Still got bad vibrations through the bars on my S1...

[Simon B]

I've had my bike a month today. Got 1400 miles on it, and still having really bad trouble with vibrations through the grips and the right hand side foot peg....

So far I've changed the bar ends to R&G Racing, and added extra weight to these, and also using Renthal grips as I find these softer than the BM ones....but I'm still suffering far too much vibration. Was out for a ride today, and swapped bikes with a friend. He tried my S1, and agreed its bad!!!!

I've had the bike back to the supplying dealer, and they haven't found anything wrong with it

As it stands, I'm struggling to ride anymore than 20-30 miles before my hands are numb. Seen the 10 page thread with various suggestions, but nothing seems to be curing it. Only thing I've thought of today is I have R&G Aero crash protectors fitted, torque'd up to R&G specs. My train of thought is if these are'nt tight enough, would this cause excess vibration of the frame / engine, thus transferring via the frame to the bars?

I'm running out of options, other than selling and getting another Fireblade

I've emailed BMW UK, but still waiting a response. Has anyone else found any other fixes for this? Is it worth tightening up the R&G crash protectors?

Any help would be appreciated!!

[Marky 70]

You have discovered the problem.The R&G spec of 40 nm is 16 nm less than what the offical BMW manual states these bolts should be torqued to 56 nm.This lower torque is causing excess vibration through the whole bike. How many people on here complain that they can only ride for 30 miles, common sense.Tirquethem to 56 nm -done.

[AMPforE]

Sorry to hear your having so much trouble. Bad vibration is difficult to overlook. Couple things, what octane gas are you running? Is the vibration the same throughout the RRM or does it smooth out at 5k and above?

The vibs bother me also, I have a pair of Driven superbike grips to go on and I also have heavy throttlemeisters on the way. Driven Grippy grips and motivation barends helped me with my CBR1000. I don't think the R&G's are as heavy as the TM's or Motivation barends. It also took about 4000 miles before the CBR smoothed out so you may just have to endure a little longer. Some say it gets better with miles and some say it's the same.

If the Driven grips and TM's does not do it for me I'm going to change the gearing to keep me out of the 4K range which is where the vibration is the worst for me. The gearing is pretty tall anyway so a -1/+2 will do wonders.

[AMRRA12]

if that does not fix it try buying a can of spray foam and fill the inside of the bars!

[Depths_of_Mind]

I've also heard BB's or lead sinkers will work too... not sure how well they will actuall work, but heard they do.

[Simon B]

Cheers guys for the help so far. I'll tighten the crash protectors up to 56nm tomorrow, and will probably add a bit more weight to the bar ends and will see how it rides then

The vibes start around 3k, then get a lot worse from 4-7k....

[Mack]

The ThrottleMeisters did zero for me on vibes. No that much difference in weight off the stockers (they are the H-D ones too.).

Some Olympia 760 Air Force gel-palmed gloves helped maybe 20%.

I have a pair of NOJ Neoprene Grip Covers that also seem to help, maybe 20% as well. Haven't tried the "Grip Puppies" yet. A (fugly) CrampBuster helps too as I can get my hand off the grip and use my palm for a bit.

Seriously, someone needs to come up with an "Isolation kit" for the bars.

I don't have an issue with the foot pegs at all, but I wear some BMW Air-Max (?) boots with some gel inserts so that may be why. I don't let my heel touch that vibrating heel-plate either (some isolation rubber needed there too?).


Mack

[AMPforE]

Originally Posted by Simon B

The vibes start around 3k, then get a lot worse from 4-7k....

That is odd, I am smooth at 3k, and the worst of it is at 4k, and then smoother at 5k and above.

Originally Posted by Mack

The ThrottleMeisters did zero for me on vibes. No that much difference in weight off the stockers (they are the H-D ones too.).


Mack

TM's seem to be the savior or no help at all. According to them they are much heavier than stock.

[Mack]

Originally Posted by AMPforE

TM's seem to be the savior or no help at all. According to them they are much heavier than stock.

I don't know, but my stockers were steel and they didn't seem that much different than the TM H-D ones, not enough to matter. If I had a scale I'd weigh them.

Actually I 'd give them a 20% improvement - if that - over the stockers. I think the dampening claimed off the TM's is more hype. After 30 miles, I still get the damn "Where's that front brake lever at?" sensation. I've got some of the NOJ's around and I need to try them out on both grips. They're a simple Velcro-on type of foam/neoprene stuff.

I'm still wondering about the sub-out for the BMW grips off the touring bikes. If the 'NOJ Grip Wraps' or the 'Grip Puppies' cannot do any better, then I doubt the change-out to the BMW touring grips would do any better.

I still think the bars themselves need some sort of isolation.


Mack

[That Nice Guy Beck!]

mine was terrible at 4k just at 4k , after 600 service , vibe is gone, just start tightening **** up, somethings loose