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General Discussions => Bike Talk => Topic started by: PJ on May 08, 2016, 08:34:53 PM

Title: Bad vibes
Post by: PJ on May 08, 2016, 08:34:53 PM
Hey all, bit of advice, is there a most common cause of engine vibration causing hand/feet numbness? The R6 has always been "vibey" since I bought it but it's getting to the point that it's unbearable. Today I went out planning to meet Terry and within 35 miles my hands and feet were tingling to an uncomfortable level..

If I pull the clutch in at speed the vibes go away so I don't think it's drivetrain (i.e. chain etc) but as soon as the engine engages again it comes back.

I've checked the obvious that nothing is lose or blatantly vibrating so I'm kind of at a loss as to where to start to diagnosing it.

Cheers folks.
Title: Re: Bad vibes
Post by: Alzo on May 08, 2016, 09:04:16 PM
Inherent given the frame high revving engine...you may look at your body and check for wrist issues...carpal tunnel being the main suspect...RSI is another...Repetitive Strain Injury....years of masturbation has my throttle hand in tatters.
Title: Re: Bad vibes
Post by: MOzZereLLa on May 08, 2016, 10:02:53 PM
Do you get a high frequency buzz through the bars. Which gets numb more, hands, fingers or feet?

The bars can be dampened with heavier bar ends or filling the bar itself with expanding foam, putty etc.
Title: Re: Bad vibes
Post by: Green_Ninja on May 08, 2016, 10:08:00 PM
Is this new or has it always been like it?
May be worth checking the engine mounting bolts, slacken them all off slightly and then re torque to the recommended setting.
You have to remember your bike was crashed but not bad enough to mean a complete strip and rebuild.

The correct answer is to stop fannying around and buy an Explorer ;-)
Title: Re: Bad vibes
Post by: Chojin on May 08, 2016, 10:49:10 PM
I can offer no real advice other than bikes that vibrate through the bars are a massive deal breaker for me. I don't care how good the bike is, I can't stand handlebar vibes!
I've punted on many a decent bike for this one reason alone :shocked:
Title: Re: Bad vibes
Post by: PJ on May 09, 2016, 09:07:57 AM
There's always been vibes, but no worse than the R1 for instance. At 70mph it's VERY high frequency, like I imagine if you turned an electric toothbrush on full and tried to hold it, but worse than that.

I don't think heavier bar ends would do much, the standard Yam ones are ridiculously heavy and it's just as bad through the pegs as well so I need to cure the inherent issue.

It does "seem" like it's got a little worse, when I first got the bike I spend time making sure everything was torque'd up and not loose including the engine bolts but it can't hurt to do it again. I did 70 miles yesterday and I hated every second of it sadly.
Title: Re: Bad vibes
Post by: Tiiimmmaaayyyy on May 09, 2016, 09:12:08 AM
Quote from: PJ on May 09, 2016, 09:07:57 AM
There's always been vibes, but no worse than the R1 for instance. At 70mph it's VERY high frequency, like I imagine if you turned an electric toothbrush on full and tried to hold it, but worse than that.

I don't think heavier bar ends would do much, the standard Yam ones are ridiculously heavy and it's just as bad through the pegs as well so I need to cure the inherent issue.

It does "seem" like it's got a little worse, when I first got the bike I spend time making sure everything was torque'd up and not loose including the engine bolts but it can't hurt to do it again. I did 70 miles yesterday and I hated every second of it sadly.

The inherent issue is that the engine is running so unless you switch it off you aren't goint to cure it. The vibration will always be there but you can change the frequency of them to reduce the amount you feel or where they are in the rev range.
Title: Re: Bad vibes
Post by: Alzo on May 09, 2016, 09:16:09 AM
Quote from: PJ on May 09, 2016, 09:07:57 AM
There's always been vibes, but no worse than the R1 for instance. At 70mph it's VERY high frequency, like I imagine if you turned an electric toothbrush on full and tried to hold it, but worse than that.

I don't think heavier bar ends would do much, the standard Yam ones are ridiculously heavy and it's just as bad through the pegs as well so I need to cure the inherent issue.

It does "seem" like it's got a little worse, when I first got the bike I spend time making sure everything was torque'd up and not loose including the engine bolts but it can't hurt to do it again. I did 70 miles yesterday and I hated every second of it sadly.
My post was serious. Check for carpal tunnel....there's a simple test but hard to describe...I'll try google and add the link
Title: Re: Bad vibes
Post by: Dom1 on May 09, 2016, 09:19:14 AM
Quote from: Green_Ninja on May 08, 2016, 10:08:00 PM
The correct answer is to stop fannying around and buy an Explorer ;-)

This.

And a stepladder for Steff.  :evil:
Title: Re: Bad vibes
Post by: Lord Danoir the first on May 09, 2016, 09:49:03 AM
http://www.vibranator.com/

apparently (according to an online search) there are multiple iOS apps that use accelerometer in your iPhone to measure vibration in all three axis and even graph it. Try yours against another bike maybe?
Title: Re: Bad vibes
Post by: m6rk on May 09, 2016, 10:39:14 AM
my 5sl did that..

r&g bar bungs sorted the worst of it for me..

Title: Re: Bad vibes
Post by: Alzo on May 09, 2016, 10:51:08 AM
Don't forget the weight on your wrists....it's no Sports Tourer.
Title: Re: Bad vibes
Post by: PJ on May 09, 2016, 12:01:01 PM
Thanks all, Alzo I honestly wasn't discounting your comment earlier on, it had occurred to me but I don't experience any RSI type issues in any other activity. It's more the fact it's as bad through my feet as well that concerns me.

I might see about heavier bar ends but I'm not convinced that'll fix the vibes through the pegs.

I'll see about the bar ends and maybe strip her down and retorque everything and see where I get lol
Title: Re: Bad vibes
Post by: Alzo on May 09, 2016, 12:17:07 PM
Being bike fit is critical too...I don't do big miles now...and hurt after every ride...and I honestly put that down to lack of saddle time.
Title: Re: Bad vibes
Post by: PJ on May 09, 2016, 12:52:31 PM
Quote from: Alzo on May 09, 2016, 12:17:07 PM
Being bike fit is critical too...I don't do big miles now...and hurt after every ride...and I honestly put that down to lack of saddle time.

That had also occurred to me sadly, I've never been the fittest of blokes but I'm fitter in general now than I have been in years and it still takes it's toll on me. Like you I don't do enough miles to really get in the groove so to speak, but at the moment with the vibes the way they are I don't imagine I could do too many miles on it.
Title: Re: Bad vibes
Post by: Alzo on May 09, 2016, 12:55:19 PM
I think you could be the fittest bloke on earth...but still need bike fitness...it's more demanding than any of us realise. If it's cold we tend to tense up and that doesn't help either.
Title: Re: Bad vibes
Post by: Jonesy on May 09, 2016, 01:06:08 PM
Silly question, but have you had the wheels balanced / changed recently?

Mate of mine had a 6 series BMW 12 months old, had really bad vibes through the whole car, they changed (under warranty) everything from driveshafts, to brake discs etc in the end it was water in the tyres from condensation from the air compressor at a petrol garage where they are left out in all weathers, and hot cold etc.

failing that, have you checked the cush drive rubbers?
Title: Re: Bad vibes
Post by: PJ on May 09, 2016, 02:17:34 PM
Funny you should mention that actually Mark as I noticed it was worse after I'd had the new tyres fitted but didn't give the balancing a thought as I was too preoccupied with whether I'd made a mistake refitting them haha

I'll give that a look too!
Title: Re: Bad vibes
Post by: Tiiimmmaaayyyy on May 09, 2016, 03:25:21 PM
Quote from: Alzo on May 09, 2016, 12:55:19 PM
If it's cold we tend to tense up and that doesn't help either.

If it's cold Peej goes in the car....
Title: Re: Bad vibes
Post by: PJ on May 09, 2016, 03:28:45 PM
Quote from: Tiiimmmaaayyyy on May 09, 2016, 03:25:21 PM
Quote from: Alzo on May 09, 2016, 12:55:19 PM
If it's cold we tend to tense up and that doesn't help either.

If it's cold Peej goes in the car....

Fucker!

But fair point....  :rofl:
Title: Re: Bad vibes
Post by: komp on May 09, 2016, 03:49:33 PM
 :rofl:
Title: Re: Bad vibes
Post by: PJ on May 09, 2016, 03:54:21 PM
Fortunate for me, Steff works on the same industrial place as the tyre place I use so I'm hoping she will be kind enough to take them for me tomorrow :D

Even though they've always done a bang up job, it's not beyond the realms of possibility to assume a weight might have come off.
Title: Re: Bad vibes
Post by: Alzo on May 09, 2016, 04:38:05 PM
Quote from: Tiiimmmaaayyyy on May 09, 2016, 03:25:21 PM
Quote from: Alzo on May 09, 2016, 12:55:19 PM
If it's cold we tend to tense up and that doesn't help either.

If it's cold Peej goes in the car....
I didn't include him in the "we".... :rofl:
Title: Re: Bad vibes
Post by: PJ on May 09, 2016, 04:39:28 PM
You lot better be giving Al/Iain an equal dose of banter or I'll be a very unhappy Peej lol
Title: Re: Bad vibes
Post by: PJ on May 10, 2016, 09:22:15 AM
Wheel balancing is fine, took it out for a little run last night, vibes definitely seem to get worse dependant on how hard you accelerate/speed. Will check the engine bolts this evening.
Title: Re: Bad vibes
Post by: Andy M on May 10, 2016, 12:46:15 PM
also had r&g bar ends on the 5sl and no vibes. Never tried the original ones, they had been swapped out before I owned it. Worth a go if all else fails?
Title: Re: Bad vibes
Post by: PJ on May 10, 2016, 12:56:31 PM
Quote from: Andy M on May 10, 2016, 12:46:15 PM
also had r&g bar ends on the 5sl and no vibes. Never tried the original ones, they had been swapped out before I owned it. Worth a go if all else fails?

Yeah will be ordering a set! Not sure how that'll dial out the peg vibes but I'll give anything a shot right now lol