Bar end weights..

[CollingsBob]

Are bar end weights considered mandatory for a 2017 model? If so, are there any that simply bolt right in?

I’ve only ridden my bike for 5 feet, I’ll only get a week or 2 of riding before I go for vacation in May, and upon my return I’ll only get another 2 1/2 weeks of riding before I go to Nakusp so I’m trying to do all the things that “must” be done..

[silverback]

I had those heavy throttle meister ends on my 05.

I couldn't tell an appreciable difference between it and the 07 and 14 which have stock ends.

There's just too much what the f@$k in this thread to know where to begin...
--BikerGeek

[CollingsBob]

I’ve ordered bar ends from HVMP, mostly on the recommendation of RaYzerman

[HotRodZilla]

I also put the heavy Throttlemeister bar-ends on my '07. Never could tell any difference. I honestly think its all bullshit. Maybe on bikes that have large wobbly bars, but I think this bike's bars are too short and stiff to see any improvement. Basically, you just wasted your money.

[CollingsBob]

I recognize the risk of making a decision to spend money without the benefit of having ridden the bike..I might not get great value for my money, but its not a lot of cash..

[wheatonFJR]

Are bar end weights considered mandatory for a 2017 model? If so, are there any that simply bolt right in?

I’ve only ridden my bike for 5 feet, I’ll only get a week or 2 of riding before I go for vacation in May, and upon my return I’ll only get another 2 1/2 weeks of riding before I go to Nakusp so I’m trying to do all the things that “must” be done..

Yeah Bob, you definitely want our opinion on this one. Cuz there is only ONE FJR opinion on this topic.

It'd be a disaster if you chose wrong.

[0face]

You could do a ride report/evaluation. A heavy bar end in one side and a stock one on the other, you’d have to ride over versions surfaces to get the full evaluation.

Or you could just tell ‘Zilla to go f@$k himself like the rest of us do.

[CollingsBob]

I was trying to be nice, I figure that living in a gravel pit as he does makes his life rough enough

[wheatonFJR]

I’ve ordered bar ends from HVMP, mostly on the recommendation of RaYzerman

Dangerous thing to do. I think he was just dicking with ya. It is wintertime up there ya know.

[Red]

I recognize the risk of making a decision to spend money without the benefit of having ridden the bike..I might not get great value for my money, but its not a lot of cash..

CollingsBob,

If your Throttle Body is a closely matched set, you may have little or no need for bar end weights. A good Throttle Body Synchronization (TBS) can usually cure the handlebar vibrations, as well or better than bar end weights. The FJR already has a factory set of bar end weights, as delivered. They may or may not be the correct weight to eliminate vibrations for your bike. The same goes for lighter or heavier bar end weights. As long as you do not feel vibrations, and hands do not get numb, you can forget about bar end weights for a good while. Bar end weights, foam handgrips, and a TBS are all cures for handlebar vibration. You may need one or more of them, depending on your bike.

Get some good saddle time, before deciding on this issue. All bar end weights just screw into the handlebars, just like changing an ordinary light bulb in the house.

[CollingsBob]

Here’s the challenge...I might get a week or two of riding in April. We will be away for most of May, then I get about 20 days of riding & evaluating before Nakusp..doesn’t leave a lot of time..the worst that can happen is I spend a few bucks on something I dont need ( I ordered them today ) and if these bar ends stick out further than the stock units they’ll protect my mirrors in case of a tipover.. my bike is essentially brand new ( only 2975km’s) , probably doesnt need a tbs just yet

[HotRodZilla]

Here’s the challenge...I might get a week or two of riding in April. We will be away for most of May, then I get about 20 days of riding & evaluating before Nakusp..doesn’t leave a lot of time..the worst that can happen is I spend a few bucks on something I dont need ( I ordered them today ) and if these bar ends stick out further than the stock units they’ll protect my mirrors in case of a tipover.. my bike is essentially brand new ( only 2975km’s) , probably doesnt need a tbs just yet

You would NOT be the first one around here to spend money on something he doesn't need for this bike. I've done it plenty, but I've never been goofy enough to actually listen to Ray.

[wheatonFJR]

Here’s the challenge...I might get a week or two of riding in April. We will be away for most of May, then I get about 20 days of riding & evaluating before Nakusp..doesn’t leave a lot of time..the worst that can happen is I spend a few bucks on something I dont need ( I ordered them today ) and if these bar ends stick out further than the stock units they’ll protect my mirrors in case of a tipover.. my bike is essentially brand new ( only 2975km’s) , probably doesnt need a tbs just yet

You would NOT be the first one around here to spend money on something he doesn't need for this bike. I've done it plenty, but I've never been goofy enough to actually listen to Ray.

Sometimes those Canadians are so trusting...especially to other Canadians. "Hey, we drink the same beer, eh?"

[CollingsBob]

So many possible responses.....

[raYzerman]

I resemble all those remarks...... thinkin' Bob will give me beer in Nakusp once he tries out them things. Yep, it was all about the beer.

[CollingsBob]

“Give”?...as in free?...You DO know that I’m retired, on a fixed income, right?

Are you riding through Winnipeg?

[wheatonFJR]

“Give”?...as in free?...You DO know that I’m retired, on a fixed income, right?

Are you riding through Winnipeg?

He did give you the free advice, so you give him the free beer. It's the circle of life.

[CollingsBob]

I guess it depends on how much of a difference they make..if the difference is slight, then thats worth an american beer. If the difference is huge, then it could be worth a BC craft beer. If the difference is modest...then its a Labatts..

[escapefjrtist]

@CollingsBob - Be wary making [wholesale] changes to the bike before you have the chance to get familiar with it.

Short story...first history, my '15A is FJR #4 for me, been playing this same tune since my PDP '04.

I bought my '15A used with ~1800 miles on it. Did a fly and ride from Phoenix to Seattle. Bike was wonderful - smooth, comfortable, rode well had no complaints. Waiting at home was my tricked out '09, a fantastic machine I miss to this day. Best FJR ever.

Spearfish #1 [2015] was a little over three weeks away and I wanted to ride the new [to me] '15 on the trip. Both bikes side-by-side, out came the wrenches and I started swapping farkles with a vengeance. Everything that would transfer over I swapped. Suspension (front GP), triple clamp, electrics, heavy bar ends, LAAM seat, everything. Since the '15 now had ~3500 miles, spooned on new tires for the trip. Time slipped away and ended up just taking the '15 on a short neighborhood loop to check it out before trip. All seemed well.

Left for Spearfish. First two hours of the first day, something was very wrong. My wonderful smooth '15 turned into a vibrating, rough running, nasty POS motorcycle. Over the next two weeks tried everything, air pressure, suspension adjustments, re-torquing sliders - nothing helped. Made it back home and started the troubleshooting process. Suspected sliders, off they came. Nope. Rebalanced front tire, nope. Rebuilt front forks with bushings, seals and fluid. Slight improvement, still not the "fix". Installed the Penske shock to balance the front forks, another slight improvement, still vibs through bars.

Took off the heavy HVMP bar ends and reinstalled the stock weights. Success! Bar vibration back to what I remembered from Phoenix ride home.
Can't explain it, but those fancy shiny stainless steel HVMP bar ends that worked so well on my previous three FJRs destroyed my '15. It did not like the extra weight hanging off the bars. Since then, I've installed VStrom handguards and the bar vibs are even less, close to dead smooth now. The extra dampening provided by the handguards works well - for my FJR.

Moral of the long winded story...change one thing at a time and make sure you have time to thoroughly evaluate before long trips. I knew better but lost sight due to the upcoming trip.

--G

[bill lumberg]

My 14 had no vibe until after Yamaha replaced the throttle body assembly. Then I understood what other folks were talking about. I have hvmp stainless heavies. I like the look and the dampening, but I don’t have them in right now, as I have barkbusters installed. They have a similar effect, they just don’t look as cool. I don’t think aftermarket bar end weights are necessary on every bike. TBS had no effect on my bar vibes.