Motorcycle Handlebar Vibration Dampers - for 7/8" handlebars
(These dampers are also available in a 1" version.)
General Info
I love to ride, but with some bikes, handlebar vibration can really
detract from the experience. Sometimes when I am riding, my hands
will fall asleep; I'll be constantly clenching my fists or slapping my hands against my legs to try to get rid of the "pins and needles". This is caused by vibration, and it affects some people more than others.
Handlebar vibration is a fact of life when you ride a motorcycle, but
some bikes are worse than others. There are certain things you
can do to reduce it. One of these is by rubber mounting the engine
and the handlebars; another
step that some manufacturers take is to mount weights in (or on) the
handlebars. What this does is to increase the mass of the ends of the
handlebars, and therefore, the amount of force required to move them.
Vibration is a "cycle"; it moves an object in one direction, stops it,
then moves it back in the other direction before stopping it and
starting the cycle all over again. By making the object heavier, we
increase its inertia; its tendency to stay at rest while at rest and
its tendency to stay in motion once moving. If we make the handlebars
heavier, the vibration will still try to move it in the same way as
before, but now it must put a much heavier object into motion, stop
it, move it back in the opposite direction, using the same amount of
force as before. What this means in
practical terms is that the movement will be less, since more of the
"input" energy is dissipated.
Around 2000-2001, I developed a kit to dampen the handlebar vibration on my 1996
Suzuki Intruder 1400, and made it available as a Steiger Performance
product at that same time, selling those to satisfied
customers for 15 years or so. I began to receive inquiries for dampers for other bikes, so I decided to create a universal kit for any bike with 1" bars and this was also very well received. After several years of selling these, I was also getting inquiries from bikers with 7/8" bars. The product on this page is
identical to my 1" kit, except with a reduced diameter to allow it to fit
in just about any motorcycle with 7/8" bars.
My vibration dampers are inserted into the ends of the handlebar and
lock into place using a silicone retainer. Each damper weighs
approximately 7.2 ounces, giving you an additional 14.4 ounces of
dampening mass in the handlebar.
So, do they work? Yes! I use them on my own bike, and I'm
happy with the results. Note that although a vibration damper
may not completely eliminate the vibration, they WILL reduce it, and every little bit helps!
Invisible Install
You may have seen motorcycles with bar-end weights hanging off the end
of their handlebars. Some bikes have factory installed bar-end
weights, others are aftermarket. A bar-end weight uses the same
principles as described above (increasing handlebar mass) to reduce vibration,
however they are installed at the ends of the handlebars, rather than
inside the bars themselves. They will work just as effectively
(assuming that they are the same weight as a damper inside of the
handlebar), but
can be rather unsightly if you prefer a clean look for your bike.
Because my dampers install inside of your handlebars, they are
completely invisible once installed. Also, some factory and
aftermarket grips are not set up to allow a weight to be attached to
the end of the handlebar. Because my dampers are inside of the
handlebar, they will not interfere with your grips.
Easy Installation and Removal
Once you have removed the grips on your bike, you simply slip my
dampers in the end of the bars and tighten up the retaining mechanism
with a Phillips head screwdriver. This super simple installation
and removal makes it easy to try these dampers in multiple bikes, or
if you often rent or borrow motorcycles, you can install these
in the bars for more comfort and then easily remove them before
returning the bike.
These vibration dampers are designed for motorcycles with 7/8"
handlebars. They will work with any motorcycle that has handlebars
with an inside diameter of just over 5/8", and approximately 5.75
inches of available depth.
(These dampers are also available in a 1" version.)
Pictured on this page are the components included in the
kit. You will receive two stainless steel weights with the
stainless steel and silicone retaining mechanism fully assembled,
ready to install. Also included is a long machine screw to
assist in the removal of the weight from your handlebar.
(This is usually not necessary, but is included as a
convenience to you. If you happen to unscrew the retaining
mechanism from the weight during removal, the long machine
screw makes it easy to pull the weight out of your handlebar.)
Of course, you will also receive installation instructions
with full color photos. Besides the tools you might need to
remove your motorcycle's grips, the only tool required to
install or remove the dampers themselves is a large Phillips head
screwdriver and possibly a pair of needle nose pliers.
Lifetime Warranty
I stand behind my product and I want you to be happy with your
purchase.
These motorcycle handlebar vibration dampers are warranted to the original purchaser to be free from
defects in materials and workmanship for as long as you own them.
I am very careful during the manufacturing process and quality control
inspection to weed out anything that could potentially cause a problem
down the road. However, as is the case with any mechanical item, there
is always a chance for failure no matter how controlled the
manufacturing process may be. As such, should this product break or
prove unsatisfactory to you, please contact me and I will be happy to
replace it or refund your purchase price. (In the event of a warranty
claim, you will be responsible for the postage cost to mail the
product back to me, but I will cover the cost of shipping the replacement to
you.)
Testimonials
Click Here to read customer testimonials about this product.
Since this is a fairly new product, I do not yet have many testimonials
to display, however you are welcome to view the testimonials for my
very similar Suzuki Intruder specific kit (upon which this kit is
based) by
clicking
here.
