Up And Down Movement Of Handlebars On Ryker 900

[mthorne]

Has anyone noticed up and down movement of the handlebars on their Ryker? I have been told by three different dealerships that this is normal.
I tried four Rykers on the showroom floor a couple of days ago and they had the same amount of slop.

 

[RykerUSA]

Based on your post, it certainly sounds as if its normal.

 

[cueman]

I know they do that but don’t know why.opcorn: cueman

 

[gkamer]

I've seen Ryker videos online that say the same thing. Not sure of the reason though.

 

[MidlifeRyker]

From what I have seen, this is normal in any version of Ryker.

 

[Triumphcycleman]

The play isn't in the handle bars, it is in the steering stem as it sits in the lower mount. It has to be there (tho maybe not as much) to allow for expansion/contraction of the metal to metal surfaces. The Spyders do not have this because the stem goes into the power steering unit.

 

[cueman]

Is there any way to adjust for less play? :dontknow: cueman

 

[mthorne]

I agree that the play, or maybe better expressed as slop is in the steering stem. The handlebars just happen to be attached to the stem. I think if you grab the handle bars and pulled up on them the only thing that should move is the front wheels off of the ground. If there is that much slop in the steering it can only lead to premature wearing out of said stem. I drove many cars without power steering and I could never pull the steering wheel in and out.

 

[jcthorne]

In practice its not really a concern. You are leaning down on the bars, there is almost never an upward force on them. It does not result in slop in the steering. The angular slack is actually very little, less than we normally see on the Spyder RT.

 

[Triumphcycleman]

not that i can see, but a wisely placed plastic flat washer can make it almost disappear