steering limit

[simonm]

I'm a little confused.  Is there any reason why there isn't a stopper to limit the steering angle you can make on the bike ?


Why do they allow the steering to move to the point where the handle bars can damage the fuel tank ?


Is this to prevent damage to the handle bars in preference to the fuel tank ? (so you can use the bike after a fall ?)

[limax2]

There are limits to the steering angle which do stop the bars hitting the tank and the fairing under normal conditions. However a big enough force will overcome it or bend the handle bars. Looking at the weight on the end of that bar it looks like that has happen to you.
Hard luck  .

[packie]

I haven't inspected a Fazer with original bars, but there should be clearance there or else its a bad design. The steering lock is ok and you will need all that lock. It's possible though that the design of the bars is not great and they never accounted for that they might flex back into the tank in a crash.

It is also possible that the previous owner might have adjusted the height/angle of the handlebars too which would effect clearance to the tank. Check the handlebars near the clamp. There usually is a punch mark on the handlebars that is meant to be lined up were the clamp joins. If this is not lined up and above the clamp join, then your bars are directed down and closer to the tank. You can always adjust so the the punch is under the clamp join. This will raise the height of the bars and it's clearance from the tank.

On my own bike, the previous owner had wider bars which I can thank him for. What I can't thank him for is the electrical fault he never told me about were the bike would cut out as you were pulling away in 1st gear. It caught me be surprise in my drive and the bike stalled suddenly as she was just pulling off and with my legs just up on the pegs. I lost balance and the bike fell over. The wide bars not alone were miles away as to effect the tank being hit, they also acted like having crash bobbins and kept the front fairing and indicators off the ground. There wasn't a mark on the bike. The only damages was a front brake lever. I'll settle for that...thank you very much!!

So I would recommend that you buy some form of protection on the bike like crash bobbins on the frame or engine crash bars to protect stuff downstairs. I would recommend wider bars also to try and protect the top half of the bike and make sure that if the bars are bent back that they would clear the tank.

[Tiberius Onklevaart]

The mk1 fazer has a small groove on the headstock that prevents it going too far. As previously said it may be the bars were lowered or brought back or may be aftermarket bars

[Tiberius Onklevaart]

The mk1 fazer has a small groove on the headstock that prevents it going too far. As previously said it may be the bars were lowered or brought back or may be aftermarket bars

[simonm]

Thanks I'll have a look at this.

[kebab19]

Not the same bike or parts I know, but the standard 1000's bars also bend fairly easily when they go over and usually gouge / destroy the fuel tank in the process. Far fewer reports of tank damage when aftermarket bars are in place; I assume they're more rigid.

[Lawrence]

There's a little sticky out thing at the front of the headstock (at the bottom iirc) that limits steering movement.  It's possible to snap it in an accident though.

[packie]

There's a little sticky out thing at the front of the headstock (at the bottom iirc) that limits steering movement.  It's possible to snap it in an accident though.

That's the "stop plate" for the steering lock. It is possible that it could have been broken. I have seen these snapped in a video with nothing but the force of a guys foot on the handle bars. The video was to demonstrate how easy steering locks could be bypassed by thieves.

This is his second spill and although I don't know the details of the first spill, but if it was along the same lines of his second spill above, then it's possible that the steering lock plate could have been snapped in the first spill. It's also possible that the handlebars could have shifted down and in closer to the tank after the first spill and it wasn't detected.

Just to keep handle bars futher away from the tank and to increase comfort....I bought these risers......

http://foc-u.co.uk/index.php/topic,6914.0.html

[Lawrence]

You sure?  Mine is snapped (about 1/3 of it on one side) and I get more lock to the left than the right.  I'll see if I can get a photo of it.

[simonm]

[quote author=Lawrence link=topic=7196.msg68682#msg68682 date=1365586699]
There's a little sticky out thing at the front of the headstock (at the bottom iirc) that limits steering movement.  It's possible to snap it in an accident though.

That's the "stop plate" for the steering lock. It is possible that it could have been broken. I have seen these snapped in a video with nothing but the force of a guys foot on the handle bars. The video was to demonstrate how easy steering locks could be bypassed by thieves.

This is his second spill and although I don't know the details of the first spill, but if it was along the same lines of his second spill above, then it's possible that the steering lock plate could have been snapped in the first spill. It's also possible that the handlebars could have shifted down and in closer to the tank after the first spill and it wasn't detected.

Just to keep handle bars futher away from the tank and to increase comfort....I bought these risers......

http://foc-u.co.uk/index.php/topic,6914.0.html
[/quote]


That looks good, will have a think about those.  I've never thought about where the handle bars are and the effect on the riding position, comfort and style. 

[trudd]

You should be able to get the bars onto the lock stops and still ride the bike i.e. not trap your hands.


As demonstrated here by Andrew at the Prescott bike festival last weekend 

[YamFazMan]

Hi

I thought it was an MOT failure if the Clutch/brake lever or handlebars hit the fairing or the handlebars trapped your thumbs against the fuel tank.
ATB YFM
 

[alexanderfitu]

Hi

I thought it was an MOT failure if the Clutch/brake lever or handlebars hit the fairing or the handlebars trapped your thumbs against the fuel tank.
ATB YFM
 

Indeed it is!

[limax2]

Someone posted today (in general) about thier bike failing the MOT because the hand gaurds just touched the screen.

[Lawrence]

[quote author=Lawrence link=topic=7196.msg68682#msg68682 date=1365586699]
There's a little sticky out thing at the front of the headstock (at the bottom iirc) that limits steering movement.  It's possible to snap it in an accident though.

That's the "stop plate" for the steering lock. It is possible that it could have been broken. I have seen these snapped in a video with nothing but the force of a guys foot on the handle bars. The video was to demonstrate how easy steering locks could be bypassed by thieves.

This is his second spill and although I don't know the details of the first spill, but if it was along the same lines of his second spill above, then it's possible that the steering lock plate could have been snapped in the first spill. It's also possible that the handlebars could have shifted down and in closer to the tank after the first spill and it wasn't detected. [/quote]

This is the thing I'm talking about.  In the second photo it's immediately to the left of the red bullet connector.

[simonm]

Both of the steering limiters are there on mine but the handle bars go darned close to the tank on both sides.

I think the fall just pushed it that little bit further. If the handlebars had been a bit more upright it wouldn't have happened.  If the steering extender dead-eye had was on it wouldn't have happened either.

It's a but late for me but it might be worth it for others to check how close their bars go to the tank and modify accordingly if they wish to save their tank in the case of a fall.

[Dead Eye]

Just like to note that the handlebar risers were packie

Though I did have a problem on my red one where I tried to adjust the bars to make them more comfortable, but it ended up that my thumbs would get crushed on the tank when at full lock Had to twist them back up to prevent it

[simonm]

Just like to note that the handlebar risers were packie

Though I did have a problem on my red one where I tried to adjust the bars to make them more comfortable, but it ended up that my thumbs would get crushed on the tank when at full lock Had to twist them back up to prevent it

Sorry, rubbish memory.

[packie]

Both of the steering limiters are there on mine but the handle bars go darned close to the tank on both sides.

I think the fall just pushed it that little bit further. If the handlebars had been a bit more upright it wouldn't have happened.  If the steering extender dead-eye had was on it wouldn't have happened either.

It's a but late for me but it might be worth it for others to check how close their bars go to the tank and modify accordingly if they wish to save their tank in the case of a fall.

That was my steering extender or bar risers, Simon. I think you got the jist of what happened and will adjust the bars accordingly. You might have to play around with different positions for comfort. Sometimes it might feel ok intially just sitting on the bike or going for a quick spin, but after a decent long spin you could find your position giving a bit of ache to the wrists. I usually carry the hex key with me to adjust the position if I need during a long spin.