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Handlebars

Posted: Mon Mar 05, 2018 4:46 pm
by BamBam
What do you guys think about handlebars and this whole vibration/fatigue thing? (especially given my old KDX bike)

Would it make a difference going to something like a Mika pro 7/8" bar that claims to allow more flex and reduce fatigue? Would it be bigger benefit and worth the hassle going up to a 1-1/8" fat bar and changing the bar-clamps and having to screw around with the acerbis handguard brackets?

Is anyone filling the inside of the bars with weight to dampen vibration?

Re: Handlebars

Posted: Mon Mar 05, 2018 5:25 pm
by Rut Row
I guess I don't ride enough. Vibration has never been a problem for me.

Re: Handlebars

Posted: Mon Mar 05, 2018 7:46 pm
by Wingfixer
Rut Row wrote: Mon Mar 05, 2018 5:25 pm I guess I ride new bikes enough. Vibration has never been a problem for me.
Small fix.

To answer the question with tongue in cheek, I did find that installing the BRP mount on the Beta smoothed some of the high frequency vibrations.
Image

Re: Handlebars

Posted: Mon Mar 05, 2018 8:02 pm
by Laoch
I think any "good" aluminum bar will reduce vibration. That and good grips.

Only bike I ever had with vibration issues was the mighty KLR. :roost:

Push-ups help :lol2:

Re: Handlebars

Posted: Mon Mar 05, 2018 9:43 pm
by BamBam
"Good" aluminum bars to reduce vibration come in both 7/8" and 1-1/8". Or should I only be looking at 1-1/8" bars without crossbrace?

Is there something special in the design of BRP clamps to inhibit vibrations, or does that just come from quality manufacturing and beefy mass?

Re: Handlebars

Posted: Mon Mar 05, 2018 9:55 pm
by Wingfixer
It's an isolation mount. If you zoom in you can see the polyurethane isolators, the red parts. The mount came with the red and a blue (softer) set. I couldn't tell any difference so went with the red set 'cause they match the bike. :lol2:

Re: Handlebars

Posted: Tue Mar 06, 2018 7:15 am
by Laoch
BamBam wrote: Mon Mar 05, 2018 9:43 pm "Good" aluminum bars to reduce vibration come in both 7/8" and 1-1/8". Or should I only be looking at 1-1/8" bars without crossbrace?

Is there something special in the design of BRP clamps to inhibit vibrations, or does that just come from quality manufacturing and beefy mass?
IMHO fat bars are for "hard riding". IE jumps, mx, etc. Either or will work. If your running stock bars right now, you should see a difference with any kind of upgrade. Or go the WF route, cuz you know those Betas shake a lot.

Re: Handlebars

Posted: Tue Mar 06, 2018 7:52 am
by Wingfixer
Laoch wrote: Tue Mar 06, 2018 7:15 am
BamBam wrote: Mon Mar 05, 2018 9:43 pm "Good" aluminum bars to reduce vibration come in both 7/8" and 1-1/8". Or should I only be looking at 1-1/8" bars without crossbrace?

Is there something special in the design of BRP clamps to inhibit vibrations, or does that just come from quality manufacturing and beefy mass?
IMHO fat bars are for "hard riding". IE jumps, mx, etc. Either or will work. If your running stock bars right now, you should see a difference with any kind of upgrade. Or go the WF route, cuz you know those Betas shake a lot.
:dirtdog:

Re: Handlebars

Posted: Tue Mar 06, 2018 8:46 am
by Marylander
If you go with some AL bars and find they don't do the trick I've got some internal weights you could try out (these: https://www.fasstco.com/collections/mot ... on-inserts). They came with my flexx bars but I never used them. You could probably use some kind of rubber plugs to make them fit into steel bars...

Re: Handlebars

Posted: Tue Mar 06, 2018 1:58 pm
by BamBam
Last year I replaced stock steel bars with aluminum 7/8" Tag X5 bars (they were $25 on sale). Was a hassle getting the acerbis hand guards moved over, but I eventually managed.

Seems to me from an engineering standpoint that these fat-style handlebars without crossbars would have even less vibration all things being equal. Do you think its enough of a difference for a noob rider (who gets tired arms) to notice?

It's an expensive swap ($200 for the BRP fat bar mounts and then pro taper Evo bars). But if you think it would make a real difference I would give it a try. And then fight the acerbis battle again. Ooofa.

If the style bars don't make that much of a difference for vibration, I could experiment with filling my bars with weight. Someone mentioned liquid rubber, which makes sense from a weight and vibration damping standpoint.

Marylander - its very nice of you to offer those Flex inserts. Once I get the bars sorted out (height, design, etc.) if I still have problems I will take you up on that!