Best Anti-vibration bar ends?

[fastkatanaboy]

I just picked up a 82 GS1100E with flat drag bars and no heavy OEM bar end>>>>>This thing vibrates much more than my GS1000SZ Katana.

The heavey OEM barends will run $55-60, which seems way high.
What have you guys been using with success??

[bwringer]

I don't have a set of these, but I want 'em:

http://manicsalamander.com/bar_end_weight.htm

[Mike McNaney]

Im not sure about any other GS's but your bike came with plastic bar end plugs when it was new.

Those bar end weights work to dampen cyclic vibration which would come from the motor. They wont help tank slap style vibration much at all.
That vibration comes from a light front end, or unequal pressures in the forks.

I had bad vibration when I first bought mine and found it was due to shorter than stock shocks in the back making the front end light and 30 year old fork oil (Actually oil chunks).

I first tried the bar end weights and it didnt help at all.

Rides smoothly now after a front end rebuild and lowering the front end to put more weight on.

[Mike McNaney]

Nice bike by the way. Is that the one off craigs list that was posted here?

[sharpy]

vibes

The engine shouldnt vibrate more . ill be checking enging mounts and stuf like that. You can melt lead (fishing weights) and place in the end of the bars to dampen the vibes that way.

[UncleMike]

Don't forget a good carb sync.

[Road_Clam]

I just picked up a 82 GS1100E with flat drag bars and no heavy OEM bar end>>>>>This thing vibrates much more than my GS1000SZ Katana.

The heavey OEM barends will run $55-60, which seems way high.
What have you guys been using with success??

I have these K&S ones, and I also jammed 3/8 automotive fuel line up inside my handlebars. My 1100 has only minimal bar buzz.

[beby99]

Yep...K&S here also:

[salty_monk]

I recently changed my heavy rubber oversize hand grips for Gel ones, my bars are now vibrating a lot more than they used too

I believe I first noticed this after changing the clutch springs, (which in turn prompted the grip change) seems to be a bit more vibration in the bike as a whole but I may just be imagining it.

Inside the bar was some tiny polystyrene balls which I forced further up the bars in order to fit the plastic bar ends that came with the grips.

I'm wondering if there's a cheap way to try this... mind you, that guy says you can always send them back!! (so that could be a cheap-ish way).

Be interested if anyone has found a lower cost option of these anyway, the plastic ones are pretty nasty!! JC cycles sells the KS ones for about 18 bucks incl packing but will they work being so much lighter?

Has anyone found a squarer bar (one that places less strain on the wrists) that can be fitted without adjusting cables & brake hoses etc?

Dan

[katman]

INteresting,

When I went to the gsxr frontend I got more buzz in the bars. I am using lighter ends and thought of going back to some bricks to see if that would help. It has been one of a thousand things I want to do and it is down on the list..but ... since someone brought it up I guess it will move up.
I am going to keep an eye on this to see if anyone has the answer......

Has anyone tried inserting some solid steel bar. Cheaper than those big 'ol expensive things?

[Tom MLC]

Anybody tried BarSnake? I haven't, but I found 'em on the 'net.

http://www.barsnake.com/

[katman]

Good link Tom,

So its not weight that affects vibration. You have to change or disiapte the harmonic resonance.
We need to go on a hunt for non resonating material to fill up the bars with.....Ok all you science geeks. Lets here from ya'll. whats the best stuff?

Has anyone tried filling the bars with calking?

[salty_monk]

Mine are filled with ultra small polystyrene beads, that won't resonate & in fact should be very similar to what is achieved with the "barsnake". It's not doing me much good though...

Dan

[katman]

I just checked the weight differential of the stock katana barends and the anodized ends on there now. WOW. stock kat ends are 10x heavier and my 1150 ends are like bricks.
I have been doing a lot of googling and changing the mass seams to be the answer. Obviously Suzuki new this thats why the ends are so heavy so I am going to mill my stock ones to fit my gixxer clipons and fill my tubes with calking to take the ringing bell effect out of the bars.
Won't be able to give any feedback for a while as my beast is all apart right now.
A guy told me when he had his crank balanced the 4k buzz went away too. Since I am getting mine balanced it may not be a good comparison.

[waterman]

This topic was discussed in a dual sport forum that I frequent. The suggestions there were to change the harmonics of the handlebars with some sort of filling; caulk, lead, plastic balls, wax, etc. I would try something that is removable in case you didn't like result. I will admit to not having used these suggestions, but I liked the idea of packing the handlebars with lead shot. I think you could stuff the center section with some paper or cloth filler and use lead shot to stuff ends.
From my own experience, the vibration in the bars was related to poor synchronisation of carbs. Once I got them correct, my buzz went away.