Could've been UGLY!!

[Grand Canard]

I went riding today but didn't ride crazy fast like usual, was just chilling enjoying the mild weather and the ride. I stopped at a friends business for a quick visit and as leaving I pulled onto the street it happened! The bolt holding one of my risers to the triple tree gave-up, sheered in half leaving me in the middle of the road and unable to steer. I'm so glad was only going one mph versus 140mph!!

The 1/2" bolt is steel, not SS, allen head has stamp appears to be “A574”. The only thing I can figure is years of metal fatigue from very slight play at this joint is the culprit since that is where it sheared-off/cracked in half.

The gods were smiling on me today; I'm going to start changing these 2 bolts annually now w/ grade 8 bolts.
Be warned, take heed.

I finally learned how to post pics on this site!!

[Elvis]

Glad you were going slow, and it's a pretty easy fix.
Some cruddy weather down here for your month home.

[V-MAN]

That sucks, glad your OK. Did the bolt break off in the bars? What did the other side look like, any bending or stretching by looking at it? I knew a guy that lost his bars going down the road (not a Boss Hoss) and his story didn't end as well.

[Grand Canard]

Did the bolt break off in the bars? What did the other side look like, any bending or stretching by looking at it?

It broke flush, exactly at the location/gap where the bars connect to the riser.

[ElsV8]

Yes, the Gods were with you for sure. That's some very serious shit. Glad it had the ending it did...

[V8Bikers]

Grand, that is scary shit. Glad you are ok. Never thought about this happening at cruising speeds let alone the triple digits we can get to in seconds on these beasts. On a side note, because of this, you potentially saved my ass. After reading about your ordeal, I went to the garage and checked mine, guess what?, the bolts were loose!!. At least 3 turns each. Everyone, please check these on a regular basis.

[Elvis]

Just a question, and I'm sure John, or someone will have a reasonable argument for one,
but which bolt would be easiest to break,

a loose bolt,
a nearly properly tightened bolt (+ or – a few pounds),
or an over tightened bolt?

[ElsV8]

Elvis, since it's snowing and 15 degrees out, I'm going to weigh in with a hunch as I'm not nearly bright enough to make an educated statement. I would GUESS....."overtightened".

Els

[hogv8]

Grand, that is scary shit. Glad you are ok. Never thought about this happening at cruising speeds let alone the triple digits we can get to in seconds on these beasts. On a side note, because of this, you potentially saved my ass. After reading about your ordeal, I went to the garage and checked mine, guess what?, the bolts were loose!!. At least 3 turns each. Everyone, please check these on a regular basis.

Crazy, lock washers !

[V-MAN]

Since this was posted almost a year ago I thought I'd bump it up to the top as a reminder for us all ...

As winter is starting to wind down (hopefully) and spring is around the corner be sure to go over your bikes/trikes and check out ALL the fasteners.

[petitemoose]

Just FYI .. I would not recommend replacing the steel bolts with Stainless Steel Bolts. While Stainless is rust resistant and more attractive, it is not a as strong. If you intend to replace them, Go with Grade 8 Steel.

Just my .02

[EAGLE]

I've found mine loose a couple of times. Regular maintenance now.

[Ric]

I had the same situation with my old Shovelhead. Only I was doing about 30, coming to a red light. Exact situation, I had no steering… so I leaned forward on the gas tank and grabbed both sides of the forks near the upper triple tree, and let the bike buck itself to a stall, and surprisingly enough, I didn't dump it either!!

I too replaced the bolts with grade 8's after that!

[SQ4MN]

This sounds like a horrible situation. I am amazed at this happening on a bike and just as amazed that it doesn't happen regularly on trikes. Those bolts are under MAJOR sideways pressures on a trike whenever they are turning. Bikes rarely turn the forks unless you are going very slow, at speed they are barely turning the opposite way from the direction of the turn, the turn happens because of the lean and there isn't a quarter of the pressure of the same turn on a trike. I think the bolts break from a vibration that "work hardens" them after enough time but I'll never know for sure.