Can the top steering yoke be removed easily?

[McCabe-Thiele (Ted)]

As both my fork ears were rotted out plus I did not want to fit fork gaiters I opted for s simple aftermarket bracket to support the headlamp & indicators on my 500. 
They are  not a split two part clamp so you have to thread them over the fork tubes - a simple pinch bolt at the rear tightens them up.

The arrangement works okay but is a tad ugly. I am thinking of changing the fittings for a less bulky design that clamps on the front rather than the rear with a slimmer profile in terms of thickness.

Will it be possible to just remove the top fork bridge bolts & top nut to remove the old brackets leaving the bars etc assembled?
I don't want to make myself a load of work having only just finished the build if I have to dismantle too much.

[Bryanj]

Yes Ted as long as there is no weight on the front wheel, on centre stand and jack under sump, you will have to swing the bars forward or backward taking apropriate care with brake fluid etc

[McCabe-Thiele (Ted)]

Yes Ted as long as there is no weight on the front wheel, on centre stand and jack under sump, you will have to swing the bars forward or backward taking apropriate care with brake fluid etc

Me being thick Bryan  - how does weight on the front wheel affect things, do the lower steering pinch bolts not hold the front in place?

I have a suitable jack for either under the sump or on the frame unless the front pipes get in the way.

[Bryanj]

The weight will twistthe lower yolk where the forks go through momemts. Leverage and al that

[McCabe-Thiele (Ted)]

Reads as easy enough to do Bryan, probably be part of my winter work schedule.

[Murf]

With the bike on the centre stand you could prop bike under sump as suggested,  then remove front wheel and brake caliper, loosen upper and lower yoke pinch bolts and slide fork legs out to give clearance for work. If you only need a few inches of clearance then maybe you don’t even need to remove the wheel, just remove brake caliper to allow forks to move downwards. Removing the handle bars and top yoke sort of seems messy to me, mostly because of the brake fluid in the reservoir as already mentioned. In my experience loose bars with everything attached are just sort of difficult to secure they seem to want to try to fall everywhere and scratch things. If you do go the top yoke way Get some hooks prepared to hold the bars up.