Does anyone know of rubber handlebar mount kit that works on a 2011 GS? The vibes are numbing my hands and I have an Iron Butt to do! Ive tried Grip Puppies but a bit to lardy on the grips for my liking.
Cure for vibration
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Deleted account 181015003
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Try a throttle lock set it quite loose so the throttle will still close just more slowly so you can stretch your fingers without the throttle snapping shut. You will find you don't have to grip the throttle as hard just resting your hand around it will hold it in position this works for me.
Vibes are on both grips, bizarrely worse with panniers on!
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Grip Puppies have helped me with vibration. It's a cheap solution and worth a try.
I've got the same problem and get numb hands after a few hours. Grip puppies solved it for me. They are very lardy and take a while to get used to and TBH never feel as controlled as normal grips but I've got used to them now. Worth persevering, thinner gloves help.
Bendy toy
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I have the Rox anti vibe risers but the risers work best at 90 degrees to the vibes so on a boxer they need to be vertical. This makes them way too high even with lower mounts.
I also looked at getting some Flexx bars http://www.fasstco.com/product-category/flexx-handlebars. They look great if a bit(?) pricey but the GS vibrates horizontally and these are built for vertical forces. The guy from Flexx suggested I use Rox risers AND their low rise handlebars. I'm not that rich and it could end up very sloppy and loose feeling.
Another option is a Tuned Mass Damper. Vibranator said they took a while to develop something for the GS bars due to the 12mm thread and small internal bore. http://www.vibranator.com/street_bikes_s/23.htm?searching=Y&sort=5&cat=23&show=10&page=2
So are they too compromised? Maybe something from Fasst mounted below the handlebar with a stiff bracket from the bar end would be as good. But what are the correct measurements? Other than a bar to create an antiphase vibration who knows?
For a quick & dirty solution wrap the standard grips with some 3mm Sorbothane sheet. The edges can be superglued to make a tube. I have tried this with some cheap anti slip rubber mesh. It helped and showed that £20 of Sorbothane is perhaps worth a try.
Last of all (or maybe first), check the valve clearances are exactly correct not just in tolerance and that both throttles are balanced.
I also looked at getting some Flexx bars http://www.fasstco.com/product-category/flexx-handlebars. They look great if a bit(?) pricey but the GS vibrates horizontally and these are built for vertical forces. The guy from Flexx suggested I use Rox risers AND their low rise handlebars. I'm not that rich and it could end up very sloppy and loose feeling.
Another option is a Tuned Mass Damper. Vibranator said they took a while to develop something for the GS bars due to the 12mm thread and small internal bore. http://www.vibranator.com/street_bikes_s/23.htm?searching=Y&sort=5&cat=23&show=10&page=2
So are they too compromised? Maybe something from Fasst mounted below the handlebar with a stiff bracket from the bar end would be as good. But what are the correct measurements? Other than a bar to create an antiphase vibration who knows?
For a quick & dirty solution wrap the standard grips with some 3mm Sorbothane sheet. The edges can be superglued to make a tube. I have tried this with some cheap anti slip rubber mesh. It helped and showed that £20 of Sorbothane is perhaps worth a try.
Last of all (or maybe first), check the valve clearances are exactly correct not just in tolerance and that both throttles are balanced.
Thanks for the links, these are fairly expensive options for a problem that really shouldn't be there. The bikes been set up once by BMW dealer and once properly by Scrimingers but its still there! I do notice the use of panniers makes it worse which looks like a good excuse to DHL everything to where I am going
Does anyone have any grip puppies sculling about cheap? Oh yeah, and an Airhawk or comfy seat I can borrow for an Iron Butt for British Legion in June??
Bendy toy
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i've not rushed out to buy anything exactly because of the costs. My next plan is wrap some sorbothane sheet around the grips. Its absorbs vibration energy rather than simply softening any movement. Ebay prices at £8 a sheet seem a bit high but wont break the bank. More info here http://lrcltd.co.uk/products/
I plan to make a sorbothane isolated handlebar mounting plate, but that's a long term project.
I plan to make a sorbothane isolated handlebar mounting plate, but that's a long term project.
I had bad issues with vibration when I bought my 2006 GS 18 months ago, I started a thread a while back about numb fingers, and suffering from Raynauds just adds to the problem. I tried the grip puppies but just couldn't come to terms with the chunky grips ... the standard grips are maybe a little skinny but grip puppies made them massive! The numbness was so bad I considered selling the bike. However ... a few mods and it's now greatly improved ......
1. I injected bathroom sealant (full!) into the bars to help them absorb vibrations - the 2006 bike has steel rather than your ally bars so was worse, but this might help if it's a particular resonant frequency that's causing the issue. There's drain hole in the middle so make sure you tape it off before starting!
2. I had the throttle bodies balanced and cam/valve clearances set up properly by Jonno an ABW, it needs doing cold so he kept the bike overnight before doing it. Transformed!
3. De-catting the headers and fitting an accelerator module has further improved vibration, particularly in the mid-range rev band. Accelerator module alone only helped low-speed lumpiness.
Also, if it's worse with weight added to the back of the bike I'd probably check the front wheel bearings and if the headset is adjusted correctly ... wild guess because I'm not techie in those kind of things!
Stu.
1. I injected bathroom sealant (full!) into the bars to help them absorb vibrations - the 2006 bike has steel rather than your ally bars so was worse, but this might help if it's a particular resonant frequency that's causing the issue. There's drain hole in the middle so make sure you tape it off before starting!
2. I had the throttle bodies balanced and cam/valve clearances set up properly by Jonno an ABW, it needs doing cold so he kept the bike overnight before doing it. Transformed!
3. De-catting the headers and fitting an accelerator module has further improved vibration, particularly in the mid-range rev band. Accelerator module alone only helped low-speed lumpiness.
Also, if it's worse with weight added to the back of the bike I'd probably check the front wheel bearings and if the headset is adjusted correctly ... wild guess because I'm not techie in those kind of things!
Stu.
Bendy toy
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I am tempted by the vibranotors but at £60 a set I want to see some reviews of them in action on an R1200GS. Harley owners fill the bars with lead shot - a heavy option they might not notice but at least its cheap.
tosh23
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try riding without any gloves, see if that cures it...
timtim
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I remember seeing something about this on ADV forum, someone had filled the bars with lead shot which apparently made a big improvement.
Bendy toy
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Ive done about 150 miles today and hands are buzzing, especially thumb on left from all the clutch and gear shifting. The anti slip rubber mesh helped a bit as long as its not covered with gaffa tape, but its nothing major.
I need to check the throttle body balance, but as its worst at high medium revs I doubt it will change very much. But easy enough to sort now I have the kit.
I need to check the throttle body balance, but as its worst at high medium revs I doubt it will change very much. But easy enough to sort now I have the kit.
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I would not ride too far without gloves on a 1200GS with vibration issues. I did this once for a few days on a trip to Croatia where my winter gloves were just too warm. I suffered badly from vibration in my hands and in fact it took some months for them to recover. Grip Puppies, a well balanced bike, and always gloves for me now. I still have the same bike and do not suffer now.
Good luck with your vibe issues.
Good luck with your vibe issues.
original_concept
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Also, ensure your spark plugs are ok.
Riding on shite UK roads doesn't help, there's some parts of the A1 that are truly vibe inducing.
I can bitch for hours about the poor quality roads in the UK.
Riding on shite UK roads doesn't help, there's some parts of the A1 that are truly vibe inducing.
I can bitch for hours about the poor quality roads in the UK.
RATCATCHER
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VIBRATIONS
Try a four cyl jap!
Try a four cyl jap!
RobertG
Registered user
Was having the same problem. Grip Puppies solved it.
Just don't put too much washing liquid on when fitting them or you'll need to wait three days before you have throttle action again. How do I know
Was having the same problem. Grip Puppies solved it.
Just don't put too much washing liquid on when fitting them or you'll need to wait three days before you have throttle action again. How do I know
Hairspray worked for me
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