Vibration
Thread Starter
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6th Gear
Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 12
Likes: 0
From: Oklahoma
Vibration
Ok all you Sportster 1200 Riders, I'm riding an 04 Xl 1200c, at highway speeds the mirrors are vibrating so bad it's hard to see anything out of them, is this normal vibration for a Sportster? Just curious
Road Captain
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 731
Likes: 7
From: Windsor Ontario
'04 was the first year for the rubbermounts, the mirrors on my '05 are almost dead smooth between 60-80 mph, and that's with the much stiffer Drag Specialties isolators. Check your front engine isolator bolt (the big one right at the bottom-front of the frame) it should be 60-70 ft/lbs they often come loose -use Loctite.
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 3,306
Likes: 5
From: Bellville, Tx
This is an old school trick that works. Increasing the weight of the grip area cancels out most of the high freq vibration. Try it, you'll like it!
Check out your local hardware store, the lead sheet is used for shower stall water seal under the tile.
https://www.hdforums.com/forum/softa...with-pics.html
Check out your local hardware store, the lead sheet is used for shower stall water seal under the tile.
https://www.hdforums.com/forum/softa...with-pics.html
Advanced
Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 74
Likes: 0
From: Texas
I'm to new to know to remember what they are called. But don't they have weights that fix to the end of the bars to reduce vibration?
Wouldn't that help counter some of it?
I also have this issue on m Nightster. Its not overwhelming but i wouldn't be able to tell the difference between a sedan and a med sized truck. At least I can tell someones there. lol
Wouldn't that help counter some of it?
I also have this issue on m Nightster. Its not overwhelming but i wouldn't be able to tell the difference between a sedan and a med sized truck. At least I can tell someones there. lol
Road Master
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 778
Likes: 4
From: Opposite Side of the Planet
NOT NORMAL for the mirrors to vibrate as you describe with a rubbermount Sporty. There are going to be certain RPMs (same RPM in
each gear) that the vibration will be pronounced and in other RPMs no vibration (clear mirrors). On my 07 XL1200R the bike smooths out at 3200-3500 RPM and my mirrors are pretty darn clear with very little vibration.
I would check the swing arm (rear rubber mount) bolt/nut torque and as mentioned the front lower rubber mount bolt/nut. The front is known to come loose. I have re-torqued mine a number of time (60-70 Ft Lbs) and uses a 1-inch socket/wrench. Last time I couldn't see any threads from the bolt through the nut! This last time I used Blue Loctite on it (finally
wised up).
Other causes of vibration are the primary chain not adjusted correctly and the rear belt not aligned correctly. Front fork not correctly adjusted, a wheel weights missing, etc...really a process of elimination.
You should not have to go to handlebar weights, etc on a rubbermount. A properly set up one is pretty darn smooth (and I have owned a 1975, 1984 and a 1990 Sportster so know what pre-rubbermount vibration is like).
each gear) that the vibration will be pronounced and in other RPMs no vibration (clear mirrors). On my 07 XL1200R the bike smooths out at 3200-3500 RPM and my mirrors are pretty darn clear with very little vibration.
I would check the swing arm (rear rubber mount) bolt/nut torque and as mentioned the front lower rubber mount bolt/nut. The front is known to come loose. I have re-torqued mine a number of time (60-70 Ft Lbs) and uses a 1-inch socket/wrench. Last time I couldn't see any threads from the bolt through the nut! This last time I used Blue Loctite on it (finally
wised up).
Other causes of vibration are the primary chain not adjusted correctly and the rear belt not aligned correctly. Front fork not correctly adjusted, a wheel weights missing, etc...really a process of elimination.
You should not have to go to handlebar weights, etc on a rubbermount. A properly set up one is pretty darn smooth (and I have owned a 1975, 1984 and a 1990 Sportster so know what pre-rubbermount vibration is like).
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Thread Starter
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6th Gear
Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 12
Likes: 0
From: Oklahoma
NOT NORMAL for the mirrors to vibrate as you describe with a rubbermount Sporty. There are going to be certain RPMs (same RPM in
each gear) that the vibration will be pronounced and in other RPMs no vibration (clear mirrors). On my 07 XL1200R the bike smooths out at 3200-3500 RPM and my mirrors are pretty darn clear with very little vibration.
I would check the swing arm (rear rubber mount) bolt/nut torque and as mentioned the front lower rubber mount bolt/nut. The front is known to come loose. I have re-torqued mine a number of time (60-70 Ft Lbs) and uses a 1-inch socket/wrench. Last time I couldn't see any threads from the bolt through the nut! This last time I used Blue Loctite on it (finally
wised up).
Other causes of vibration are the primary chain not adjusted correctly and the rear belt not aligned correctly. Front fork not correctly adjusted, a wheel weights missing, etc...really a process of elimination.
You should not have to go to handlebar weights, etc on a rubbermount. A properly set up one is pretty darn smooth (and I have owned a 1975, 1984 and a 1990 Sportster so know what pre-rubbermount vibration is like).
each gear) that the vibration will be pronounced and in other RPMs no vibration (clear mirrors). On my 07 XL1200R the bike smooths out at 3200-3500 RPM and my mirrors are pretty darn clear with very little vibration.
I would check the swing arm (rear rubber mount) bolt/nut torque and as mentioned the front lower rubber mount bolt/nut. The front is known to come loose. I have re-torqued mine a number of time (60-70 Ft Lbs) and uses a 1-inch socket/wrench. Last time I couldn't see any threads from the bolt through the nut! This last time I used Blue Loctite on it (finally
wised up).
Other causes of vibration are the primary chain not adjusted correctly and the rear belt not aligned correctly. Front fork not correctly adjusted, a wheel weights missing, etc...really a process of elimination.
You should not have to go to handlebar weights, etc on a rubbermount. A properly set up one is pretty darn smooth (and I have owned a 1975, 1984 and a 1990 Sportster so know what pre-rubbermount vibration is like).
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Thread Starter
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6th Gear
Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 12
Likes: 0
From: Oklahoma
'04 was the first year for the rubbermounts, the mirrors on my '05 are almost dead smooth between 60-80 mph, and that's with the much stiffer Drag Specialties isolators. Check your front engine isolator bolt (the big one right at the bottom-front of the frame) it should be 60-70 ft/lbs they often come loose -use Loctite.