Mythbusters - Buckshot in the handlebars to reduce vibration
Thread Starter
Senior Member
SuperBike
Joined: Feb 2013
Posts: 1,510
Mythbusters - Buckshot in the handlebars to reduce vibration
Has anyone experimented with putting buckshot in the handlebars to reduce vibration? If so, what have you had the most success with?
My bike doesn't have the anti vibration system installed in the clip ons, and i am looking for inexpensive alternatives to buying the honda parts.
Please post your method, and the results.
Thanks!
James
My bike doesn't have the anti vibration system installed in the clip ons, and i am looking for inexpensive alternatives to buying the honda parts.
Please post your method, and the results.
Thanks!
James
Senior Member
Superstock
Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 458
From: Rome, GA
Has anyone experimented with putting buckshot in the handlebars to reduce vibration? If so, what have you had the most success with?
My bike doesn't have the anti vibration system installed in the clip ons, and i am looking for inexpensive alternatives to buying the honda parts.
Please post your method, and the results.
Thanks!
James
My bike doesn't have the anti vibration system installed in the clip ons, and i am looking for inexpensive alternatives to buying the honda parts.
Please post your method, and the results.
Thanks!
James
Administrator
MotoGP
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 4,402
From: Kempner, TX
Custom Tungsten end weights turned and installed using polymer isolators scavenged from Kawasaki Ninja 650 end weights is what i use.
Never tried stuffing my Apex bars with lead shot of sinkers.
Never tried stuffing my Apex bars with lead shot of sinkers.
Thread Starter
Senior Member
SuperBike
Joined: Feb 2013
Posts: 1,510
How much for some tungsten and polymer? 
I was praying about this tonight, asking for wisdom... I felt lead to search some other forums. I saw that someone mentioned buying lead weights at a dive shop, then I remembered my wife had a lead filled contraption to strap onto her leg so she could do exercises.... She hasn't used it for years, so I asked if I could have two of the weights.
It took forever to cut through them with my cut off wheel, but I did it. When I was done I poured water over them, and the water boiled... lol.
I cut them to exact fit, so they squished between the inside end of the clip on, and the bar end weight.
I took it around the block and it felt quite different!
I'll give a full ride report in the next couple weeks. FREEBIE!!!!!
I was praying about this tonight, asking for wisdom... I felt lead to search some other forums. I saw that someone mentioned buying lead weights at a dive shop, then I remembered my wife had a lead filled contraption to strap onto her leg so she could do exercises.... She hasn't used it for years, so I asked if I could have two of the weights.
It took forever to cut through them with my cut off wheel, but I did it. When I was done I poured water over them, and the water boiled... lol.
I cut them to exact fit, so they squished between the inside end of the clip on, and the bar end weight.
I took it around the block and it felt quite different!
I'll give a full ride report in the next couple weeks. FREEBIE!!!!!
Senior Member
MotoGP
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 5,066
From: NYC
So now, put that lead in her old fying pan and melt it. Then dump the molten lead into a nice 1.5" length of pipe & let it cool.
Drill a hole, and bolt it where your bar ends are (get the right thread bolt)
I did this when my commute was just under 900 miles/week. Man did I love that setup.
Just dont expect it to survive a crash.
I used some chrome pipe, maybe from an old vacuum or similar. Looked pretty trick.
Drill a hole, and bolt it where your bar ends are (get the right thread bolt)
I did this when my commute was just under 900 miles/week. Man did I love that setup.
Just dont expect it to survive a crash.
I used some chrome pipe, maybe from an old vacuum or similar. Looked pretty trick.
Senior Member
SuperBike
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 1,458
From: South of Live Free or Die & North of Family Guy
Here is another quick and cheap mod:
Other than the heavy weights, another thing that I found helped significantly, I replaced the rubber grips with soft handle grips, I cut couple to size from an old workout equipment grips.
The soft grips work amazingly well, much less vibrations and buzzing, you just have to get use to the softness of the grips, I even got the heating elements to work with these grips for cold winter rides, just takes a minute longer to heat up, but well worth it.
Just my two cents :-)
Other than the heavy weights, another thing that I found helped significantly, I replaced the rubber grips with soft handle grips, I cut couple to size from an old workout equipment grips.
The soft grips work amazingly well, much less vibrations and buzzing, you just have to get use to the softness of the grips, I even got the heating elements to work with these grips for cold winter rides, just takes a minute longer to heat up, but well worth it.
Just my two cents :-)
Senior Member
Back Marker
Joined: Oct 2013
Posts: 195
From: Chattanooga,TN
I have used Renthal Mx Diamond Medium grips for the past few years on every bike I've owned. They are thin, tacky and durable and have never had an issue with my hands on any bike. Loosen up your grip on the bars. How do you hold your grips? I only hold the end of the grip, no more than the first 2 fingers and thumb on the grips. Hold it like a screwdriver with your finger tips, not like your trying to squeeze it to death.
Thread Starter
Senior Member
SuperBike
Joined: Feb 2013
Posts: 1,510
No offense intended, but i've been riding for over 30 years. I totally understand how to hold the grips. My experience has also shown me that this bike vibrates more than my other bikes, for whatever reason... Like i said, i don't have the oem vibration reducers installed in the clip ons.
It rained today, so i have nothing to report.
James
It rained today, so i have nothing to report.
James
Senior Member
SuperBike
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 1,458
From: South of Live Free or Die & North of Family Guy
I don't think that gripping too hard is the issue, that may help a bit, though I'm sure allot of the riders here have years of experience already, I personally ride for 26 years and ride off road as well, I hold the grips lightly (kinda have to master that in off road riding against your instinct), but you can still feel the vibrations on the SH more than inline fours, it's just the nature of the engine.
The idea here is either defusing the vibrations frequencies or using some sort of buffering between the front end and your hands.
The idea here is either defusing the vibrations frequencies or using some sort of buffering between the front end and your hands.
Administrator
MotoGP
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 4,402
From: Kempner, TX
Anti vibration isolaters= FREE (take off from a bike at the shop, customer wanted some red aluminum bling and left the OEM ones for trash)
Tungsten was left over scrap form another project = So free as the previous customer paid for the materiel in whole
Machining time = well Im worth something but not much
Attachment fasteners and split locking pieces = a buck for two socket head cap screws and penny's for a few inches of 1/2 aluminum round bar machined
Tungsten was left over scrap form another project = So free as the previous customer paid for the materiel in whole
Machining time = well Im worth something but not much
Attachment fasteners and split locking pieces = a buck for two socket head cap screws and penny's for a few inches of 1/2 aluminum round bar machined
Senior Member
SuperSport
Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 972
I have used Renthal Mx Diamond Medium grips for the past few years on every bike I've owned. They are thin, tacky and durable and have never had an issue with my hands on any bike. Loosen up your grip on the bars. How do you hold your grips? I only hold the end of the grip, no more than the first 2 fingers and thumb on the grips. Hold it like a screwdriver with your finger tips, not like your trying to squeeze it to death.
Member
Squid
Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 86
From: Camp Hill, PA
I had OEM bar ends on and my right thumb, index, and middle finger would go numb cruising at 3500-4000 rpms very quickly. I have since replaced them with speedmetal ends, new weight, and a giant rubber bushing jammed inside and it is greatly improved. $15 and I can feel my hand again!
Deals Gap is a Hoot!
Back Marker
Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 104
From: St. Louis, Mizzery
When my friend was racing HD XR750's on the mile dirt tracks and weight was an issue because the bikes were put on the scales at least 3 times a night and 4 or more times if you placed one of the tricks used to ease the vibration on the hands was to inject black silicone RTV sealant into the bars.
In theory it was suppose to dampen the vibration by making the hollow aluminum bars solid.
When the RTV hardened it had the density and feel of car tire rubber and it takes a good week to fully set up so it's something you can't do and go riding later that day!
SIRR1
In theory it was suppose to dampen the vibration by making the hollow aluminum bars solid.
When the RTV hardened it had the density and feel of car tire rubber and it takes a good week to fully set up so it's something you can't do and go riding later that day!
SIRR1
Thread Starter
Senior Member
SuperBike
Joined: Feb 2013
Posts: 1,510
Thanks for all the comments! Sorry for lashing out and getting offended. Sometimes it is difficult to understand what a person is intending to say when reading someone else's text.
Thank you for all the positive comments!
James
Thank you for all the positive comments!
James
Senior Member
SuperSport
Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 972
When my friend was racing HD XR750's on the mile dirt tracks and weight was an issue because the bikes were put on the scales at least 3 times a night and 4 or more times if you placed one of the tricks used to ease the vibration on the hands was to inject black silicone RTV sealant into the bars.
In theory it was suppose to dampen the vibration by making the hollow aluminum bars solid.
When the RTV hardened it had the density and feel of car tire rubber and it takes a good week to fully set up so it's something you can't do and go riding later that day!
SIRR1
In theory it was suppose to dampen the vibration by making the hollow aluminum bars solid.
When the RTV hardened it had the density and feel of car tire rubber and it takes a good week to fully set up so it's something you can't do and go riding later that day!
SIRR1
Thread Starter
Senior Member
SuperBike
Joined: Feb 2013
Posts: 1,510
I figured out the reason for the vibration on my bike... The front tire had a hop in it. Right before removing the front wheel to have new tires put on i spun the tire and while staring at it i noticed this up and down wobble (hop).... The tire was totally shot!
New tires put on now. Did 85 miles the other day and i felt great!!!!!
Also installed new steering head bearings which may have helped...
James
New tires put on now. Did 85 miles the other day and i felt great!!!!!
Also installed new steering head bearings which may have helped...
James
my e-penis is huge!!
Superstock
Superstock
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 257
From: belvidere nj
Here is a quick tip...........Get a steel or brass bar that is slightly smaller than the inside diameter of the bar. approx. 8" in length. wrap both ends with rubberized electrical tape so it fits snuggle in the THROTTLE side. This will remove 90% of the vibration.
Thread Starter
Senior Member
SuperBike
Joined: Feb 2013
Posts: 1,510
Just wanted to update this thread.
Last year i tried diver's weights in the bars. Small sticks of lead that i cut to length, then reinstalled the aluminum wedge-style bar ends. It worked okay, was a little better.
This winter i got ahold of original Superhawk internal bar weights. I bought new rubber and clips for them, then i bought black Lucky Bike bar end weights that are much heavier than stock.
Today I went for a 95 mile group rode and my hands didn't go numb!!!! Super excited!
James
Last year i tried diver's weights in the bars. Small sticks of lead that i cut to length, then reinstalled the aluminum wedge-style bar ends. It worked okay, was a little better.
This winter i got ahold of original Superhawk internal bar weights. I bought new rubber and clips for them, then i bought black Lucky Bike bar end weights that are much heavier than stock.
Today I went for a 95 mile group rode and my hands didn't go numb!!!! Super excited!
James
