Risers are the tower-like brackets that attach a handlebar to the front fork and are found on most motorcycles that use a single piece, tubular handlebar. While their purpose is functional, aftermarket options offer a wide variety of risers that can alter both the comfort and appearance of a motorcycle.
Handlebar Riser Construction
- Most handlebar risers are made from steel or aluminum and sold as a pair, with each riser including a solid base and a cap. The riser base generally mounts onto the upper fork clamp by a bolt inserted through the bottom of the clamp, although some risers integrate a mounting post into the bottom of the riser base. The tip of the post is threaded, allowing the riser base to be secured to the fork clamp with a nut and washer. A recess is cut into the center of the riser base and cap, allowing a 7/8- to one-inch handlebar to be held tightly in place. The cap is bolted into place over the handlebar and the riser base. The riser caps are also subject to variation, and some riser bases share a longer, single-piece cap that extends over the center of the handlebar.
Functional Uses
- Aside from providing a mounting point for the handlebar, risers may be used to isolate the rider's hands from numbing engine vibrations through rubberized dampers. The dampers are inserted into the riser mount holes drilled into the upper fork clamp, through which the riser base posts are inserted. The risers can also be used to move the handlebar back and away from the front fork, reducing the distance the rider must reach to steer.
Handlebar Risers and Rider Comfort
- Comfort is a primary concern for many motorcycle riders, with most investing in products to increase it. Smaller riders or those with shorter arms often need to reach forward to reach the handlebar on all but the smallest motorcycles, resulting in arm fatigue and back pain. Installing a riser set that has a longer pull back -- the amount the risers move the handlebar away from the front fork -- can place the rider in a comfortable riding position. Likewise, taller or longer-armed riders can benefit from short risers to provide more arm room.
Risers on Custom Motorcycles
- Motorcycle riders like to change their machines' appearance in one form or another. Some make very small changes, while others opt to replace as much of the stock components with chrome or carbon-fiber elements as possible, and handlebar risers aren't excluded. The aftermarket is full of risers that range in colors, materials and shapes to fit the tastes of even the most discriminating motorcycle enthusiasts. Risers are usually selected to fit the overall theme of the motorcycle and often incorporate design elements found elsewhere on the machine.
Posted in: Recreational Vehicles