Should I switch to poly bushings?
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Road Captain
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 626
Likes: 2
From: The Coma
Should I switch to poly bushings?
Hey, I plan to install my 12" bars on my '07 FXD to replace the the stock bars and I have read in some of the older posts on the forum that poly bushings with taller bars increase handling but also might introduce a little more vibes?
As of right now, my bike tracks well as far as steering response is concerned and so my question is should I just go ahead and throw in a set of poly bushings during the swap or will it even have enough benefit on 12" bars?
Thanks for your help.
Cheers,
Jimmy
As of right now, my bike tracks well as far as steering response is concerned and so my question is should I just go ahead and throw in a set of poly bushings during the swap or will it even have enough benefit on 12" bars?
Thanks for your help.
Cheers,
Jimmy
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Road Captain
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 626
Likes: 2
From: The Coma
Any particular reason why?
I feel like I might like rubber better because I have no trouble with the handling, but I don't want more vibration due to the fact that I am missing my left pinky finger and sawed more than halfway through a couple of the other fingers on that hand too, so they're more prone to numbness and fatigue than my right hand.
But as I know absolutely nothing about the comparison of the two, I thought it was best to not assume I'd like one over the other and I should probably ask people who know what they're talking about. (Imagine if more people thought that way?! Haha!)
Thanks again,
Jimmy
I feel like I might like rubber better because I have no trouble with the handling, but I don't want more vibration due to the fact that I am missing my left pinky finger and sawed more than halfway through a couple of the other fingers on that hand too, so they're more prone to numbness and fatigue than my right hand.
But as I know absolutely nothing about the comparison of the two, I thought it was best to not assume I'd like one over the other and I should probably ask people who know what they're talking about. (Imagine if more people thought that way?! Haha!)
Thanks again,
Jimmy
Club Member
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 10,815
Likes: 16
From: Virginia
I'd say hell yes. I hated the stock rubber bushings, they moved more than Oprah's *** while running to KFC for a special.
I didn't really notice any increased vibration but it sure felt a lot stiffer and nicer without the bars moving around.
I didn't really notice any increased vibration but it sure felt a lot stiffer and nicer without the bars moving around.
Advanced
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 66
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From: Texas
....+1
Road Warrior
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 1,760
Likes: 211
From: Manila, Philippines
Try the bars with the normal rubber bushings and if the give is not that great, then its fine. For me, I switched to 14" Wild 1s Chubby and the give was pretty bad, so added them later. No big difference with vibration.
Road Warrior
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 1,382
Likes: 4
From: Kennewick, WA
I went with the poly bushings when going from buckhorns to risers with drag bars. There was just too much play with even 5" risers to stay with the rubber mounts.
That said, my mirrors did start to vibrate more, making it more difficult to tell if the car behind me was the law or just another citizen trying to get to his destination faster than I was.
As far as handlebar vibrations and hand numbness, it might be more pronounced with the stiffer bushings, I suppose it must be, but I find it easier to live with than the vague steering response of the soft factory bushings.
There is a trade-off, but on the other hand, the poly bushings are only $10 if you don't buy the entire and unnecessary get-up. If you don't like them, then just go back. They'll be the cheapest "mistake" you'll ever make.
Me, I'll stay with the poly bushings. I like the more connected feeling to the front end.
That said, my mirrors did start to vibrate more, making it more difficult to tell if the car behind me was the law or just another citizen trying to get to his destination faster than I was.
As far as handlebar vibrations and hand numbness, it might be more pronounced with the stiffer bushings, I suppose it must be, but I find it easier to live with than the vague steering response of the soft factory bushings.
There is a trade-off, but on the other hand, the poly bushings are only $10 if you don't buy the entire and unnecessary get-up. If you don't like them, then just go back. They'll be the cheapest "mistake" you'll ever make.
Me, I'll stay with the poly bushings. I like the more connected feeling to the front end.
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Road Warrior
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 1,396
Likes: 7
From: Connecticut :(
The bigger the bars the more flex with rubber.
even with my mini apes, I went to poly bushings, and they are great! Flex is totally gone!
And No, I dont get a ton of hand vibration.
They act just like rubber, but no flex.
even with my mini apes, I went to poly bushings, and they are great! Flex is totally gone!
And No, I dont get a ton of hand vibration.
They act just like rubber, but no flex.
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Tourer
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 408
Likes: 0
From: western mass.
Just switched to poly myself and there is more vibration than before to the point my left hand was going numb. I thought the same thing the bolts are to tight but I haven't loosened them yet. I will today.