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My mate Dave is wanting to move the bars up over the top yoke to make his newly acquired Falco more comfortable.
I have never done this myself, so excuse me whilst I ask a few simple questions -

He's got it just on the side stand at the moment so he is worried that when the clamps are loosened the forks will pop straight up! I will be taking my Ultipro stand over this weekend, which should make it easier, as it leaves a bit less weight on the front wheel, but did anybody have a special way of supporting the bike to allow just a small movement through the yokes? Trolley jack under gearbox?
No easy way off using ropes from the roof in his garage.

How many rings does it need through to allow just enough to get the bars to go on top? It's probably a bit easier to know before hand than keep trying bars on whilst jacked under gearbox, or whatever method used.

Any particular problems with cables, hydraulics etc. ?

Any other issues to worry about?


Many thanks.

I used an abba stand and a mate who pressed on the rear of the bike to lift the front.

Can't remember the number of rings, you'll see how many you need.

Problems:
- you'll need to remove the brake reservoir extension,
- the brake lines are too short. The first brake line will be too stretched so it's a good time to fit braided hoses.

Hi Howard,

I've recently done the same & it is a great improvement, this is how I did it.

Put paddock stand on the rear, looped a flat nylon strap under the headstock (taking care not to trap anything & still allowing movement of the bars) & over a beam in the garage, lifted the front end up & tied it off with the front end off the ground.

Place a block under the front wheel to stop it dropping down.

Slacken the pinch bolts on the top joke & bottom yoke (these clamp onto the fork legs) & clip on clamps.

Slowly drop the forks through the clamps (you'll need to remove the block from under the wheel) & as they drop through the top yoke you will be able to ease them off the top of the stanchions (with all the wiring etc still attached).

Push the fork legs (incl front wheel etc) back up through the stanchions till they just protrude through the top of the top yoke (you will need to unclamp the brake hose clip from..I think..the lower yoke, to free the right clip-on to move it up above the yoke), ease the clip ons over the top of the fork stanchions & push the stanchions back up through the yokes to the level desired.

Adjust everything & make sure all runs freely, clamp the pinch bolts up & drop it back onto the wheels. Note that the top of thye yoke isn't flat & the bottm face of the clip-on clamps can scratch the top of the yoke if you're not careful.

Best of luck
Rob

PS. A pulley system can be handy, I cheated & used the hydraulic bench to lift & lower the whole thing.

Thanks for your help folks, much appreciated. Pretty much what I was thinking.
Biggest problem is really that Dave has very little room in his garage. It's a fairly narrow one on the side of his house, and is mostly filled by a non running MGB that he has been rebuilding for 10 years or so. As long as we can get it on the Ultipro stand (like an Abba), it shouldn't be too bad.

three rings showing will make it flush with the top if that makes sense

and you take the clip ons off - i did not need to support the headstock at all for that part of the job

I used an abba stand and a fat person to weigh down the back... piece of wee really

Many thanks Pete!

Sorted the bars on Dave's bike today, all went very well.
Didn't fully loosen the top clamps, then used a soft hammer on the top yoke to tap the forks through gently a few mm at a time until they were exactly where we wanted them
Had loosened all the ties on cables etc., and all seems OK, nothing pulling tight, brake reservoir doesn't quite catch anything. Have set the bars so they don't hit the tank, but just catch the fairing with the inner end of the grips on absolutely full lock. Dave had a quick run out and he's happy, much more comfortable now.
Still thinking about doing mine but will probably have a good run on Dave's before I decide.
He won't be out on a bike again for some time now, as he has his spinal operation on Tuesday and will be laid up for a while.
Hopefully it will all go OK.

I'm sure the others will join in when i say, send him our wishes for a speedy recovery.

Falken wrote:
I'm sure the others will join in when i say, send him our wishes for a speedy recovery.

Yep.

likewise - wish him well

Thanks folks, I'll pass on your thoughts.
Couldn't understand why he wanted to do the bars this weekend but think he wanted something interesting to keep him occupied and stop him worrying.

It also means that when he's ready, the bike's also ready and he can just go and ride it. Best wishes to your mate Dave from me too.

Pass on my best wishes to him for a speedy recovery please Howard - even if he is 'Butchering' the Falco

Just an update on my old mate Dave.
His original operation was cancelled just after tea time the day before!
He eventually had the spinal operation on Friday and was dosed up with morphine all weekend. Things seem to have gone well and he was allowed to go to the loo yesterday, with the help of a walking stick, nice for him not to be "on line" any more.
Went to see him tonight, and he is walking a bit better and in a bit less pain, may even be allowed out tomorrow night, so fingers crossed.
Can't seem him getting out on the Falco too soon.
Should be able to get him to the Newark for a meeting in April 2011 though!
In all seriousness, hope to get him out on some "nice" days before then.
Be nice to get the two black Falcos out together again.