How much handlebar vibration is normal?
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6th Gear
Joined: Sep 2014
Posts: 11
Likes: 0
From: CT
How much handlebar vibration is normal?
2001 Custom 1200.
5,500 miles.
I notice quite a bit of vibration in the handlebars, to the point where there's practically no detail in the rear-view mirrors. Lights in the mirrors make circular trails.
My question is, how much vibration is normal in an 01? Is there a way to quantify normal vs. abnormal vibration? Is it just the nature of the beast?
Thanks.
5,500 miles.
I notice quite a bit of vibration in the handlebars, to the point where there's practically no detail in the rear-view mirrors. Lights in the mirrors make circular trails.
My question is, how much vibration is normal in an 01? Is there a way to quantify normal vs. abnormal vibration? Is it just the nature of the beast?
Thanks.
Tourer
Joined: Oct 2014
Posts: 293
Likes: 27
From: Beaumont Ca
2001 Custom 1200.
5,500 miles.
I notice quite a bit of vibration in the handlebars, to the point where there's practically no detail in the rear-view mirrors. Lights in the mirrors make circular trails.
My question is, how much vibration is normal in an 01? Is there a way to quantify normal vs. abnormal vibration? Is it just the nature of the beast?
Thanks.
5,500 miles.
I notice quite a bit of vibration in the handlebars, to the point where there's practically no detail in the rear-view mirrors. Lights in the mirrors make circular trails.
My question is, how much vibration is normal in an 01? Is there a way to quantify normal vs. abnormal vibration? Is it just the nature of the beast?
Thanks.
Road Master
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 778
Likes: 4
From: Opposite Side of the Planet
2001 Custom 1200.
5,500 miles.
I notice quite a bit of vibration in the handlebars, to the point where there's practically no detail in the rear-view mirrors. Lights in the mirrors make circular trails.
My question is, how much vibration is normal in an 01? Is there a way to quantify normal vs. abnormal vibration? Is it just the nature of the beast?
Thanks.
5,500 miles.
I notice quite a bit of vibration in the handlebars, to the point where there's practically no detail in the rear-view mirrors. Lights in the mirrors make circular trails.
My question is, how much vibration is normal in an 01? Is there a way to quantify normal vs. abnormal vibration? Is it just the nature of the beast?
Thanks.
Road Master
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 778
Likes: 4
From: Opposite Side of the Planet
Having owned 3 non-rubber mount Sportsters and 2 rubber mount Sportsters, I would never go back to a non-rubber mount. That's me though. My 2014 is super smooth. I can book down the road at 85 mph all day long which I couldn't on my non-rubber mounts. Also different people tolerate vibration differently.
Road Master
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 1,161
Likes: 39
From: LOST WAGES
My wife's 07 had the buzz in the bars that made her hands go numb after a 300 mile ride and the mirrors were hard to see clearly out of. I tried changing the front sprocket to the HDI (international) sprocket it was great at 65 MPH but the speed limits out here are 75 and we usually do 80 MPH and all it did was change the rate of the buzz but never got rid of it. My Indy shop told me about the Vibranators. My Indy told me he would install them up front for no charge and if she didn't like them he would take them back out. My wife thought no way it would work. After she picked up her bike my wife was amazed at the difference and no more buzzing in the bars. Well worth the money, and now looking to put a set on my bike.
Last edited by Hal64hd; Oct 15, 2014 at 06:19 PM.
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Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2014
Posts: 2,181
Likes: 488
From: Central California
My Indy shop to me about Vibranators. My Indy told me he would install them up front for no charge and if she didn't like them he would take them back out. My wife thought no way it would work. After she picked up her bike my wife was amazed at the difference and no more buzzing in the bars. Well worth the money, and now looking to put a set on my bike.
I reckon it works on some, but definitely not all.
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hell save the money get some play sand fill the bars with sand - silicone the ends closed
or buy the bar snake an shove that in there - sand will def help dampin some of the vibrations but youll never get rid of it all together..
or buy the bar snake an shove that in there - sand will def help dampin some of the vibrations but youll never get rid of it all together..
Grand HDF Member
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 4,007
Likes: 126
From: Manassas, VA
A 2001 Sportster is a completely different animal than '04 and up.
The '01 has bushings where the handlebar risers mount to the upper triple clamp, helping to reduce vibration from the solid mount frame (no isolators for the engine). The bushings are covered by cup-shaped washers, but if you investigate a little, you'll see what I'm talking about. The bushings dry-rot and/or deteriorate. A popular replacement are Urethane bushings.
The '01 has bushings where the handlebar risers mount to the upper triple clamp, helping to reduce vibration from the solid mount frame (no isolators for the engine). The bushings are covered by cup-shaped washers, but if you investigate a little, you'll see what I'm talking about. The bushings dry-rot and/or deteriorate. A popular replacement are Urethane bushings.