Ok, so handlebar vibration is driving me nuts. :guns: 20 minutes on the bike and my hands are numb. I try to touch the bars as lightly as possible, and stretch out my hands whenever I'm stopped. I think it has gotten worse since I tilted the bars a little bit back towards me, so I am going to put them back where they were. I ride with padded gloves, and still have the stock bar-ends in.
I put on some gel grips.
http://www.chaparral-racing.com/Chaparral/product_family.asp?family%5Fid=1204&gift=False&mscssid=FDBDB718830E49738B9B6FB610B71271l
So now I am on to the "stuffing your handlebars with junk" phase. Yes, I read the old threads including this one:
http://www.gstwins.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=19356&highlight=vibration+bars
I've seen anything from those glue-stick pellets, to lead shot, to this "Bar Snake" thing you can buy. http://www.barsnake.com/
Has anyone tried this stuff, or found something new? Like "I stuffed my bars with goldfish and now they feel great!"???? :dunno:
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Also, sortof related, has anyone with small hands modified the turn-signal switch? The joint on my left hand thumb is killing me from doing this stretch-to-reach-the-switch-while-operating-the-clutch-on-crappy-vibrating-bars thing. I shortened the clutch throw, that helped a tiny bit. :dunno:
I'm sure its in some thread somewhere, but I was having the same issue, and dropping my elbows down so my wrist was lined up better fixed the problem. If the numbnesss goes away in a minute or less once your stoped then its probably bad circulation and none of those will help. Lining you wrist up correctly should.
I've even lost one of my barends and it doesn't bug me anymore. Stupid me for not being more careful with the first service, I didn't check the 'minor' things, so now the left barend has falled off and the little controller for the trip as well. And I'm to lazy to stop by a shop and replace them.
Quote from: jen_The joint on my left hand thumb is killing me from doing this stretch-to-reach-the-switch-while-operating-the-clutch-on-crappy-vibrating-bars thing.
Do one thing at a time; usually I signal first to make my intensions known and then clutch for the downshift.
Is the turn-signal switch too far away and/or at a bad angle? I noticed that you rotated the bars, but you may need to shave the locating nub on the inside of the switch housing to be able to better position the switch for your thumb.
I know it's OLD, but I don't want to start another thread about same issue.
I realized that this guy has never been answered about BARSNAKE performance. Does anybody have experience with it? I just received price from the website and it is 44.90 including shipping. Not very cheap that's why I want to get some opinions before spending money.
Also while I am on vibration issue: something rattles like crazy in the front end area. It sounds like it comes from left side of the handlebar (somewhere around turn signal switch) but I tried grabbing it with my hand multiple times and it still rattles, so it must be something else.
What can I check?
thanks,
KML
I wouldn't waste the money. My V has the same buzzy bars (same motor design). I filled with BB's, put Grip Puppies on and called it a day.
One of these days, I'm getting better handlebars to eliminate it completely.
For $44, you're pretty close to the price of newer, stiffer bars. Those Bar Snakes don't do much, really, from what I've heard. And, it's more of a band-aid. Same with the liquid stuff.
Then there are these:
http://www.vibranator.com/ (http://www.vibranator.com/)
But, Renthals or something similar will eliminate the buzz and you get to customize your riding stance at the same time. With some of them, you can even completely disregard your bar-end weights. Gonna have to decide for yourself on which you'd rather have.
For the rattle- it sounds to me like fairing buzz (if you're on an F model). Just gonna have to poke around like you're already doing and try to isolate the source. Someone may have already found it, but it's best to start a new thread for it IMHO.
Once you isolate it, a little foam tape helps. I used silicone gasket sealant in the difficult areas. Just build it up nice and cushy, wait for it to dry before you reinstall it. Or use it like glue. Whatever.
Good luck.
you will never get rid of the slight vibration through the bars. the gs motor just does that. bar ends make almost no difference, ive tried the super heavy stock ones, lighter aftermarket ones, and none. they all felt the same.
Homer, where did you get BBs?
How much were they?
How much did it improve handlebar buzz??
What about lead split shot? (fishing weights?) are they better since the lead is softer?
I will try to find the rattle today. It's hard when bike is in neutral as it is mostly pronounced when bike is in first and second gear around 5-7K rpms.
in the sporting goods section of walmart, you can find the bb's. lead fishing weights may be more dense, but will cost alot more.
I think I will go with something like that: http://www.leisurepro.com/prod/AQULWS.html?ci_src=14110944&ci_sku=AQULWS5
I wonder....
I don't have any Issues with vibration. My mirrors give me a clear view (convex). No real Noticeable vibration - but - when I put on an aftermarket mirror which closely resembled the stock one, I discovered I couldn't see out of it cause it was concave and Magnified everything a little. And in so doing, the slight vibration which isn't really noticeable was also magnified and the mirror was effectively useless as a result.
The only Buzz I notice is when the tank is getting close to reserve when I am doing a higher speed. Otherwise. Nothing.
Now. My bike is stock. Stock air filter. Stock exhaust. Stock jets. Stock handlebars. Stock front cog.
I wonder... those who complain about handlebar buzz... have you all rejetted, put on a K&N Air Filter and a different exhaust, or put on a smaller front cog or something similar. I can see kml.krk has. And I wonder about the others.
Onward.
There was this guy. Years ago this is. And he invented a new type of snow ski. Short. Real short. No 200s or 220s for him. This thing was more like the length of a skateboard. Maybe two feet in total length!
For stability, in the front of the ski he had a compartment. A see through compartment on the one I saw. And in that compartment he had a viscous liquid (thicker than engine oil but not as thick as honey) and BBs. And it made the ski stable. Super stable. The liquid stopped the BBs from just rolling around too fast. And together they acted as a dampener to any ski tip bounce.
Other than putting some thick oil in together with the BBs in your handlebars, have you thought of using a rubber/rubberised packing between the bars and the bar clamps?
Michael
Michael, I haven't thought of putting rubber strip between handlebars and bar clamps.
I like the idea of dense liquid + BBs but I would have to weld my handlebar shut to keep the stuff inside ;)
I think I will try to find scuba diving store in the area and get the packets with lead shot. It costs only $15 so it's worth trying. It will, however, add 3-4 extra pounds to the weight of the bike...
By the way, I think I found a source of the stupid rattling sound. It was the windshield. I didn't do any test riding, but I couldn't get it to rattle any more in neutral.
To fix it I removed the windshield and used double faced tape to stick it to the element it was tapping against. Even if the glue wears of, the foam from double faced tape should provide enough protection to prevent rattling.
So I really hope there will be no rattling when I go to work tomorrow cause this sound is driving me nuts :2guns:
Now I need to decrease the handlebar vibrations, and make my seat more comfy.
Walmart BB's FTW :whisper:
My rattle(F model) was under the plastic below the windshield hitting the headlight, and possibly under the windshield where the black plastic overlaps the fairing plastic. I bought a pack of assorted bumper feet with small soft plastic and foam dots, found in the furniture section to protect tabletops. Used the foam above the headlight and soft rubber between the fairing and overlapping plastic which took care of my rattle.
When I test rode my bike after installing drag bars I didn't have the bar ends moved over yet. I thought there was something wrong with the bike because it was vibrating so much. On the original bars I had the stock bar ends with 3 of the rubber compression bushings instead of just the single one it comes with, and have gel grips. Removing all of the bushings was extremely difficult, so I only reinstalled 2 bushings on each bar end and it made the bike seem normal again with the drag bars.
I wanted to fill the bar solid with something like caulk, but really like the idea of the BBs or lead in oil.
I have no handlebar buzz issue and I can ride at 80 till it runs out of gas. 17-tooth sprocket does the trick. :thumb:
Rattling noise is gone, it was coming from the area were windshield meets the headlight. There is few plastic pieces overlapping. Suzuki needs to do a better job insulating those pieces, cause when put together they vibrate against each other making horrible sound.
Double faced tape worked for me, and was cheap and quick fix.
Now I will send my seat for gel pad installation.
Too bad that no one can offer first hand experience on this barsnake thing.
KML
I got some cheap aftermarket bar end weights and the Pro-Grip gel grips and that seems to have done the trick for me. I've made the trip from O-town to St. Augustine with out any real issues.
With the "F" every time I wash 'ole boy I go around and tighten the fairing bolts etc. Today as I was doing it notice that the clip for my left foot peg had gone away and i was a shimmy away from not being able to shift or having a peg. WHEW! :mad:
guess our bike is just a vibey little thing!
Mary
I have Gel Grips and bar end weights, it still buzzes. It's not terrible, but could be smoother.
Seat is bigger issue than handlebar vibration though. After 280 miles trip my hands were OK, but my ass was in a bad shape :icon_lol:
May sound stupid, but if you haven't checked your alignment lately, do so. Mine was off just a smidget, but correcting it fixed a whole lot of crap, including a whole lot of vibration! :thumb:
I actually did check alignment few months ago when I changed the tires to Michelin Pilot Activs.
The 'vibration' is greatly reduced now since I don't hear the stupid rattling noise. I know it sounds stupid but the vibrations is no longer that noticeable because they are not audible any more. I hope it makes a tiny bit of sense to you.
My comfort on a bike has increased dramatically since I fixed that rattling noise.
I still did not get my seat upgraded. I think it will have to wait a little. I have to upgrade my home computer first.
Has anybody had a go at fitting rubber bushs to the engine mounts?