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Bar End Weights

Posted: Sun Mar 21, 2010 7:53 am
by RhadamYgg
So, I've got to replace my bar end weights. I notice that it seems all bar end weights are made of metal - typically solid metal. The job of the bar end weights (as I understand it) is to absorb vibration from the engine, bike and road so that you don't fatigue quickly when riding.

I have a compound bow, and bought all sorts of accessories One of them was a piece that was liquid filled that absorbed vibration to make the bow quieter (so as not to spook the deer) and to help with accuracy.

I would think that liquid filled bar-end weights (although they would have to be a bit larger than metal ones) would eliminate more vibration than solid metal ones. This makes sense (to me, anyway) as the energy from the vibration goes in to moving the liquid particles rather than transferring directly through the metal atoms. You would probably need less weight in liquid (depending on the liquid) than a solid metal bar end weight.

Free idea - if anyone thinks it is worth pursuing. It isn't like I'd be able to do anything with it anyway, except benefit is someone actually makes a set and it fits on my bike.

In fact, I could easily conceive of an engine cover filled with liquid that would also help with overall vibration in the entire bike. Vibration is the death of all moving parts machines.

RhadamYgg

Re: Bar End Weights

Posted: Sun Mar 21, 2010 10:40 am
by Penguins
Liquid cooled engines, which accounts for those on most new bikes, already have an engine cover filled with liquid, which is why they tend to be quieter than air cooled bikes :)

As for the bar-ends, i've never really had any vibe problems with my bike, even with the bar ends removed, so for me not much use :) I suppose it could be useful for other bikes that vibrate really badly, but if the vibes are that bad that normal bar ends aren't good enough your gonna be feeling them through the seat/pegs etc as well.. :)

Re: Bar End Weights

Posted: Sun Mar 21, 2010 10:48 am
by RhadamYgg
Penguins wrote:Liquid cooled engines, which accounts for those on most new bikes, already have an engine cover filled with liquid, which is why they tend to be quieter than air cooled bikes :)

As for the bar-ends, i've never really had any vibe problems with my bike, even with the bar ends removed, so for me not much use :) I suppose it could be useful for other bikes that vibrate really badly, but if the vibes are that bad that normal bar ends aren't good enough your gonna be feeling them through the seat/pegs etc as well.. :)
Hmmm, I wonder if the liquid cooling does help with the vibration absorption. I think you also get more vibration with "V" than inline engines, unless you have a six cylinder which I think is supposed to balance well.

My specific bike - the B-King - seems to have very little vibration problems. It gets a little buzzy at a certain point in the normal acceleration path, but that lasts for so small a period of time that it isn't much of a big deal. In fact, in terms of noise and vibration I usually feel and hear other peoples bikes near me more than I feel or hear my own bike.

RhadamYgg

Re: Bar End Weights

Posted: Sun Mar 21, 2010 12:46 pm
by BRUMBEAR
you could machine a hollow canister and fill it will bird shot sorta like a deadfall hammer probably work be a little rattley though better wil sand or micro beads or something, Just my .02$

Re: Bar End Weights

Posted: Tue Mar 23, 2010 3:06 pm
by RhadamYgg
I'm pretty sure the principle would be the same for any non-solid inside of a bar end weight, but the weight of a liquid would be lower than a shot, or sand/beads. What would be good is something that saves weight, dampens vibration more and of course is acceptable socially. :)

I'm imagining one of those aluminum water bottles as the bar ends....

Re: Bar End Weights

Posted: Wed Mar 24, 2010 12:50 am
by BRUMBEAR
would a dense gel work ?

Re: Bar End Weights

Posted: Wed Mar 24, 2010 6:12 pm
by RhadamYgg
Yeah, I think so. Maybe even with some kind of balls suspended in it.

Re: Bar End Weights

Posted: Wed Mar 24, 2010 8:18 pm
by denialmark
It doesn't take very long at all after buying a Ducati to start pumping it up with some cool accessories.

And what's a Multistrada without hand guards? After all, the bike is supposed to be an Adventure Tourer. Well, sort of, anyway.

The Multistrada definitely looked like it could use a pair, so off I went to the hunt. Along the way, I discovered that some owners have installed aftermarket hand guards from Acerbis; some have adapted KTM Adventure hand guards and there are a few other brands here and there that have been adapted for the task.

Re: Bar End Weights

Posted: Fri Mar 26, 2010 3:04 pm
by RockBottom
Along the same lines, I took a can of the spray foam insulation and filled the inside of my bars. It's not a night and day difference in vibration but, along with Grip Puppies, helped.

Re: Bar End Weights

Posted: Fri Mar 26, 2010 3:24 pm
by HYPERR
RY are you talking about the 600 or the BK that you used to have?