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Handlebars vibration: Possibles fixes

  • Thread starter Thread starter Guest
  • Start date Start date
G

Guest

Guest
Hi.
I have a 1982 GS650GL and for some reason, when im cruising at 100-110km/h at 4000RPM the handlebars vibrate. Its kind of a high frequency vibration so highway cruise can get my hands numb. The handlebars are not the stock ones, they are flatter and longer so maybe that can contribute to the vibration. Looking online I see that putting counterweights on the end of my handgrips would be a good way to solve the problem. Problem is. I like my handgrips the ay they are and putting counterweights on the end would ruin the style! (see pic). So I have come up with and idea: First, fill my handlebar with silicone. Its just an empty tube with nothing in it so it probably woudn't be hard to pour some in. Second, I would leave the last 4-5 inches of the ends of the tube empty, put a lead rod in there and fix said lead rods in place with some more silicone. Im thinking that this way, I would get some mass everywhere in the handlebar, but especially at the end of the handles without having to put counterweights that look out of place. Im thinking of lead because of its higher density that steel but steel is viable too. And because its sealed inside my handlebars I woudnt have to worry about lead poisoning Has anybody ever done something like that on a GS? I know its kind of a common fix on older bikes. If you have any suggestion for me I would be happy to hear them!
IMG_1527.jpg
Not the best picture but you get the idea. If The silicone filled handlebar plan doesnt work, then il happily put some counterweights in.

L.Leblanc
1982GS650GL
 
All bikes suffer from some bar vibes and you will see that even new bikes come with bar weights as stock to dampen the vibes so it's not just older machines.
Silicon, bar weights and fatter /softer grips will all help.
I have a combination of all three on my Z1R to cure the vibes which got worse after fitting Renthal alloy superbike bars..
 
I fitted a set of Honda ST1100 bars on mine and found the ends contained about 4" long steel inserts as anti-vibe weights.
I had to remove them to fit my internal bar heaters, though.
 
Grimly said:
I fitted a set of Honda ST1100 bars on mine and found the ends contained about 4" long steel inserts as anti-vibe weights.
I had to remove them to fit my internal bar heaters, though.
Click to expand...

Noticed a difference when you removed the inserts?
 
zed1015 said:
All bikes suffer from some bar vibes and you will see that even new bikes come with bar weights as stock to dampen the vibes so it's not just older machines.
Silicon, bar weights and fatter /softer grips will all help.
I have a combination of all three on my Z1R to cure the vibes which got worse after fitting Renthal alloy superbike bars..
Click to expand...

Any idea as to what sort of silicon to use? I was thinking standard hardware store caulk but I want to find something more dense and that hardens a bit more
 
Just looked at those Honda ST1100 wgts. They look like they are completely inside the bar. Could install them then reinstall your grips.?????
 
rphillips said:
Just looked at those Honda ST1100 wgts. They look like they are completely inside the bar. Could install them then reinstall your grips.?????
Click to expand...

Do you have a link? Cant seem to find what you are talking about
 
Just looked up Honda motorcycle parts then found diagram for ST1100 handlebars. Looked on ebay and saw a couple of sets of used bars that looked like weights were still inside. hardly see the weights, looked like appx. 1/4", at very end of bar
 
Grimly said:
I fitted a set of Honda ST1100 bars on mine and found the ends contained about 4" long steel inserts as anti-vibe weights.
I had to remove them to fit my internal bar heaters, though.
Click to expand...

If you still have them, could you measure the diameter of the bars with the rubber inserts? Im looking to see if they would fit inside my current handlebars.
 
Yes samonak, I saw it looks like those wgts. were no longer available from Honda, I punched ST1100 wgts. on ebay but saw nothing. Looks like those you found are all complete except the "O" ring. I'd think all 7/8" handlebars would be the same inside diameter, but couldn't guarantee it. Hoping Dave (Grimly) checks back in.
 
Another method could simply be to buy myself some 7/8''(or whatever my handlebar ID is) steel rods 6'' long, maybe sand them down a little bit, freeze them and insert them into my handlebars. It would be a slip fit and one they heat back up to room temp, there would be no way to get them out.
 
I filled a set with shot on one bike... works well. Use Silicon to hold it in there. Bar Snakes also make a difference if you want a ready made piece... :)
 
Can talk about this forever... Just heavier, I don't think, is the answer, if it were, just pour the bars full of lead and go. The weights are cushioned from the bars. the vibration is absorbed in the cushion while trying to get the weight to vibrate same speed as the bars are but the cushion won't let the weight keep up with the bars. Look at the wgts. for the ST1100, they have rubber to cushion them on both ends. For your steel rod idea, use rod smaller than ID of handlebar, then find "O" rings that will snugly fill the space and cushion steel rod from bars.... The Honda wgts. may not help at all, but the Honda engineers have probably studied this way more than you ever could. If theirs don't help, yours would probably be pretty questionable as well... That said, I never got either of my GS1150's to be as smooth as my GS1000 and GS1100's... Good luck.
 
I think that is the best way to do it. Plus it wont cost me a lot to try it. If I can find steel rods 1/16'' smaller that the ID of the handlebar with O rings. If it doesn't work, then ill fill it up with silicone
 
Simonak3000 said:
If you still have them, could you measure the diameter of the bars with the rubber inserts? Im looking to see if they would fit inside my current handlebars.
Click to expand...

Sorry, I haven't seen them for years. They're still around, because I definitely didn't throw them out, but who knows where they are now.
 
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