I had to have my bike towed. I thought the service knew what they were doing, because they had special cups that fit over my handlebars. I was a little concerned with how hard he was ratcheting my front end down, but I didn't say anything.
When we got to the garage, my handlebars were bent down. I asked the driver if he tightened the straps too much, and he said that usually doesn't happen my bars must have been loose.
How much of a job is It to tighten it back up on an '03 FLHTCUI?

 

Asking a tow truck driver if he "tightened the straps too much" is a little like asking the head waiter if "the steak is tough."
I hope he didn't bend your bars.

 

ive been tying bikes down for close to 20 years, sport bike,s dirt bikes, harleys......ive never even heard of that.....youd have to tie it down HELLA hard....Id think a fork seal would blow before the bar were to bend....


Is it possible the bar turned down instead? If so then yea Id say they were a little loose...

Tightening it isnt a hard job, but it will be a long one (relatively). Just be patient and take your time, you definitely can do it, the long part will be getting to the bolts

 

the bars are ( and should be) mounted so that they can move in the mount- the bar mounts are in rubber bushings and can move.

the driver didn't know ( and neither did you) that bars move- they are supposed to*

they should always attach straps to the FRAME

hopefully, you can just loosen the mounts and reposition and the bars are not themselves bent, and have not dented the tank.

put a thick towel over the tank
remove the ignition switch ( youtube- MAKE THE TOOL! do not use a screwdriver or you will be posting "my stuff don;t work")
https://www.hdforums.com/forum/touri...k-back-in.html
remove the lower dash
you can loosen the 2 bolts and reposition the bars- make sure you have at least 1/2" clearance full left/right as the bars are on bushings and can be pressed into the tank by the pressure of your hands if you really lean on it


you can make a tool like this cut from a 1/4" allen , or use the butt end of a screwdriver bit :



mike


* bars, levers, floorboards are supposed to move if in a crash- a solid mounted bar could dig into the pavement and turn a slide into a tumble/flip- much more dangerous

 

While in there I highly recommend upgrading to the one piece top clamp. Can't remember exactly what year they started putting them on, thinking 06 but a very worthwhile investment. I had a set of bars crack in the center which I did not discover until I went to put a new set on. As these bars may already be compromised (stripped) now may be a good time to put on something more comfortable than stock.

 

Yes, the bars didn't actually bend. They moved down, and now I can move them up and down, with moderate pressure. I am just worried that they would move when I hit a bump, and that he may have stripped the serrations.
It seems like nobody knows what they are doing. I suspect the reason I had to have it towed was because I was sold a bad battery, but I'll find out when my new Indy comes back next week. I hope he knows what he is doing.
I like Sauk-Prairie HD, but they are 100 miles away.

 

Now is the time to upgrade to new bars, or even adding heated grips if you don't have them......jus sayin'

 

Will your Insurance cover this?

 

Your tow truck driver was an idiot and a liar! I know of what I speak. In addition to being an attorney, I have been driving tow trucks on weekends since my high school days. If he strapped your bike down in such a way as to cause your handlebars to move, he's an amateur driver..... at best. I have towed many a stranded or police call motorcycle, and would never damage a customers bike like he did yours. That screen shot was taken by my wife of me hauling a police call wreck. No where in the picture do you see me strapping the bars. Let alone in a way that would twist or bend them. I hope you are able to tighten yours back up in a way that they stay secure.

 

Pull the outer faring, loosen the radio pull it away from the bars a bit, then set your bars, and tighten them up.