06 Doug Hines Risers

[dpleogs]

First off THANKS Doug for great customer service and a great product. I got back from a short trip and found my risers in the mailbox. I immediately began to put them on and of course in my hurry I didn't pay close attention to my torgue wrench and snapped off one of the extensions to mount the risers on. I called Doug who said he had an extra and would ship it tomorrow. Thanks again! I then mounted the left side to see how it feels while I wait for my part. When I torqued it to proper specs I get a little movement in the riser (as if you were adjusting it to be closer or farther) if I put pressure on the bars. I realize the pins are no longer holding the riser from moving on the tree so is this normal or did I mess something up when I originally overtightened it? Would a little locktight help or should I just be careful not to put so much pressure on the bars. This movement happened when I attempted to put the bike up on the centerstand so I could feel the new riser position.

 

[bmwhd]

First off THANKS Doug for great customer service and a great product. I got back from a short trip and found my risers in the mailbox. I immediately began to put them on and of course in my hurry I didn't pay close attention to my torgue wrench and snapped off one of the extensions to mount the risers on. I called Doug who said he had an extra and would ship it tomorrow. Thanks again! I then mounted the left side to see how it feels while I wait for my part. When I torqued it to proper specs I get a little movement in the riser (as if you were adjusting it to be closer or farther) if I put pressure on the bars. I realize the pins are no longer holding the riser from moving on the tree so is this normal or did I mess something up when I originally overtightened it? Would a little locktight help or should I just be careful not to put so much pressure on the bars. This movement happened when I attempted to put the bike up on the centerstand so I could feel the new riser position.

I'm thinking you may have damaged it per the warning in the addendum Doug sends out. With 23 ft lb on the hex bolt and 47 ft lb on the 17mm nut, those bad boys should be rock solid.

 

[06/FJR]

First off THANKS Doug for great customer service and a great product. I got back from a short trip and found my risers in the mailbox. I immediately began to put them on and of course in my hurry I didn't pay close attention to my torgue wrench and snapped off one of the extensions to mount the risers on. I called Doug who said he had an extra and would ship it tomorrow. Thanks again! I then mounted the left side to see how it feels while I wait for my part. When I torqued it to proper specs I get a little movement in the riser (as if you were adjusting it to be closer or farther) if I put pressure on the bars. I realize the pins are no longer holding the riser from moving on the tree so is this normal or did I mess something up when I originally overtightened it? Would a little locktight help or should I just be careful not to put so much pressure on the bars. This movement happened when I attempted to put the bike up on the centerstand so I could feel the new riser position.

I'm thinking you may have damaged it per the warning in the addendum Doug sends out. With 23 ft lb on the hex bolt and 47 ft lb on the 17mm nut, those bad boys should be rock solid.

First off THANKS Doug for great customer service and a great product. I got back from a short trip and found my risers in the mailbox. I immediately began to put them on and of course in my hurry I didn't pay close attention to my torgue wrench and snapped off one of the extensions to mount the risers on. I called Doug who said he had an extra and would ship it tomorrow. Thanks again! I then mounted the left side to see how it feels while I wait for my part. When I torqued it to proper specs I get a little movement in the riser (as if you were adjusting it to be closer or farther) if I put pressure on the bars. I realize the pins are no longer holding the riser from moving on the tree so is this normal or did I mess something up when I originally overtightened it? Would a little locktight help or should I just be careful not to put so much pressure on the bars. This movement happened when I attempted to put the bike up on the centerstand so I could feel the new riser position.

 


I'm thinking you may have damaged it per the warning in the addendum Doug sends out. With 23 ft lb on the hex bolt and 47 ft lb on the 17mm nut, those bad boys should be rock solid.

 

[FJRocket]

I just put my DH Risers on about an hour ago. No torque wrench for me. Yes, my warranty is now void. I installed mine by feel. Since you guys keep breaking your parts, I was afraid to get out my torque wrench and go whole hog.

I snugged them up, and checked for rotation. I snugged them up (one side at a time) and checked for rotation. I did this 4 times until I got the hardware just tight enough to stop the bars from rotating under "normal" pressure. Then I went out for a test ride. No problemo. No broken parts, no bar movement.

Now I'll just bet that if I bang on a bar, those things will move, but it would probably take a mallet. That's not necessarily a bad thing if they can be moved that way. I've been riding behind a set of Lenker adapters for two years with them not completely rock solid tight. I've ridden bikes in the past with the bars set up to "break away". So this type of set up doesn't bother me in the least. Mine are not loose, and under normal operating conditions they should be stable and trouble free.

BTW, I'm not recommending this manner of set up to anyone. Just trying to let you know that I think it's workable if they are movable under force. I think if you sit on the bike, and grab both grips and you can move either bar (rotate either side) with "normal" or "assertive" pushing or pulling, they won't be tight enough and could be a real problem if you get in a jam and need to horse the bike by the bars.

Mine do not move when I'm railing around (so far). After they've been on a while, I may have to go back and snug them up some more. Maybe even THEN get out the torque wrench and see where I stand. Time will tell.

Nice risers! Easy to install. Look great. With my Corbin seat and the risers, I feel almost upright. My wrist and shoulders REALLY like the risers. Easier for me to move the bike around with the risers on, too. Gets the bike more set up like my '04. Gotta like it!

Thanks Doug!

 

[Luke]

Installed mine per instructions. Rock solid, no movement at all.

 

[wpbfjr]

the way the disclaimer reads at the begining of the install instructions, i'm left thinking that if i drop the bike, the risers will not support the bars to lift the bike...

i was taught the bike lifiting method of handle bar and bike frame with back to the bike...

as a noob, i'm sure i'm missing something...

 

[mindtrip]

the way the disclaimer reads at the begining of the install instructions, i'm left thinking that if i drop the bike, the risers will not support the bars to lift the bike...
i was taught the bike lifiting method of handle bar and bike frame with back to the bike...

as a noob, i'm sure i'm missing something...

I broke a bolt catching my bike in a fall with the Hines risers. I had put the kickstand down in my parking lot at work; when pulled my leg back the stand peg caught in my pants and pulled the stand back far enough that when I set the bike down, it started to go over. By the time I realized what was happening, the bike was leaning pretty far over; a lot of cursing and straining on the bars caught the bike, but as I'm lifting it back I hear a loud 'pop' and the left bar now moves pretty freely. I thought I had broken the bracket that held the cap screw nut, but when I took the handlebars apart found that the M8 bolt had broken in half. Now, this was the same bolt that stripped somewhat when I torqued it to 23Nm; I had sent a message to Doug about a new bolt but hadn't heard back yet. Thus I'm assuming it was simply a bad bolt; I was able to obtain a pair of bolts locally from a heavy equipment supplier to replace them with, but at that point was ready to get rid of the risers so I sold 'em. Getting the broken bolt out of the nut was a huge PITA, but if anyone here ever does it, PM me, as I have specific suggestions that will make the job go easier.

 

[sixfootfive]

the way the disclaimer reads at the begining of the install instructions, i'm left thinking that if i drop the bike, the risers will not support the bars to lift the bike...

i was taught the bike lifiting method of handle bar and bike frame with back to the bike...

as a noob, i'm sure i'm missing something...

I broke a bolt catching my bike in a fall with the Hines risers. I had put the kickstand down in my parking lot at work; when pulled my leg back the stand peg caught in my pants and pulled the stand back far enough that when I set the bike down, it started to go over. By the time I realized what was happening, the bike was leaning pretty far over; a lot of cursing and straining on the bars caught the bike, but as I'm lifting it back I hear a loud 'pop' and the left bar now moves pretty freely. I thought I had broken the bracket that held the cap screw nut, but when I took the handlebars apart found that the M8 bolt had broken in half. Now, this was the same bolt that stripped somewhat when I torqued it to 23Nm; I had sent a message to Doug about a new bolt but hadn't heard back yet. Thus I'm assuming it was simply a bad bolt; I was able to obtain a pair of bolts locally from a heavy equipment supplier to replace them with, but at that point was ready to get rid of the risers so I sold 'em. Getting the broken bolt out of the nut was a huge PITA, but if anyone here ever does it, PM me, as I have specific suggestions that will make the job go easier.

I know when Doug sent me my risers he said that he was going to to be on the road for a few weeks so that would explain not hearing from him.

 

[FJRocket]

Yes, he's gone until early August.

"On the ROAD AGAIN"!!!!!

 

[dpleogs]

I recieved my new adapter from Doug in the mail yesterday. I was able to catch him by telephone just before he left on his trip. He had a prototype left over and I agreed to purchase it. I put the other riser on with no problems and torqued it to the specified setting. As I posted before my risers do not tighten up like I wish they would. When I move the bike around the garage by pushing on the handlebars or put the bike on the centerstand I get movement back and forth in the bars. I also feel a little movement if I really get on the brakes. I tried tightening them up a little more and was able to do so w/o snapping anything off but after putting on about 120 miles on my commute back and forth to work I got more movement again. I really, really like these risers but to be honest the movement makes me nervous. I would love to have a set with the pins to keep them rock solid. If it's just me and I installed them wrong I'm sure you will all let me know. Also this is not any kind of knock on Doug or his product. I just need to find a way to get em tight.

 

[bmwhd]

I recieved my new adapter from Doug in the mail yesterday. I was able to catch him by telephone just before he left on his trip. He had a prototype left over and I agreed to purchase it. I put the other riser on with no problems and torqued it to the specified setting. As I posted before my risers do not tighten up like I wish they would. When I move the bike around the garage by pushing on the handlebars or put the bike on the centerstand I get movement back and forth in the bars. I also feel a little movement if I really get on the brakes. I tried tightening them up a little more and was able to do so w/o snapping anything off but after putting on about 120 miles on my commute back and forth to work I got more movement again. I really, really like these risers but to be honest the movement makes me nervous. I would love to have a set with the pins to keep them rock solid. If it's just me and I installed them wrong I'm sure you will all let me know. Also this is not any kind of knock on Doug or his product. I just need to find a way to get em tight.

I still believe something is broken or installed wrong. With mine torqued to spec, they will not move with any amount of pressure while riding or moving the bike. I imagine I could make them move with a hammer but the point remains: something must be wrong with yours.

 

[Rogue]

I'll bet that the bolts are just a little too long or he made the hloes a little too shallow! THe bolts are bottoming out!

 

[dpleogs]

Ok as painful as it is to admit this I just realized I was using the wrong torque wrench! I was using my wrench that is in increments of inch/lbs. Unbelievable! Soooo I grab the right torque wrench and I tighten up the right side stopping at a cautious 40 lbs as others have snapped the extension. Perfect no movement at all. I move on to the left side and and go to 30 lbs. I was doing these in small increments so as not to snap one. I then moved on to 35 lbs and pow broke another one...right at the second thread of the extension just like before. Was it my fault this time? I dont know. I was EXTREMELY careful. Anyway I'll anxiously be awaiting Doug's return so I can get another replacement and discuss the breakage with him. On a side note before I realized I was using the wrong torque wrench I figured out that if you cut the head and pointed tip off of a 1 1/2in. joist nail it will fit perfectly in the holes previously occupied by the factory pins and down into the yamaha adjustment holes giving you even more security. I didn't have much to work with thus the idea of using nails.

 

[pronomian]

As it is stated here, here is the complaint:

https://www.fjrowners.ws/phpbb2/viewtopic.php?t=2038

Here is the fix:

https://www.fjrowners.ws/phpbb2/viewtopic.php?t=2059

Mike