quote="AltRider LLC, post: 338250, member: 12843"]The AltRider bars were designed to sit below the exhaust to avoid causing damage to the pipe in a wreck. As obvious as it seems, please double check that the front of the bars are mounted with the longer bolt on the bottom and the shorter bolt on top. If reversed, the bars cannot properly clamp the frame, allowing that clamp to rise over time. We've had a few people contact us with this same issue that you all are having – only to be remedied by carefully following the instructions by mounting the longer bolt on bottom. Currently our President is out of the office, and will be back next week. Any further decisions regarding the crash bars won't be made until he returns. We want you to know we are aware of the issues, and will work with you to sort them out – please call our office at 206-922-3618 or email info@altrider.com to talk to a customer service representative. We take pride in our products and strive to create designs that are ready to install when you receive them - no cutting, grinding, or modifying required.[/quote]
Hi, should introduce myself before posting. Dan D here. Been riding and wrenching for 32 years now. Started out at the local HD dealer changing tires when I was 18 and spent the next 12 years wrenching at shops before running my own shop for ten years. Did a couple seasons with AHRMA and CCS on a 1995 Ducati 900 SS SP. Runing in the BoTT at Daytona with Andrew Stroud tearing it up on the Britten is at the top of my motorcycling highlights.. I distinctly remember Andrew passing me coming out of the infield and wheelying onto the banking. That bike and rider combo had no peer at Daytona that day. The factory Triumph Daytona was no where to be seen when Andrew crossed the finish line. The Britten was more than half a lap up on the field and had lapped most of the field. Andrew was just out playing on a joy ride. He made it look that easy. Got a position as a mechanic for the USPS fixing the mail processing equipment and haven't looked back. Now instead of wrenching when everyone else is out riding I actually get some paid vacation so I can do some riding myself! Now that I've introduced myself all those who aren't sleeping can maybe learn from my most recent experience with Alt Rider. I phoned Thursday to ask about the " creep" issue and was told they had "only heard of one or two issues“ and that they needed pictures because they were trying to assess what could be wrong.. Obviously that was BS as they posted here on Wednesday they were aware of the problem. The Alt Rider rep acted as if I was a dolt and that it couldn't possibly be a manufacturing tolerances issue. I mentioned both the hose clamp fix and the strap fix. What I got for an answer was further calls for pictures of my installation.... At this price point I expect accessories to work. Been in the game long enough to know what constitutes good customer service and sponsor or not, this isn't how I expect to be treated. The issue was known and Alt Rider were aware of it. What, they thought I wouldn't be reading here? Anyhow, the bars are off and I'll send the pics I took but I'm sending them back.
My SW Motech bars were in my office waiting for me when I got in this morning. Can't wait to get them mounted up. Hopefully tonight. I'll post with pics when I get them bolted up.
Just an update. Spoke with Megan at Alt Rider today (8/26/13) and the customer service was excellent. Much better than my previous Alt Rider telephone conversation with he who will remain nameless. Got my RMA number and am swapping the bars for some other farkles because of Megan's excellent service.
Alt should have extended the clamp to hit the lower engine mount. This fix looks solid. Any word on whether they're considering changing the frame mount?
Regarding ALTRider, I needed to do some research and I just now replied to an email asking about the creep issue. Let them have a bit of time before doing anything rash. If this issue takes a bit of time to resolve, part of the reason will be me, because I am not perfect.
Woohoo! Got a chance to mount up the SW Motech bars tonight. Very easy to install. Should add some significant additional protection on those get offs that seem to happen more than I would like. Especially for a buck seventy investment.
It's just an old swing arm stand I used to use for my street bike that didn't have spools. It lifts from the bottom side of the swing arm. I'm glad I hung on to it. Makes servicing things much easier and quite simple. I haven't checked but I bet they're available on sites like revzilla, motorcycle superstore, amazon, etc. I'll send you some pics if you want.
Here's the pic I was talking about in the pm I sent, Abby. This isn't mine but it's the same one I have.
After careful consideration, we've decided on a solution for those people who've had the TR650 Crash Bars shift up. The simplest and most effective solution is to clamp the bars down so they are unable to creep up over time. The crash bars will now utilize a high quality stainless steel hose clamp to connect the lower bolt to the frame. The stainless steel hose clamps were specifically chosen to maintain the strength and weather resistance of the crash bar system. To install the clamp, loosen the bolts that secure the crash bars and attach the hose clamp as shown in the picture above. Ensure the bars are situated where you want them vertically then tighten the hose clamp. Finish the installation by tightening all bolts in the order and to the torque settings recommended in the installation instructions. All TR650 crash bars will now be shipped with the hose clamp and added steps in the instructions. If you have already purchased crash bars, we will send you a hose clamp at no cost to you. Please call us at (206) 922-3618 or send us an email at info@altrider.com to arrange shipping.
Isn't that just beautiful. I have some binder twine and bubble gum. I sure hope that is just the trail fix, until you provide a real solution.
" The simplest and most effective solution is to clamp the bars down so they are unable to creep up over time. " Should that sentence not have read "the simplest and cheapest solution for us...." I'm pretty sure the BMW and Ducati guys don't have hose clamps on their crash bars. This 'fix' should make for some interesting reading.
that picture makes me glad we bought the ones from sw-moto. are they kidding? at first i was thinking it was a joke--like, something where they're syaing "screw you, stop complaining" maybe i'm being too girly, but that's just butt-ugly.
