blues2cruise wrote:Where exactly does everyone feel the vibrations? And is it only when you're running at top speed or at high rpm's or what?
I was a passenger on a friend's older Harley and the vibrations through the floorboards were awful. I sure don't feel that on my V-Star.
That varies from bike to bike. Inline three and four cylinder motors tend to produce high frequency vibrations that are normally felt in the handlebars and footpegs (ie: buzziness") and seen on the mirrors. V-Twins tend to put out low frequency pulses that are felt through the seat, handlebars and footpegs - but the vibrations are different than that of the 3 or 4 cylinder motors.
With the V-Twin, a couple of methods are used to reduce the amount of vibes. Some manufacturers use counterbalancers that rotate inside the engine, but opposite in direction, to counteract the power pulses. Some manufacturers use rubber mounts to isolate the motor's vibes from being transmitted through the frame.
Your friend's older Harley has very little, if any, compensating measures for vibes (especially if it's an older Shovelhead) and definitely none in the passenger area. The older Touring family of Harleys had rubber mounted handlebars and (usually) rubber mounted floorboards to somewhat offset the pulses from the rigid mount motor. Newer Harleys like mine have all that plus the rubber motor mounts, which all do a very effective job of minimising discomfort.
Mike 
