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Risers and Handlebars

16K views 33 replies 14 participants last post by  fd.sheriff 
#1 ·
Looking for some suggestions on risers or Handlebars that for 07 America.
My elbows are locked in a straight position while riding. Not very comfortable.I need some elbow bend.

Found these on Ebay but they would require drilling out the mounting hole to 1/2 inch.
Also I was under the impression that the America bars were 1 inch in diameter??

http://www.ebay.com/itm/5-5-Handlebar-Risers-7-8-For-Triumph-America-Legend-Rocket-Classic-Touring-/161393782202?fits=Make%3ATriumph%7CModel%3AAmerica&hash=item2593d1adba:g:bVoAAOSwT5tWICsh&vxp=mtr
 
#6 ·
I purchased Rivco risers. They fit the existing holes. Moves the bars back about 2'' and up about an inch. That worked well for me. I think Fast eddy sells them.
Don
I have seen those pricey buggers. They look very nice!
Did they require you to do any modifications to your cabling?

I cut 1 inch gas pipe just under 1.75 inches for a mock up to see what it would feel like and if cables were affected. (total rise 3.5 inches.)
Throttle cable is affected and increases the rpm when turning to the right.
Left side, no problem.
Will probably be necessary to reroute the throttle cables in front of the triple tree at that amount of rise.
 
#3 ·
risers

With a 29-inch inseam I had an uncomfortable reach to things on my '05 America. I have read good reviews on the Rivco parts, but price is high. I tried some of the $35.00 risers on ebay that are 3-1/2 x 1, but they hit the bezel of my tachometer ever so slightly. If I modify them some I may be allright. Hope to get back to the bike soon.
 
#5 · (Edited)
With a 29-inch inseam I had an uncomfortable reach to things on my '05 America. I have read good reviews on the Rivco parts, but price is high. I tried some of the $35.00 risers on ebay that are 3-1/2 x 1, but they hit the bezel of my tachometer ever so slightly. If I modify them some I may be allright. Hope to get back to the bike soon.
Are you talking about a stock oem tach in the dash of an after market tach?
Seems you would give more clearance to the dash tach with risers.??
Or do you mean they overhang at the base of your triple tree?

What did you do in regard to your cable length?
 
#7 ·
Also the handle bars on the 02-10 america are pretty wide. Wonding if anyone would know if they could be bent 1 inch per side inward? This would improve reach and be a lot more comfortable for my reach.

I guess going to the 2011 to current America handlebars could be an option. As they are a bit narrower and have more pullback.
Wondering if anyone has done this and would there be any cabling length issues?
 
#8 ·
You can always cut an inch or so off of the bars to make them narrower. I cut 2 inches off each side of my Speedys drag bars and they are much more comfortable.
 
#10 ·
I have an 09 America. With the Rivco riser no cable or brake line problems. Anything longer will need additional length cables and brake line. And yes they are pricey and very pretty. I found mine on ebay. When I got them one side was stripped. I contacted the seller & Rivco replaced them for free. They even covered the shipping.
Good Luck,
Don
 
#13 ·
riser bolts

No, I didn't want to modify the scooter in a way that it couldn't go back to stock. I got creative and bought some grade five 1/2-inch bolts for the after-market risers. I cut-off the bolt head, then had my neighbor turn down half of the bolt length in his lathe to 10mm (?), whatever the stock size was, then re-threaded the end portion of the remaining bolt shaft. So I ended-up with a 'crossover' stud to install the ebay risers without having to modify the triple tree, and a nut on the bottom. Worked really nice, even a closer fit into the triple tree than the stock fastener.
 
#14 ·
No, I didn't want to modify the scooter in a way that it couldn't go back to stock. I got creative and bought some grade five 1/2-inch bolts for the after-market risers. I cut-off the bolt head, then had my neighbor turn down half of the bolt length in his lathe to 10mm (?), whatever the stock size was, then re-threaded the end portion of the remaining bolt shaft. So I ended-up with a 'crossover' stud to install the ebay risers without having to modify the triple tree, and a nut on the bottom. Worked really nice, even a closer fit into the triple tree than the stock fastener.
Always nice to have a Lathe Buddy!
I am not crazy about the idea of drilling out the trip tree, (no lathe buddy) so I think I will order up a pair of these that should be close to the rise and pullback without any drilling or hitting the tach..
Thanks a bunch to all for the advise and insight here!
http://www.pure-triumph.com/p-2360-triumph-thunderbird-chrome-handlebar-risers-a9738165.aspx
 
#17 ·
#18 ·
I recently bought my '09 Speedmaster with Harley "deuce" risers installed. Now, I've never ridden a stock SM, but even with the risers, I feel way more tucked than I was on my Honda Shadow. Maybe that's part of the bad boy appeal of the Speedy, but I have aches in my back and wrists and feet that I really hope are just training pain.
 
#19 · (Edited)
Well got the Thunderbird risers installed.
It made a nice difference. No need to alter the cables in any way.
They clear the dash at full lock by only about 1/8 inch, but clear.
There is a slight pull on the throttle cables at full lock right but
nothing I can't live with. May reroute the cables at a later date.

I may find I want the bars a little closer yet. In which case I would
likely add a set of the JBQ spacers to the TB's risers in which case I am sure then would require some alteration in cables.

Would still like to know if I could bend the bars an inch or so on each side to decrease the width without any damage to chrome or strength to the bars??



 
#20 ·
Looks nice, glad they worked for you too!

I would personally not bend a chrome plated bar. First, you'd never really get it bent where you want it and evenly on both sides. Second, playing happens after manufacturing. At that point, source different bars. They're not that difficult to get. BUT, as you've seen like I did, you're RIGHT THERE with the cables and the Thunderbird risers. Bob's riser spacers on top of them will most likely require new cables / lines, and, it's more lift, not pullback with the riser spacers.

FYI, her Mustang seat moved her forward a bit too. If thinking about a new seat, keep that in mind.
 
#23 ·
With adding riser/spacers I would hope to get a bit more pullback
due to the rake angle of the triple tree. Instead, I might consider trying to find new handle bars that would do the trick.
I was looking at the bars on a 2016 Kawasaki 900 and they looked and felt pretty good. I like them better than the stock bars on the
2011 and up Americas.
Thanks again for your help with this...
 
#21 ·
Hi Enroute1 might be a bit late but I've got an 07 America & being a short arse I wanted to raise & bring the bars back a little. so I read on here I think? that Thunderbird standard risers fit with one small mod & that was to re route the cables which entailed going thru the frame from clutch side to the throttle side to give it that little bit of extra length rise of about 1" rake back to rider 1 1/2" works fine for me.
Cheers
Wil
 
#25 ·
Hey enroute1 I disconnected from the throttle grip to re route wasn't too hard. I used bent pointy nose pliers to help with the cable ends,but had to be very gentle. I have trouble remembering exactly how things go back together so I took pic's with my phone. A pic is worth a thousand words so they say. I also had the cables going above the steering lock which gave just enough slack that there isn't any tension or problems with the throttle.hope this helps.
cheers
Wil
 
#32 ·
Brianhsval

I mounted some buckhorns on my '05. Did not need longer cables, only some re-routing of the original cables. However, I was not comfortable with weird angle that resulted for mounting the master cylinder. I went back to stock bars w/risers.
 
#33 ·
MonkeyB,
If you look at Fasteddy's site you will see the Rivco risers. Eddy is a America rider and is real helpful. I sold my 09 America and now have a 2011 Speedmaster. Just bought a Mustang solo seat from him. Lots of people on this forum have used him. Those risers really were a great help on the America.
Good luck on your bike.
Don
 
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