► Hand Guards, handlebars, risers and levers

[Navaho]

I have the Touratech Handguards and they vibrate like crazy. For me it vibrates around 60/70mph which is annoying. I'm on the lookout for lead BB balls.

Are you referring to handlebar vibration or handguard vibration? I was thinking about getting the TT handguards but not if they vibe in the wind. Anyone having a problem with the TT handguards?

I filled my bars with #9 lead shot. If you are going to do this same thing, clean the grease off the threaded inserts with a solvent first (grease will make the pellets clog up). A rubber mallet helps to consolidate the pellets. I found it necessary to fill from both ends.

I have CTS in both hands and no problems with the 650 vibrations.

Another item that helps is a throttle rocker. It allows you to loosen your grip. Numb hands are usually the result of gripping too tight.

 

[barrygs]

tt handguards

i have tt handguards no they don't vibrate or make noise in the wind. they look good get a heat gun and take the tt stickers off! dropped the bike on some rocky ground and the guards and rear foot pegs took the impact not a scratch on the bike.

 

[everywherevirtually]

Are you referring to handlebar vibration or handguard vibration? I was thinking about getting the TT handguards but not if they vibe in the wind. Anyone having a problem with the TT handguards?

I filled my bars with #9 lead shot. If you are going to do this same thing, clean the grease off the threaded inserts with a solvent first (grease will make the pellets clog up). A rubber mallet helps to consolidate the pellets. I found it necessary to fill from both ends.

I have CTS in both hands and no problems with the 650 vibrations.

Another item that helps is a throttle rocker. It allows you to loosen your grip. Numb hands are usually the result of gripping too tight.

Sorry I should clarify that. The bars buzzed and I put lead shot from a diving supplies shop into the bar ends. The TT hand guards are great. Prior to adding the lead shot everything was vibrating to a certain degree. Put it this way it was enough vibration to make one of the retaining screws on the front of the hand guards unscrew itself and disappear somewhere between the UK and Austria .

I also had to fill the pellets from both ends. I overfilled them and when I removed the bar ends to remove some I found that by cramming them in they had fused into a solid lead mass. Oh well, it's all good now. The TT guards are as tough as nails. I've dropped the bike twice and despite them being plastic they didn't break. In fact I can barely see a mark! That's some pretty tough plastic that they use!

 

[sijohnston]

yeah, the TT handguards are pretty much indestructible. they took the brunt of my 40mph power slide up the road and whilst having tarmac induced gouges out of them, still maintain their shape and structure. they also do the trick in wind and rain...money better spent than the apologies of protectors that BM offer i reckon.

 

[Aretsukusu]

fitted the barsnake tonight just letting it set
seems easy enough to use
got a syringe and poured the barsnake solution into syringe
and got the bike on an angle side stand handle bars turned to left
chocked the front wheel up slightly to get more of a angle for bars
and injector my handle bars (also put a sheet over the tank just in case good move)

some of the solution went into throttle bit
so I run some oil around the inner bit to stop solution from
setting be careful to get any down the inside of bars

more to follow will be Sunday now as I am away tomorrow
all day session

Hey Terry, any update on the barsnake results?

 

[swredbeemer]

TT vs BMW

I have an F800GS and trying to decide which hand guards to use. Reading several comments, I am unclear about a couple of things. Do factory BMW hand guards use a different bar end than the stock bar ends? Does TT use the stock bar ends for their hand guards? I appreciate comments on this. Thanks

 

[everywherevirtually]

Touratech allow you to use your existing bar ends. They provide a new hollow bolt for the bar end that then accepts a smaller bolt that screws inside it using an allen key. The allen key bolt is the one that affixes the hand guard to the bar end. They are very good at keeping the wind, flies and rain off your hands. The stock guards from BMW have a metal bar behind them but they are a bit too small for my liking.

 

[Navaho]

BMW handguards come with a replacement bar end weight. I like their handguards but they are backordered with no estimate as to when they might arrive here in the U.S. Same issue with the BMW skidplate.

 

[jimbob59]

Availability? UK vs. USA...

I wonder if we will see same shortage of bash plates and guards in USA?
I would guess it would be worse... why ship them over here when you can sell all you can make on the same side of the pond?

Is this the TT unit you guys are talking about?

http://www.touratech-usa.com/shop/show.lasso?sku=040-7081

At $107 USD it seems not too painful...
I think I heard the BMW units were about $150 USD

Of course the USA based TT site says "accepting pre-orders" soooooooo.......

I guess right now we have "neither" on this side of the pond?

Thanks,
Jim

 

[sijohnston]

I wonder if we will see same shortage of bash plates and guards in USA?
I would guess it would be worse... why ship them over here when you can sell all you can make on the same side of the pond?

Is this the TT unit you guys are talking about?

http://www.touratech-usa.com/shop/show.lasso?sku=040-7081

At $107 USD it seems not too painful...
I think I heard the BMW units were about $150 USD

Of course the USA based TT site says "accepting pre-orders" soooooooo.......

I guess right now we have "neither" on this side of the pond?

Thanks,
Jim

those are the ones...get the spoilers too.

 

[Micky]

As per Barrygs I took the TT stickers off and put some 3M refelective on.

Replaced the levers with pure 'bling' from Wunderlich, but they are comfier, have better feel, and can have the levers closer to the bar... and look bloody great

Indeed those levers are nothing but CLASS

Looking at the USA - TT website again it appears all the colors are in stock EXCEPT black??? come on.... now if the other colors were a match to the BMW 658/800 colors that would be fine but since they don't ... geeeee I'd have thought they would have focused on getting your "basic black" guards here first???

Nice trim job on the 3M stuff also ... how'd you get it "just" the right size?

If I can get some black ones here I'll do the same thing ... although it probably would look quite as "factory" as yours....

Jim

Jim... I just made a paper template then pencilled round it on the back of the 3M reflective..... simple eh! Sharp scissors and hey presto

The first set I did was the full size of the basic handguards (not including the spoiler) but it was too much and 'in ya face' so made those that you can see... look much better

you do realise that you can get black 3m reflective tape. It's black during the day and reflective white by night! pretty amazing stuff.

http://www.webbikeworld.com/motorcycles/stickers-decals/motorcycle-reflective-tape-kit.htm

 

[Micky]

Any idea if the TT guards would work with a throttle lock a la Throttlemeister, Micky?

David

Dunno David, but Wunderlich do a throttle lock for the 1200GS's with handguards. I'm across at Wunderlich week after next so I'll ask, if we don't get the answer before then

Doesn't fit the 650GS, the inside diameter of the bars is different

Tim

Anybody seen or fitted one of Aerostich's Cruise Controls: these?

This Wunderlich bike has one fitted Tim, so I know they do one for the 800, it's just a case of wether the hand guards will fit. I've no doubt that when Wunderlich produce their h'guards they will

That explains how Charley Boorman was able to stand up and do tricks on his bike. I wondered how that worked. I'm guessing that you set the throttle at the speed you want and then lock it with the cruise control? Is that correct?

Yes ... and errr mmmm no

It's not a cruise control as such, just quite simply a friction lock for the throttle. Twist it by the right amount and the throttle will stop in position so you can ride hands off. Come to a hill and the bike will slow down etc.

The old Brit bikes had them as standard. but they were just a small screw device on the throttle body itself.

 

[Navaho]

Jimbo, TT emailed me today. No word on when the black handguards will be in but they expect the skid plates in two weeks or less.

TT makes the skid plate exclusively for BMW but TT will not sell it to you directly.

The BMW skid plate looks good but provides more coverage than I need. I prefer the TT small skid plate (called an "engine guard) with the oil filter guard (extra part) attached.

The TT plate does not cover the front part of the exhaust pipes but I don't see them as being vunerable, that is unless you ride in boulder fields all the time. And if you do smack a big rock on the right edge, it could drive the plate edge into the exhaust header any way. Also, the BMW plate looks like it would trap debris that would be difficult to clean out without removing the plate from the bike.

The TT set-up will make cleaning easier.

 

[Navaho]

those are the ones...get the spoilers too.

Are the spoilers necessary to keep the wind off your hands or do they just give you extra protection?

 

[jimbob59]

Thanks!

Jimbo, TT emailed me today. No word on when the black handguards will be in but they expect the skid plates in two weeks or less.

TT makes the skid plate exclusively for BMW but TT will not sell it to you directly.

The BMW skid plate looks good but provides more coverage than I need. I prefer the TT small skid plate (called an "engine guard) with the oil filter guard (extra part) attached.

The TT plate does not cover the front part of the exhaust pipes but I don't see them as being vunerable, that is unless you ride in boulder fields all the time. And if you do smack a big rock on the right edge, it could drive the plate edge into the exhaust header any way. Also, the BMW plate looks like it would trap debris that would be difficult to clean out without removing the plate from the bike.

The TT set-up will make cleaning easier.

Thanks, actually I had not SEEN the TT offering as
TT's US website seems kinda hosed up... I could not find the "engine guard" until I pulled the partnumber off the UK site and then searched the US site for that PN.... Anyway, I agree on the front ... I think the TT plate with the oil filter extension is fine .... I occasionally slide over a log/stump or whatever to the back and worry a bit about it sliding off the back of the bash plate and then pushing up on the cat. converter.

Of course TT has the bash plate extension that mounts to the center stand for that, and all three pieces (oil filter guard in front + bash plate + extension) are still less than cost of BMW bash plate alone...

Thanks, I think I'll move that way!

Jim

 

[samuelsnow]

Has anyone fitted the Touratech 20mm Handlebar Risers yet? I have just ordered them together with some other bits. Im not 100% sure wether I will fit them yet but the handlebars seem slightly low to stand up comfortably for any length of time. That said I didn't have any problems on the BMW offroad training weekend but not sure if they fitted risers/adjust the bars in some other way? I love the way the bike handles when Im sitting down so don't want to mess too much with that.

Hi, I did. I find that I can stand much better off-road. I also rotated the handlebar slighty forward. It is just as i want it now. they are very easy to fit.

Only concern I have is that I am going to fit the TT GPS bracket as well, and i think once everything is up (risers + GPS bracket + TT GPS mount + GPS itself) I might not see instruments anymore! But I would rather move the GPS somewhere else than removing the risers!

will let you know
gianluca

Thanks for the info much appreciated. How is the seated position does it feel VERY different?

The arms are a bit higher but I kind of like it. Not a huge difference though. If you have ordered them, I suggest you fit them and play a bit with the rotation of the handlebar until you find the setup that work for you. and if not you can always remove them altogether. in the end is not a lot of work!

gianluca

thanks Im definataly going to fit them now! do you know the torque wrench setting for handlebar bolts?

 

[TERRY RYAN]

Hey Terry, any update on the barsnake results?

yes the barsnake works still a bit of vibration but calmed things down alot
no more tingley fingers

I think the cheaper option is the Lead balls

 

[moto1527]

Not sure how big these are...

Just a suggestion but....go to a fishing shop and get some split lead shot (or modern low tox equiv) much easier and no one is going to think you are building anything sinister?

personally i dont suffer from bar vibes but then i dont have any handguards- think ill buy some £10 over-mitts to keep my gloves dry and switch the heated grips on to keep em warm.

If anyone is interested i can see how much stainless steel bar ends (to suit the bmw guards) would cost to have a batch made on a cnc lathe?.

Moto

 

[TERRY RYAN]

Just a suggestion but....go to a fishing shop and get some split lead shot (or modern low tox equiv) much easier and no one is going to think you are building anything sinister?

personally i dont suffer from bar vibes but then i dont have any handguards- think ill buy some £10 over-mitts to keep my gloves dry and switch the heated grips on to keep em warm.

If anyone is interested i can see how much stainless steel bar ends (to suit the bmw guards) would cost to have a batch made on a cnc lathe?.

Moto

Think that would help as long as the weights are the same weights as the o.e without hand guards add me to your list

 

[everywherevirtually]

Instead of a fishing shop, try a diving shop. They do weight bags of lead and often sell it loose to your specs. From memory I used about 3 kilos to fill both ends. I could be wrong but it was if there was something in the middle of the bars because when I poured it in one end it didn't come out of the other. It has made a huge difference to the vibration.