Vibration

[Giffer2]

I've only had my SV for about 2 weeks now but I've noticed that there is a small amount of vibration through the bars, enough to make my right hand go to sleep, get pins and needles or just plain warm itself up!

I've been told that I may have been gripping to tightly but I'm sure I'm not but sure enough after a blast (especially on duals or M-way) my right hand seems to have a mind of it's own (In fact on the way home this evening it went completely to sleep as I spent most of the journey on the M5 filtering).

Also, after a long ride (Such as this evening - 80 mile trip) my hands feel like they do after you've been sanding for a while (They feel like they are buzzing on their own).

Any ideas?

[Keith1983]

You had a v-twin before fella? Im just wondering if you're learning the joys of a throbbing v-twin between ure legs!

[Giffer2]

My only other v-twin was my Varadero 125 (Not quite the same power league!) this is my first big bike as I've only had my licence since the 17th May.

[thedonal]

I found this too in the first few months of riding my SV. Mine seems more vibey some days than others...

You do get used to it though...

[Keith1983]

Well congrats on the test pass. Had you been far on your 125 before changing to your sv? This might sound daft but different bikes are different physically to ride, you almost need to build up stamina on riding bikes in different posiotions especially with the sv being leant over more then your varadero maybe just give it a bit of time and your body will adjust to riding the sv.

[blingking]

Your get used to it, I still occasionally get a numb hand or pins and needles. Normally if I have note rode for a while. It's to be expected

[Giffer2]

Thanks for the answers guys - I hadn't really been as far in a single ride on the 125 (I think the most would be about 40 miles) but I've done a few 90 mile trips already on the SV!

I thought it was something along the lines of a v-twin trait, but wanted to make sure!

Just have to fit those clear indicators and look at getting a new lid - I like my Caberg, but riding around with my own personal wind tunnel isn't great.

[lucky strike]

Yes, V-twins do make a lot of noise and vibration as a normal trait, I'm not sure which bike you have ie new or older,but if it's an older curvy model, I would suggest the possibility of balancing the carbs if you have the tools and knowhow (very simple job in my honest opinion). Do you know when they were last balanced or if they have ever been balanced? (what's the mileage on the bike?) presuming it's a curvy model of course! :)

[Giffer2]

It's a K4 with about 1600 miles on the clock.

[lucky strike]

Ah, in that case forget what I said then! :rolleyes: :)

[kcowgergmm]

Your get used to it, I still occasionally get a numb hand or pins and needles. Normally if I have note rode for a while. It's to be expected
whats up with that i ride everyday no matter how cold it is

[toonyank]

Well I think because of a v-twin there is an obvious connection however, I've been riding for 24 years and have had similar problems as well.

The SV is my first v-twin but I've had big bore in-line 4's and rd's and I've always had this sort of effect in my "right hand".

Right hand being the one doing most of the work on long hauls. I think we don't sometimes realise how free our left hand is. The right hand is always gripping and that's the problem IMHO. In my case it's just something I've got used to with plenty of cluch in coasting spells.

[dizzyblonde]

i get white fingers as if i've been workin down the pit on my yellow one on the motorway, but the black one is a different set UP on the front end and other things ,and it is a lot different. In fact theres very little vibration on the handle bars

[Mark_h]

If the bike is running smooth and responsive and not popping a lot on tickover then the carbs are not likely to be miles out.

Almost certainly you are gripping too tight (especially if it was worse when filtering and you're a bit more stressed so gripping tighter still). That starts cutting the blood off, then the vibration finishes the job. Are your arms loose or locked straight? The stiffer you are the worse it gets.

Another thing that can cause it is if you have your wrist angled too far up. Typically I find bike levers are too high as in too close to horizontal. You can easlily rotate them down a bit you should be aiming for a more or less straight line down your foreams and through to your fingers when resting onthe levers. Make sure nothing fouls anything when you've done.

Also, make sure your bar ends have not been swapped for fancy carbon ones. they are supposed to be heavy lumps of steel to reduce the vibration in the bars.

Just relax and it'll pretty much go away more often than not.

[kwak zzr]

ride a buell then get back on your sv and let us know what you think then:)

[Giffer2]

i get white fingers

That was the term I was looking for! I sat here thinking of the name and came up with some strange variations.


Kwak - Did you mean Buell or Bull - mind you, riding either would be an experience! :D

[kwak zzr]

the buell rattles your teeth! good when moving but at tickover its a tractor, id say your problem is just that your sv is a v twin and thats what they do, maybe your carbs need balancing to smooth things out a little? could try that.

[blingking]

Not numb hands from cold just through the vibrations, but thats only if not rode for a while

whats up with that i ride everyday no matter how cold it is

[gettin2dizzy]

I still get it after 6000 miles. Depends on many things though, fuel levels, type of road, driving style. It's worth learning to live with it :)

[kcowgergmm]

it bothered me at first but i quickly got use to it

[Taipan]

Mine does this too. It's very annoying and uncomfortable. I have just bought a twinmax and will check carb balance when I get half hour. If its ok I guess i'll have to live with it. Hopefuly i can balance it out a bit though.

[monkey]

Yeah we all get it. The vibes change with the revs. You'll find if you try and relax it may calm down a bit.

At least we can say we're buzzing after a ride on our bikes and mean it!

Real vibration white finger from Kangos and such is meant to be really bad. So bad it can lead to gangrene! (Don't think we're all risking that though)

:)

[Bluewolf]

Another vote here for the heavier bar ends, made a huge difference to the vibrations coming throught the bars on mine. I think you'll notice a big difference as you become more comfortable with the bike too, once you're a bit more relaxed when riding you won't be gripping the bars so tightly, just relax mate.

[kcowgergmm]

Another vote here for the heavier bar ends, made a huge difference to the vibrations coming throught the bars on mine. I think you'll notice a big difference as you become more comfortable with the bike too, once you're a bit more relaxed when riding you won't be gripping the bars so tightly, just relax mate.

i put bar end sliders on my bike which are actually a lot lighter than stock and i couldn't tell any changes in the vibration

[monkey]

Me too-R and G although I think they are quite weighted.