Do I need to be concerned?

It seems the previous owner took off the retaining rings and raised the handlebars on the end of the forks.  Should I fix this and move them back?

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No problem, if you like where they are leave them alone. The ring is to keep it them from coming up which will never come into play unless you're planning to do a lot of wheelies.
The fact that they're a little up past the tube isn't enough to worry about.........IMHO

I would add to check your cables to be sure they aren't getting pulled to much when moving the steering lock/lock.

If the bars are correctly torqued, they won't move.

The PO did that to quicken the steering and also improve comfort.

I do believe that those clips are there for assembly purposes.  forget them.  I am, although, concerned about your spelling :laugh:

Thanks....I won't worry about it.

I see I can't spell again....concerned....wow.... :huh:

I found it in the title....Way to go Timmy :beer:

[image: View Post]timmythecop, on 25 September 2011 - 07:56 PM, said:

I do believe that those clips are there for assembly purposes.  forget them.  I am, although, concerned about your spelling :laugh:
This is the second (different) reference to VFR clip-ons and "assembly purposes" in the same week.  I'm puzzled: what experience do you guys have in motorcycle manufacturing techniques to back up these beliefs?  None?  Wouldn't the more obvious purpose of keeping the clip-ons from being inadvertently moved actually be more likely?   :huh:

Ciao,

A Honda tech told me, not to mention, every other clip-on on the planet has stayed on without the benefit of these clips, and have done for almost a century.

[image: View Post]timmythecop, on 26 September 2011 - 04:03 AM, said:

A Honda tech told me, not to mention, every other clip-on on the planet has stayed on without the benefit of these clips, and have done for almost a century.

The correct response is " Grass hopper not to worry about clip on"



:cheerleader:

I side with JZH. the clips are there for safety purposes, in case the clipons are inadequately tightened so that they will not slide off the fork tubes.

Other bikes may not have them because the mfgr deemed them unnecessary. Honda apparently did.

I don't have them on my bike as I have my USD forks slid down as far as possible, absolutely flush with the clipons. Never had a handlebar slide off yet, even in my crash.

I have old style steel helibars with two pinch bolts per side, both torqued to 10 ft/lbs as per heli recommendations. Wheelies don't faze them, never moved on me at all.

I would move them back to stock position, the tabs are supposed to fit inside the notch of the top clamp and prevent a smashed hand should the bike fall over and jam the bars hard into the tank.  Just set the sag correctly and the quickend steering should result of proper preload on the forks.  As they are they shorten the trail and rake a bit giving you a quick steering feel but It can almost hinder you at slow speeds too, too little rake and the bike gets unstable (for a vfr thats almost impossible but it sure can feel squirly).  I never much cared for too much weight up front I like it a bit more neutral with the sag set right.  If you dont know what sag is just do a search on the forum there are lots of topics about it.

[image: View Post]timmythecop, on 26 September 2011 - 04:03 AM, said:

A Honda tech told me, not to mention, every other clip-on on the planet has stayed on without the benefit of these clips, and have done for almost a century. Which is beside the point.  I agree, the clip-ons should be okay without the clips (or the locating tabs) if torqued properly.  But Honda probably intended these features to be used for extra safety--not just for "assembly purposes".

Ciao,

Ok....I returned the clip-ons to the stock position.  I actually like it better in the lower position.  I find I am less likely to support myself on my arms this way (go figure).  I did not notice any difference in turning.  Its all good.   For Timmythecop i ran this through Word first to make sure I spelled everything correctly (no comments about my grammer)
:laughing6-hehe:

I deserve that.

i agree the clip-on nubs "should" be in the notches, but mine have been raised to where your pic shows for years and have not moved.  i reckon that if they did move, that would be indicative of a much more worrisome situation.

[image: View Post]cybershade69, on 09 October 2011 - 01:25 AM, said:

Ok....I returned the clip-ons to the stock position.  I actually like it better in the lower position.  I find I am less likely to support myself on my arms this way (go figure).  I did not notice any difference in turning.  Its all good.   For Timmythecop i ran this through Word first to make sure I spelled everything correctly (no comments about my grammer)
:laughing6-hehe:

It's actually, Grammar... Just sayin.

[image: View Post]Gbam, on 10 October 2011 - 05:16 PM, said:

[image: View Post]cybershade69, on 09 October 2011 - 01:25 AM, said:

Ok....I returned the clip-ons to the stock position.  I actually like it better in the lower position.  I find I am less likely to support myself on my arms this way (go figure).  I did not notice any difference in turning.  Its all good.   For Timmythecop i ran this through Word first to make sure I spelled everything correctly (no comments about my grammer)
:laughing6-hehe:

It's actually, Grammar... Just sayin.

see...I made sure the word "everything" is spelled correctly. :huh: