe way of lifting the bike? That's the second step.

 

Those bolts have torque specs??? hahaha - OOPS!

 

John - The way I did it was I supported the center of the bike with a jack. I lifted the bike ONLY to the point where the FRONT END was off the ground by about 6"-8". STRAP YOUR BIKE TO THE JACK WITH RATCHED STRAPS! Loosen all your bolts in your trees. JUST loosen them. Spray some WD-40 on your fork tubes to help them slide DOWN just enough to get your clips in place. If they are hard to slide down, hit your front tire with a rubber hammer. Once your clips are on, slide your fork tubes back up, and tighten your tree bolts. I didn't know the tree bolts have torque specs, so I just tightened them really well and for the last 2 years it's worked for me fine Once your front end is all tight, you can let your bike down and sit on it to feel where you want your bars to be. You can adjust the height and pull-back to VARIOUS degrees. Love these bars. This is the easiest route to take, I think. You DO NOT need to remove your upper tree or your gas tank. Also, you may want to consider internally wiring your bars, as they will NOT be dimpled. Good luck and keep us updated!!!!