Topic: Bars vibrate.. A LOT.

[Dimitri13]

When I had my clubman bars, they vibrated a bit, mainly on the right side. Now that I switched to clip-ons, the vibration was amplified tenfold. I can't go 10 minutes without it being extremely uncomfortable, again in the right side. I can feel it in the left side too, but not nearly as bad. The vibration increases with RPMs, and starts getting bad at around 5-6k.

Bike is a 550k0. Valves and ignition seem to be adjusted properly, carbs are synced.

[dave500]

you might just need to go over ignition and sync again?

[OldSchool_IsCool]

So it's an engine RPM thing and not a speed thing? 

Is your front fender in place or a fork brace at least?  Check your triples for any cracks. On Goldwings, a fork weight is used to dampen bar vibration. Just a thought.

[Dimitri13]

Yeah, it's RPM, not speed, dependent. My triple tree looked okay the last time I had my forks off (couple months ago). I have a set of anti-vibration bar ends that were decently expensive, I'll probably try putting those on and see how it goes.

I'll check all my specs again this weekend.

[OldSchool_IsCool]

Check to make sure all 4 pipes are evenly hot. Check also that your motor mount bolts are present & tight. These engines should run pretty smooth even out of tune.

[Davidov]

Sounds normal to me.
Your hands are directly on the frame with clip-ons, and the engine is rigidly mounted in the frame.

The vibration is that "feel" vintage bikes give you.

[flybox1]

does not sound normal.
+1 on engine mounts.  re-torque all of them.

[Dimitri13]

Oh, I just remembered I haven't adjusted my cam chain, could that be a factor?

[flybox1]

Oh, I just remembered I haven't adjusted my cam chain, could that be a factor?

uuhhh, yeah! 
silly me.  i assumed you'd done ALL the standard maintenance type things that need to be done

[Dimitri13]

I don't know how I forgot to do so, but I was browsing facebook and one of the sites I follow had a thread about cam chain stretching, and it hit me

[CB500_k2]

I had a Sportster with a handlebar vibration problem.  I filled the ends of the handlebar with lead shot to increase the mass and dampen the vibration.  This may work for you.

[lone*X]

I also had a Sportster that vibrated at any speed or rpm.  Easy fix.  Sold it to a Harley nut.  He liked the vibration.

[BobbyR]

Once you have eliminated the engine causes there ate several things you can do. The bars basically act as a bell, so they ring. One thing that works is filling the bars with a cheap butyl caulking. People just buy several tubes. They slip some tubing on the spout, and just pump it in. It does not add the weight that lead shot does and it absorbs vibration.