sway bar

[jaynavajo15]

got a quad from a job site yamaha 350 electric took the sway bar off and Im thinking about putting it on my gsf the handle bars look very similar to each other. And sway bar should fit with ease. But what are the pros and cons?

[jaynavajo15]

Picture of sway bar coming soon

[jaynavajo15]

Here it is

[attachment deleted by admin]

[Big Rich]

New handlebars are pretty cheap - and purpose made.

Using something other than an actual handle bar can be a disaster. Riding comfort may be better or worse, depending on you. But if that isn't the same diameter, than your controls won't fit, nor will your grips, and the bar can twist in the handle bar mounts. If the sway bar isn't as long as the stock handle bar, you may not have the space to mount your grips as well.

Basically, I don't think it's worth trying.

[jaynavajo15]

The sway bar isnt meant to replace the handlebars its meant to stabilize them. It ataches to both sides of the handle bar and runs across the center portion of the bars nowhere near the hands. See what am saying??? Ill post a pic tomorrow morning of the sway bar next to the handle bars exactly where itll be When installed if installed.

[Big Rich]

Ahhh..... ok. I don't know much the stock GS bars need stabilized, but.... hey! It's your bike man! Go for it.

[fetor56]

I don't see any disadvantage,advantage would be if u like the asthetics.

[jaynavajo15]

I cant be the first guy to think of this...  but alright going to install tomorrow after work.

[Big Rich]

Just dawned on me: don't tighten those two bolts / nuts too tight. Depending on a couple factors, you could pinch the handlebars, causing a potential failure point.

[Bluesmudge]

Aren't those for ATVs and dirt bikes so that they are more likely to stand up to crashes? Unless you plan on dropping the GS, I don't see how it has many advantages. Or am I missing something?

[Janx101]

They also put those foam pads on them. 

Either to add some throat protection instead of hitting the stabilizer itself or a cushion point above the bar clamps, never been sure which?!

[Slack]

You can pick up a brand new bar with stabilizer from FLY Racing for $20. Your choice of colors too

[jaynavajo15]

Like I said I got it off a quad. And no I dont ever plan on dropping my bike but it is something that can always happen for many reasons. When installed I hope for it to help resist the wobbles. I've gotten them a few times and have fallen once in life but I want to do as much as i can to resist what some call the "death shake"   

You can pick up a brand new bar with stabilizer from FLY Racing for $20. Your choice of colors too

thanks for the heads up slack ill have to check it out 20 bucks is nothin!

[Iarn]

Ah, the dreaded tank-slapper. Yeah, I don't think that bar will help with that.

[jaynavajo15]

Just when I thought my sway bar idea went out the window. Here it is not being discussed but is shown in the pictures. http://gstwins.com/gsboard/index.php?topic=30827.0 curious why he did it though!???

[Bluesmudge]

He probably did it because it looks cool. I think it looks cool. Also a good place to mount a GPS or phone. It will not help with "the wobbles." You need a steering stabilizer for that.

[jaynavajo15]

He probably did it because it looks cool. I think it looks cool. Also a good place to mount a GPS or phone. It will not help with "the wobbles." You need a steering stabilizer for that.

i hear you bar aint gon do shaZam! haha but for a gps or phone mount that will look cool I think ill do it for those purposes. But still doesnt solve my fear of getting some nasty wobbles I heard theres not steering stabilizers for the gs im sure theres been custom jobs though right?

[Big Rich]

Many people have said the GS doesn't need a steering damper due to riding position & the bikes geometry. But adding one wouldn't be too hard if you have access to a welder. A small tab welded onto the frame under the triple tree, along with a 37mm fork tube clamp and you're good to go.

[gsJack]

i hear you bar aint gon do shaZam! haha but for a gps or phone mount that will look cool I think ill do it for those purposes. But still doesnt solve my fear of getting some nasty wobbles I heard theres not steering stabilizers for the gs im sure theres been custom jobs though right?

I think you mentioned in a previous thread about a wooble in corners?  I've never had a hint of a wobble or any steering instability in 180k GS miles at speed up to 110 mph indicated and spent many a day playing in the mountain twisties on the GSs some years back.  I'd be inclined to find the cause of your wobble and fix it before adding a steering damper.  High cross winds on the interstate are a different matter for the usually stable GSs. 

Had a low speed steering wobble in my 85 Nighthawk 650 when I let go of the bars with both hands coasting down at about 40 mph or so.  A new front tire fixed it for a while and it came back as the tire wore and I finally found a notch feeling in the bars at the straight ahead postion, a new set of head bearings fixed it for good.  Where's your wobble, low or high speeds, straight ahead or corners, gripping bars loosly or tight or maybe too tight?

[jaynavajo15]

Well gsjack I still am a new rider and I guess I could be doig something wrong ive gotten them twice the first time I was making a left turn at a intersection started accelerating and while leaning I decided to give it a little bit more gas and the instant I did it started to wobble so i Immediately pulled the cluth in and straightened out.  Didnt have a really firm grip though I dont think I ever really do Im usually just grasping the bars not really gripping them tight. Is it essential while turning or just riding in general? The second time I was making a wide right coming down a bridge and when I hit the bottom I did a light bounce due to still having the stock rear shock I think and decided to lane split inbetween 2 cars like an idiot while  still turning and had to lean a bit more or else I would have side swipe the car to my left and for that split second I was inbetween both cars and giving it a bit more lean I got the wobbles. Never busting that again thats for sure. But still wasnt really gripping the bars tightly.