Kawasaki Concours Forum

The C10, aka Kawasaki Concours - The Original => Accessories and Modifications - C10 => Topic started by: snarf on April 05, 2012, 06:00:56 AM

Title: New project
Post by: snarf on April 05, 2012, 06:00:56 AM
Ok so I am working on a little project on my free time at work  :-X :-X
I meant to take a measurement off my stock handlebars (02).  If anyone happens to be playing with their steed today; could you please take a quick measurement for me?  It doesnt have to be exact, just in the ballpark.
I'm looking for the inside width of stock bars.
I dont wont to let the cat out just yet, but if this works....Oh man is it gonna be saaaaweeeet 8)
p.s. thanks bbroj for the picture lol

(http://i1033.photobucket.com/albums/a411/snarf1971/handlebar-1.jpg)
Title: Re: New project
Post by: mlf73 on April 05, 2012, 06:20:19 AM
Hey Snarf.  I'm getting a measurement of around 9 9/16" on my bike.  Mine has risers on it just like bbroj's pic does so not sure if that makes a difference.  This is just a ballpark figure take from pretty much the center of the inner caps.  I had too much crap in the way to get a quick and precise reading.  Hope this helps.

Marlan
Title: Re: New project
Post by: snarf on April 05, 2012, 06:46:03 AM
Hey Snarf.  I'm getting a measurement of around 9 9/16" on my bike.  Mine has risers on it just like bbroj's pic does so not sure if that makes a difference.  This is just a ballpark figure take from pretty much the center of the inner caps.  I had too much crap in the way to get a quick and precise reading.  Hope this helps.

Marlan
Thats perfect.  I'm not sure if risers make a difference or not. It shouldnt, the risers just change the height, not the offset.
If somebody wanted to confirm this that would be appreciated.
Thanks a ton Marlan  :chugbeer:
Title: Re: New project
Post by: CRocker on April 05, 2012, 07:20:01 AM
That's what I get on my '88...since the triples and bars are the same, everything else should be...right?   ???
Title: Re: New project
Post by: snarf on April 05, 2012, 11:06:36 AM
That's what I get on my '88...since the triples and bars are the same, everything else should be...right?   ???
Thanks CRocker, those measurements should get me in the ballpark.  Come Mon. hopefully I will be looking for some guinea pigs errr I mean volunteers.
Title: Re: New project
Post by: RFH87_Connie on April 05, 2012, 01:19:36 PM
Pick me, pick me!  Whatca makin'?
Title: Re: New project
Post by: snarf on April 05, 2012, 01:31:33 PM
Pick me, pick me!  Whatca makin'?
Hmmmm maybe I will, maybe I wont.  I'm not quite ready to say exactly what it is; but there is a buzzz going around that it might be for the stock handlebars :-X :-X :-X :-X
Title: Re: New project
Post by: RFH87_Connie on April 05, 2012, 01:39:54 PM
Cross bar with built-in beer holder?
Title: Re: New project
Post by: tweeter55 on April 05, 2012, 02:00:49 PM
Only newbies should be used for equipment testing.
Title: Re: New project
Post by: jim snyder on April 05, 2012, 02:01:13 PM
Hmmmm maybe I will, maybe I wont.  I'm not quite ready to say exactly what it is; but there is a buzzz going around that it might be for the stock handlebars :-X :-X :-X :-X

Well, well, if this is what I think it is it will confirm my "tuning fork" theory about the buzz in the stock bars.
Title: Re: New project
Post by: snarf on April 05, 2012, 05:16:32 PM
Well, well, if this is what I think it is it will confirm my "tuning fork" theory about the buzz in the stock bars.
You are indeed correct, IF thats what Im doing LOL.
Title: Re: New project
Post by: Tele130 on April 05, 2012, 06:50:04 PM
Im always available. ;D
Title: Re: New project
Post by: Ron Dawg on April 05, 2012, 06:57:18 PM
 :popcorn:
Title: Re: New project
Post by: snarf on April 05, 2012, 08:16:29 PM
Im always available. ;D
Geez I dont know Doug. I would be looking for totaly unbiased feed back. Im just  not sure that you have it in you.  :rotflmao: :stirpot:
Title: Re: New project
Post by: Walker18 on April 05, 2012, 09:17:01 PM
You could just ship one to me with the light mounts.... 8)
Title: Re: New project
Post by: snarf on April 06, 2012, 05:03:26 AM
You could just ship one to me with the light mounts.... 8)
Now see thats what I like about this group.  There is always someone trying to save me money on shipping ;)
Title: Re: New project
Post by: mdr on April 06, 2012, 08:00:36 AM
I'm game if you don't have a guinea pig yet.  I mount stuff on the bars that seem to magnify the vibes, so it'd be a ?good test?
Title: Re: New project
Post by: CRocker on April 06, 2012, 08:28:24 AM
High elevation testing available here!   ;)
Title: Re: New project
Post by: snarf on April 06, 2012, 03:42:32 PM
It isnt pretty but by God it works  :)
I need to make my turnbuckle an inch longer. All-in-all I think it definately reduces the buzz.
Rubber ends squeeze into the bar ends, center turnbuckle spins on a portion of threaded 5/16" steel rod. It needs fine tunning; but one hella easy fix for the buzz.
Once I get the minor details I will be asking some of you eager beavers to try it and give feed back. I would reallly like to find one or two more people that have soo much buzz that they have actualy considered selling the bike because of the buzz.

VERSION 1.0 of the "Buzz-Less Bar"  ;D

(http://i1033.photobucket.com/albums/a411/snarf1971/IMAG0214.jpg)
Title: Re: New project
Post by: Tele130 on April 07, 2012, 07:02:56 AM
Very cool Chris. :thumbs:

Not that I know what I'm talking about or anything but,.....................have you tried moving it down on the bars (closer to the source of the buzz) instead of a longer turnbuckle?
Title: Re: New project
Post by: timsatx on April 11, 2012, 06:52:33 AM
Where they are located now is a natural spot for them as both the brake and clutch brackets capture it. If it was lower I don't think it would stay very good.
Title: Re: New project
Post by: snarf on April 11, 2012, 12:42:01 PM
Where they are located now is a natural spot for them as both the brake and clutch brackets capture it. If it was lower I don't think it would stay very good.
Thats kinda along the lines that I was thinking.  If your pressure points are out at the furthermost contact point; that is where the most vibration is (other than the bar ends).
The capture point that I am using is actually the hollow end of the bars.  I removed the plastic caps; the soft rubber ends of the "Buzz-less" press into the open bars.  Its makes a very secure capture point.
I have been so F'n busy at work I havent had much time at all to tune it in.
Title: Re: New project
Post by: Tele130 on April 12, 2012, 06:18:27 PM
How about calling it "The Buzz Kill". ;D
Title: Re: New project
Post by: snarf on April 12, 2012, 07:30:09 PM
How about calling it "The Buzz Kill". ;D
That's catchy, but you don't want the name to reflect something its not. Buzz-less yes, buzz kill, not completely.
Title: Re: New project
Post by: Tele130 on April 12, 2012, 07:49:55 PM
For what it's worth, I'm currently in North Carolina. I'll be heading home Sunday, late afternoon.

FYI.  ;)
Title: Re: New project
Post by: jworth on April 13, 2012, 08:25:25 AM
The bars don't function as tuning forks.  I tried something like this years ago with a piece of all-thread and some brackets that were bolted to the mirror holes.  It didn't do a thing.  If this thing works it is because it is absorbing some the vibration.
Title: Re: New project
Post by: snarf on April 13, 2012, 06:03:41 PM
The bars don't function as tuning forks.  I tried something like this years ago with a piece of all-thread and some brackets that were bolted to the mirror holes.  It didn't do a thing.  If this thing works it is because it is absorbing some the vibration.
I was Kinda wondering that.  Actualy that was the reason that I was using the soft rubber tips. Do do recall how much torque you tightened your all-thread to?
All I know is while riding; if I press hard on the end of my bars, the buzz goes away.
Either way it works, and its worth looking into. I'm to damn cheap...errrrr I mean frugal for Heli-bars and the such. I was just looking for a cheap yet affective approach to reduce the "buzz of death"
Title: Re: New project
Post by: Mort Canard on April 13, 2012, 07:54:17 PM
The bars don't function as tuning forks.  I tried something like this years ago with a piece of all-thread and some brackets that were bolted to the mirror holes.  It didn't do a thing.  If this thing works it is because it is absorbing some the vibration.

If that is the case, I am wondering if replacing the red plastic ends with lead slugs of similar shape would improve the performance of the gadget.  OTOH lead slugs would probably be harder to work with and might not be as durable.  Still increasing the mass of the brace might make it function better.
Title: Re: New project
Post by: jworth on April 13, 2012, 10:26:32 PM
When I made my setup, I didn't use a torque wrench.  I rarely ever use a torque wrench except for certain "critical" situations.  Anyway, I can't say with 100% certainty that different torque settings would have made a difference, but I rather doubt it.  My setup was rather ugly.  If it had proven effective, then I would have moved on to try to make something more aesthetic.  I sure was disappointed.  Glad to hear your setup is showing good results.  Hopefully it's a better mousetrap.

Just thinking out loud here.  It would be interesting to see if you could somehow get a visual on how much the vibrations are dampened.  Vibrations are sort of magnified by some sort of extension.  Maybe you could tape or rubber band a length of drinking straw to the bars and take a look with and without the damper.  Maybe wrap it around the bars somehow sort of in a U shape so that two ends are sticking out perpendicular to the bars.  I'm not suggesting you video it or anything.  I just know that, at least for me, it's sometimes nice to be able to confirm somehow my seat of the pants conclusion.
Title: Re: New project
Post by: Tele130 on April 14, 2012, 06:52:00 AM
Morning jworth,
You said your set up was mounted to the mirror mounting points on the bars?  Wonder if that's where the differance in results are coming from. Chris has his brace set closer the the top triple tree and it's bracing the main part of the bars. The mirror attach points are almost a "secondary" part of the bars.

Just thinking out loud again. Slap me if ya need too.  ;D