Feels like a new bike!

[jonr3]

Thanks to all of the recommendations and comments from this forum, I did a little wrenching this weekend...

I added a set of Renthal CR Hi-bends that are custom-made for Scotts (so that I can add one of their dampers when my wallet recovers). I filled the bars with expanding insulation foam, except for the last 6 inches I filled with pure silicone.

After it cured, I mounted the bars, added some grip heaters, and installed some ProGrips. It feels like a new bike now! I don't know if the foam insulation and silicone actually helped, but I figured it couldn't hurt.

I also added a skid plate from the TT store. Nice fit and it's built well.

The only problem I had was that I bought a Vista-Cruise "universal fit" throttle lock. It would probably fit - if I cut off a finger. It takes up so much space on the grip that there isn't enough room for my hand!

Anyway, thanks for all the recommendations and comments on the grips and bars!

[flyin vee]

jonr3, I have a 650l that gets totally "buzzy" at about 75 mph. Will the foam and silicone help dampen some of the vibration at the handlebars?? Sounds like a pretty cool mod.

[martinfan30]

ifilled my stock bars with foam and the stuff expanded into the throttle assy. and turn signal switch. what a mess! guess i should have used the silicone on the ends. has this helped?

[jonr3]

jonr3, I have a 650l that gets totally "buzzy" at about 75 mph. Will the foam and silicone help dampen some of the vibration at the handlebars?? Sounds like a pretty cool mod.

Yeah, mine got buzzy too. I just got back from riding about 50 miles between 65 - 80 mph on the freeway and it's MUCH better!

I thought about doing some tests to see what would help the most... ride it with just the new handlebars, then add the foam, then add the silicone, then add the grips, etc. But since I had it all apart, (and basically I'm lazy), I just did it all at once.

[jonr3]

ifilled my stock bars with foam and the stuff expanded into the throttle assy. and turn signal switch. what a mess! guess i should have used the silicone on the ends. has this helped?

The new Renthals didn't have the set holes drilled into them and since the bars were off the bike, it was pretty easy to fill 'em up and stick the plastic plugs back in. Still, I got that stuff all over my hands, bars, and garage floor. After it cured, I added the silicone.

I don't know if any of this helped or not since I added new bars and grips, but the combination of everything has made a big difference!

[martinfan30]

The new Renthals didn't have the set holes drilled into them and since the bars were off the bike, it was pretty easy to fill 'em up and stick the plastic plugs back in. Still, I got that stuff all over my hands, bars, and garage floor. After it cured, I added the silicone.

I don't know if any of this helped or not since I added new bars and grips, but the combination of everything has made a big difference!

im still scraping that S*** up off the garage floor!

[Sipes77]

That foam is a sticky mess:p From my experience with expanding foam in the construction biz, a little goes a long ways! It has been a little while since I have used it but I think it expands about 400%.

[martinfan30]

That foam is a sticky mess:p From my experience with expanding foam in the construction biz, a little goes a long ways! It has been a little while since I have used it but I think it expands about 400%.

id say you are right!

[-=Jughead=-]

Try some buckshot or birdshot in the bars. It's sposta add dampening and weight.

[martinfan30]

Try some buckshot or birdshot in the bars. It's sposta add dampening and weight.

think this would also help with a little headshake?? being that it may slow down the steering??

[jonr3]

Try some buckshot or birdshot in the bars. It's sposta add dampening and weight.

I thought about doing that, but I didn't want to add the extra weight. I heard that it is supposed to help though...

[XR650L_Dave]

Adding weight will lower the side-side turning resonance frequency. Any natural wobble will 'want' to occur as a slower wobble vs. with no added weight to the bars.

Adding weight near the bar ends will have the most pronounced effect, towards the middle almost none.

Dave

[motometal]

hmmm...if you didn't have handgards, you could find a tap that fit the id of the bar ends, and make solid steel inserts on a lathe. Or, hollow steel, and fill with lead.

Some older Kawasakies used to come with steel weights welded into the ends of the bars. Not sure how common this was.