Has anyone tried either of the following "remedies" for reducing handlebar vibration? http://www.dualsportarmory.com/bar-buzz-kill-handlebar-vibration-damping-gel/ or http://www.vibranator.com/product_p/12mm-m06-t02.htm Its not that my 09 GSA is terrible, but on very long rides, I think that something like this could help battle fatigue.
Try throttle body sync and a tire balance before you drop any cash on gadgets. I balance the TBs at the same RPM I ride on the hiways. My 2010 GS is smooth as silk on the bars right after balancing but gets worse as the miles pile on.
I have always replaced the pot metal OEM handlebars on my thumper enduros and dirt bikes with Pro Taper aluminum ones, they seemed to do a good job at reducing vibration, although I have not noticed an issue with the GS's.
I have Vibranators in mine..and the wifes..( I used to live blocks away from them..) They certainly help.. I would recommend..
Have you tried lead shot in the bar? Its cheep and easy...It certainly helped with my '09. Three Throttle body sync's did NOTHING to reduce my vibrations above 4500RPM...all the way to redline....but its smooth below that. This is one of the main reasons I am considering upgrading to the new wethead
+1 What he said I've had great results with reducing vibration by doing a TB sync and double and triple checking the sync getting it as accurate as possible. It's amazing just how smooth the GS can get
The Vibranator sounds like a bad porn. Steel shot or BB's help a lot and one other thing that we used to do on our dirt bikes was to add a heavy weight motor oil but you want to make sure there are no holes in the bars and plug the ends real well or run the risk of getting oil all over the place.
My hand used to fall asleep riding my 08 ADV. Someone here said TBs are out of balance. Had them balanced and problem solved. Balance the TBs and ride it is that simple.
I'll have to disagree on this one...again. I've had my TB's sync'd 3 different times with absolutely NO reduction n vibration. Anything past 4500rpm to redline is really uncomfortable for any length of time. At least its not a BUZZ like an FJR1300..which will put your whole body to sleep in no time...if its not cooked from the heat first! Also, are you spozd to be able to see anything in the mirrors on a 09GS? It pretty difficult at most RPMs!...too much vibration!
Maybe you have something else going on too. My mirrors aren't too clear but a TB sync sure fixed my issue. I also have those grip puppies. Heat goes through them fine. Don't rule out your TB balancing may not be spot on. http://www.casporttouring.com/cst/motorcycles/GRIPPUP.html
Installed Vibranators in my Yamaha dirtbike last weekend. Prior to the install, my hands got tingly on every ride which resulted in arm pump. Vibranators eliminated the problem!!
I'm glad you are able to ride in comfort but I would keep searching for the problem that's causing that vibration
I just installed #4 shot into my handlebars, at the suggestion of another inmate. I really made a difference...
I told ya!! But i figured you'd be used to vibration after riding the HD! Also...if u want vibration "dampening" you'll need to add water.!
Another vote for Vibranators: they helped my '05 GS even after TB sync and fresh tyres. All things mechanical will have a vibe somewhere. Sensitivity to this also becomes an individual thing. My GS bugged me a little with high frequency vibes but my 2010 Concours never bothered me and that bike had a reputation for numbing hands (maybe some guys white knuckle the bars?). It also helped me to run "Original Beemer Buddies" as I prefer a thicker grip in an ergonomic sense (heat moves thru these just fine).
Grammar nazi alert: in the mechanical context, "damp", "dampen" and "dampening" are verbs, "damping" and "dampener" (alternatively spelled "damper" in US English) are nouns: A vibration dampener (noun) provides dampening (verb) of vibration. Sorry, I once had a business editing theses for PhD candidates, I have several Oxford English Style Guides on my shelf. It comes through every now and then, like foul language at a fancy party. If you're a grammar nazi too, feel free to attack my sentence construction above which doesn't technically use "dampening" as a verb... :)
+1 Thank you! It's amazing how even the luminaries of motorcycle journalism get this wrong all the time. Also, billet is not a synonym for aluminium. It is simply a block of material.
Correct. However, "Dampening" is never properly associated with oscillation and second-order systems the way "damping" is.
I have had two R12GSAs. I am hard on equipment. I hate vibration and am OCD about throttle body balance and valve adjustments. On both bikes, inspection showed the front wheel was out of true, one was also flat spotted. Woody's fixed the rims and the vibration issue. A shitty old tire (less so) or a bent rim (more so) will cause bar vibration, increasing with speed from non-existent to a buzz that renders the mirrors useless. Perhaps check your front wheel?
