How to Eliminate vibration in Right handlebar?

RonCharles

RonCharles

Joined
Dec 9, 2014
Messages
38
Location
Metro Detroit
Bike
2002 st1100
Hi Guys, I was wondering if anyone else has ever experienced a vibration in the Right handle bar? I have a 2002 ST1100 with Oxford heated grips. After riding for approximately 40 minutes my Right hand goes numb. Any ideas as to the cause or the cure? Hoping to take a trip from Michigan to Prince Edwards Island this summer...it would be real nice to eliminate this issue.
 
Unbalanced carbs can cause the vibration in the bars, but it would normally be both bars. If your carbs haven't been synced that you know of, that might be a good place to start. Another possibility is your grip pressure on that throttle. Try to be conscious of how hard you are gripping that throttle and ease up while still maintaining control of it.

Is there any chance you have developed carpal tunnel syndrome in that hand from a job that requires repetitive use of the hand in one manner?
 
Could be Raynaud's Syndrome. Is the vibration significantly different from one side to the other?
 
Do your fingers turn white? Another symptom of poor circulation or Raynaud's Syndrome. I too have had this problem for about the last 6 years and just put it down to old age!
 
My 1991 has nothing I would call vibration (began riding on early Japanese and Brit bikes). My right hand WILL tingle and go numb if I lean forward too hard. Scoot forward a bit, not much scooting room available, and take the load off my wrist and no problem. Squeezing on the right grip will cause me the same sympton....throttle lock fixed that. You may also want to consider some risers...not much, just an inch or so, just enough to raise your riding position a bit. I have a set of risers but haven't installed them yet. Bought them before I realized I was leaning forward a bit much. So my suggestion would be to become aware of your riding stance and maybe consider mechanical help such as a throttle lock (first) then handlebar risers.
 
I have nerve damage from a bad Hang Gliding accident many years ago that makes both my hands go numb when riding and I have found an almost perfect cure. I found that smaller diameter grips cause me grief so I use either grip puppies of super shark grip covers to not only soften the grips but increase the diameter. In addition I ride with a cramp busters on both RH and LH grips. This prevents me from grasping the grips to open the throttle and also gives my wrist a resting point on the LH side. The combination of these two things have made a world of difference.
 
It’s because the right bar has a throttle sleeve under the grip and the left grip is mounted solidly to the bar.
 
Are you gripping to be able to transfer the heat? I have heard you need to grip firmly with heated grips.
Heated gloves might help.
Does the Bike have risers? if not, that could help get the weight off your wrists.
 
I use cramp busters on both grips - right and left. They force me to keep my wrists straight and avoid carpal tunnel pain. Risers brought the bars back and allowed a more upright posture, eliminating the weight I used to place on my hands.
 
I have installed 4" handlebar risers that raised the bar and tilts them back toward me so I don't lean into it. Because I have big hands I added foam grips over the Oxford heated grips which softens the grip but also still transfers the heat. I also have a throttle lock and I have a cramp buster on the throttle as well. Really not sure what to think, never had the issue on my Goldwing or my 1st 2000 st1100. I was able to tighten the handlebars down a bit tighter, but not very much.
 
RonCharles said:
.I was able to tighten the handlebars down a bit tighter, but not very much.
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Sometimes a quick knock to one of the bars could tweek the bar mounting.
One Handlebar mount could be stressed. Loosen The mounting points under the Yoke, then loosen the bar mounts on top.
You might notice one or both mounting posts shifting. tighten everything back up and see if it changes.
 
Not sure about vibration in just one side of the bars, I have never experienced that. But numbness is another story. Over the last 8 or so year my hand have gotten numb on any bike I ride. A couple of things I have do to reduce or eliminate that from happening, but not a 100%. Stop grabbing the bars like your life depends on them, hands should be loose. meaning the fingers don't wrap around the grips and squeeze the grips. Remove the body pressure on the hands. Use your abdomen to support your body not your arms and hands. And lastly although I am sure some will get a chuckle out of this, when the numbness sets in turn the heated grips on. I am amazed at how well this works.
 
Besides carb sync, oil levels or things like tire wear pattern, wheel balance, defective wheel bearings:
anyone suggested tension of throttle cables yet?
 
Slydynbye said:
That would defeat the Heated grips.
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He has foam covers already and still feels the heat.

RonCharles said:
I was wondering if anyone else has ever experienced a vibration in the Right handle bar?
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My right hand gets numb sooner than the left. I assume it's because of gripping the throttle. Using a throttle lock and relaxing my hand helps. I also have heavier than stock bar end weights which reduced vibration noticeably. Not a lot but its noticeable.

Whooshka said:
It’s because the right bar has a throttle sleeve under the grip and the left grip is mounted solidly to the bar.
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I think this has a lot of merit. No matter how tight you grip there will still be some play. And given it's the throttle the grip is probably tighter constantly than the left side. Gripping tigher wouldn't help reduce vibration. Maybe shimming the bar/tube gap would reduce vibration. (Yeah fiery death is a consideration.)

There are some trick gloves that are supposed to reduce pressure on a nerve along the wrist. This might be a/the cause of numbness more than the vibration.
 
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