Adjusting Handlebar Angle on F3-T?

[newbert]

At the time that I swapped out my handlebars for the short reach option, my dealer told me that it's possible to also raise or lower the angle of the handlebars by a little bit. Because of an arthritic left shoulder which starts to hurt when riding my F3-T, I'd like to try lowering the angle a bit, but I don't want to run back to the dealer just for that.

So, does anyone know how that is done and roughly how much the bar angle can be lowered? Is the amount of potential adjustment even worthwhile? Is it simply a matter of loosening the 4 bolts on the center of the handlebars and then pushing the bar down a bit, then re-tightening the bolts? Or is there more to it than that?

It seems like it might be simple, but I just don't want to open up a can of worms, if I can help it.

Thanks!

 

[AeroPilot]

On the F3T you get just a little UP/Down adjustment

When we tried to adjust the bars on wifes 16 F3T we just got about a couple inches of movement. We didn't pull off the headclamp, just loosened it and it would only come down a little until it seemed to hit a "keyed" stop of some kind. Of course if it was lowered much more the bars would probably touch the tank on hard turns. It was okay for her.

 

[newbert]

When we tried to adjust the bars on wifes 16 F3T we just got about a couple inches of movement. We didn't pull off the headclamp, just loosened it and it would only come down a little until it seemed to hit a "keyed" stop of some kind. Of course if it was lowered much more the bars would probably touch the tank on hard turns. It was okay for her.

Aha! Thank You - That's pretty much what I expected, but didn't want to try before asking first. My dealer also mentioned that it can be moved in "increments" (my word) as there a ridge of some sort at each possible setting. A couple of inches movement would be more than enough for me, I think. I'll give it a try.

Thanks again!

 

[greybeard]

handlebars

Just loosen the 4 bolts until you can move the handlebar. I am 6'1" and I moved the handlebar on my F3T about 1" down on the end, seemed to make it more comfortable
Paul

 

[Slowpoke387]

We did the conversion ourselves. Lots of adjustment there. Def more than you would think. Just loosen those four bolts and you can lower it quite a bit. We did that too.

 

[newbert]

Just loosen the 4 bolts until you can move the handlebar. I am 6'1" and I moved the handlebar on my F3T about 1" down on the end, seemed to make it more comfortable
Paul

Just tried this but didn't have the right sized hex wrench. Does anyone what size these bolts take?

Thanks!

 

[Bruce B]

Just tried this but didn't have the right sized hex wrench. Does anyone what size these bolts take?

Thanks!

Go and buy yourself a 7mm hex socket :yes:

 

[Peteoz]

Just tried this but didn't have the right sized hex wrench. Does anyone what size these bolts take?

Thanks!

For some reason, most hex kits don't have 7mm in them....I had to buy an individual one :shocked:

Pete

 

[newbert]

Go and buy yourself a 7mm hex socket :yes:

Easier said than done! No local store had one, so I just ordered one from Amazon.

 

[greybeard]

hex

OMG harbor Freight has a lot of sets with 7mm. I have 3
Paul

 

[DDT]

My guess is this is the same for a F3 S. I would like to lower mine a little as well.

 

[ABQSpyder]

My guess is this is the same for a F3 S. I would like to lower mine a little as well.

Yes handlebars are the same.

 

[Steamer]

Lowering issue

Just be careful when you lower your bars. As mentioned previously, make sure the bars have clearance over the tank and make sure that IF YOU ADD some thing to the bars at a later date that it does not hit your key. On our 2015 F3S after I lowered the bars I added a phone holder and when I made a sharp turn I bent the key, stalled the motor, and blocked traffic. Not a great day.

 

[Peteoz]

Just be careful when you lower your bars. As mentioned previously, make sure the bars have clearance over the tank and make sure that IF YOU ADD some thing to the bars at a later date that it does not hit your key. On our 2015 F3S after I lowered the bars I added a phone holder and when I made a sharp turn I bent the key, stalled the motor, and blocked traffic. Not a great day.

Yeah, the little things can bite you, Steamer. I raised my handlebars, and all felt great. At my first full lock turn a couple of days later (in a side street, luckily), the F3 shut down. Turns out that lifting the bars changed the angle of the cables and they caught on the ridges of Lamont's key cover and switched the engine off. Of course, that meant the "no park brake" alarm went off, just to draw the attention of everyone nearby :yikes:

Pete

 

[H2O]

"Of course, that meant the "no park brake" alarm went off, just to draw the attention of everyone nearby :yikes: "


So far, I thought hitting the horn button rather than the turn signal was bad enough, but I think Pete just won the prize.

H2O