Hey everyone,
I am going to be switching a new pair of handlebars onto my GS500 and was thinking that I would go as far as taking the lower clamp off and painting the upper and lower clamps, since they are just a little bit grody. Is this an easy process? I just won't do it if it involves some extensive front end dissassembly, but I was just thinking while I was looking over my bike and going over things in my head.
No need to disturb the steering stem assembly and bearing adjustment. A couple bolts hold the instrument panel to the top plate and it can be unbolted and moved aside. There are 2 bolts under the handlebars thru the lower clamp area that are removed to take off the top plate. There's also some rubber bushings between the top plate and the top triple clamp that make the top plate flexible to the tripple.