Passes & Canyons Blog

I figure that considering I’m not riding due to my surgery, this is a good time to repost some more of these Examiner Resurrections. I wrote for Examiner.com for about eight years but they shut down and all the stuff I published there was taken down. Much of it is still good and relevant.

Motorcycles 101: Combatting Handgrip Vibration

People helping people. That’s one of the really nice things about online motorcycle forums, and here’s a good example. On one forum I frequent, a guy who goes by “bull 156″ asked this question: How to keep mirrors from shaking so much? Can’t even use them when going faster.”

I was one of a number of people who responded to his question, and I was very interested in the wide range of options presented. Enough so that I figured it might be interesting to pass them along.

Here are some of the answers.

• Weights inside the bars help. My Concours has weights that are attached at the very end of the bars. Rides very smoothly but I’ve been told without them it would vibrate a lot. (This was my answer.)
• http://www.barsnake.com/ — This URL was the complete response, and when you follow the link it takes you to a site where the sell something called the “Barsnake.” It’s essentially a weight to insert inside your handlebars.
• If the valves have tappets, they should be checked for proper gap. From the photos, it appears that it came with end weights in the handlebar; if they’ve been removed, the mirrors will shake.
• Try unscrewing the mirrors and put in a rubber washer; it might help absorb some of the vibrations.
• Or, install some nylon washers. With bar end weights, you should be good.
• I think you need to check the bike over for: bad bearing (front), bad axle, bad tire, bad or loose steering head. Does the engine run smooth or rough? If the roughness or vibration comes from the engine, cure that. That engine should run smooth as silk, if all is well. Might be carb sync, valves, bad compression, whatever would make it run rough.
• Here we have some roads that are smooth as silk, and others that are bumpy like gravel. The bumpy roads will make any bike vibrate. But you can tell on the smooth parts, no vibration.
• For standard or cruiser mirrors try J.C. Whitney shock absorbing chromed mirror mount: SKU 1JA 060517.
• I’m thinking maybe you’re shifting into a higher gear too soon.

So there you go. Got a question? Get an answer, fast. You gotta love online motorcycle forums. I do.

Biker Quote for Today

On the eighth day, God created motorcycles.