Author Topic: handlebar buzzing!.......with 800 miles on the clock. (Read 5370 times)

wildbill · **on:** May 20, 2012, 11:39:28 am

Hi all
The new chain is now on the bike and today i took it for a couple of good long runs. Total miles traveled since new about 800.
Up until today I have kept the top speed below 50 mph. On a couple of good stretches of road I decided to take it to 55 and 60 mph.
tried this about half a dozen times but by the time the speedometer indicated 55 - the handle bars were buzzing. At an indicated 60 mph almost playing a tune.
So back to an indicated 50 mph drama free trip home with very little vibration.
What should I do - wait it out at the 50 mph max till I get more miles up or continue to run it every now and then to 60 mph to hopefully get the motor use to it
Thanks

GSS · **Reply #1 on:** May 20, 2012, 01:12:15 pm

Wildbill,
A 60-65 is just fine since you have 800 miles, and is actually good for breaking in the engine. You will find that the vibrations will keep getting better with time. They gradually keep getting "transferred" to higher speeds and will pretty much disappear once you have between 1500 and 2000 miles. BTW, also make sure yur chain has enough slack on it....if too tight, it will add to the vibrations.

GSS

Ducati Scotty · **Reply #2 on:** May 20, 2012, 05:15:56 pm

Get some Pro-grip gel grips, they help a lot. Also, you can get some heavier bar end weights.

Scott

Desi Bike · **Reply #3 on:** May 20, 2012, 05:26:11 pm

The old brit bike way of dampening the buzz was to fill the bars with lead shot or fishing sinkers. I'd wait until the bike is fully broken in to see if the buzz settles down. everything is just finding its place during the break in period.

Arizoni · **Reply #4 on:** May 20, 2012, 07:01:34 pm

Up to a point I agree that the vibration becomes a little less after some miles of riding at 60-65 mph but I'm not real sure if the engine vibrates less or my body/mind just gets used to it.

For what it's worth, my G5 seems to get its worst vibration between 65 and 70 mph.
At 75 mph it seems to be less noticeable. Maybe that's because of the wind blast?

In any case, single cylinder engines are inherently out of balance to some degree and I am constantly amazed at how little my big single does vibrate at all speeds.

It is far better than my old Honda CX 500 twin which was basicallly a water cooled Moto Guzzi.

GSS · **Reply #5 on:** May 21, 2012, 12:21:28 am

All perfectly sound suggestions by everyone......however you might want to wait till it is fully broken in before you embark on additional remedies......the vibrations do improve a lot with time.

JVS · **Reply #6 on:** May 21, 2012, 12:54:10 am

I haven't taken the B5 over 80-90km/h yet. However, I haven't noticed any excessive or little buzzing so-to-say. With that amount of RPM, I assume there will be some rattle/buzzing, but I'm sure as others have mentioned, it may go out over time.

Also, I haven't played around with the chain after the first service. On the center stand, it appears to have about 20-30mm of slack as mentioned in the manual. Just started using silkolene chain gel after moderate rides.

barenekd · **Reply #7 on:** May 21, 2012, 05:39:44 pm

THe vibrations on my G5 peaked at 62 on my G5, but they continued to decrease as the miles went by. It was a bit irritating at the beginning because that was where I liked to cruise.
I later installed an 18T sprocket with a good Oring chain and that move the peak vibrations to above 70. It's a decently smooth ride now.
I'm sure that clunker OEM rear chain probably didn't help anythng in the vibe department, either
Bare

kingrock · **Reply #8 on:** June 07, 2012, 03:11:23 am

vibrations? yea and..... If it isn't then it's not running.

BRADEY · **Reply #9 on:** June 07, 2012, 08:44:16 am

after completing my running in, I had few ocassions to run her up to 75MPH both single and two up for at least a few minutes, and honestly it used to be so smooth that I thought I was riding a Honda 750. But since then the bike has lost this quality and vibrates above 65/70MPH, something that I used to experience above 80MPH earlier.

Can't figure out what has changed since then................?? though buzz in the handlebar is only at certain RPMs.

bman734 · **Reply #10 on:** June 07, 2012, 06:09:40 pm

One again, this isn't meant to be a highway bike. It's going to vibrate at high speeds no matter how much we may wish it didn't. Get to the back roads and enjoy the ride. Go get a Goldwing if you want to limo down the highway dang it!

Ducati Scotty · **Reply #11 on:** June 07, 2012, 06:49:27 pm

More miles and heavy bar ends. After almost 10k I can run my bike at any speed I want without excessive vibrations.

Scott

barenekd · **Reply #12 on:** June 07, 2012, 10:30:47 pm

Quote

after completing my running in, I had few ocassions to run her up to 75MPH both single and two up for at least a few minutes, and honestly it used to be so smooth that I thought I was riding a Honda 750. But since then the bike has lost this quality and vibrates above 65/70MPH, something that I used to experience above 80MPH earlier.

How many miles do you have on it? The stock chain will kinda raise the vibration level after about 3000 miles (the actual mileage may vary), because by then it's technically worn out. the inner bushings are starting to break up and the links are sticking. You can ride it for quite awhile longer, but you will notice a great smoothing out when you put a good chain on it.
I have barend mirrors mounted outside the stock barend weights and my bars are pretty smooth. They were very smooth when I had the stock bars on it.

BRADEY · **Reply #13 on:** June 08, 2012, 09:57:11 am

Quote from: barenekd on June 07, 2012, 10:30:47 pm

How many miles do you have on it? The stock chain will kinda raise the vibration level after about 3000 miles (the actual mileage may vary), because by then it's technically worn out. the inner bushings are starting to break up and the links are sticking. You can ride it for quite awhile longer, but you will notice a great smoothing out when you put a good chain on it.
I have barend mirrors mounted outside the stock barend weights and my bars are pretty smooth. They were very smooth when I had the stock bars on it.

Its got 7500 plus miles on it so far.........!!

Ducati Scotty · **Reply #14 on:** June 08, 2012, 02:03:12 pm

Do you still have the original chain? It may be time for a new one.

Scoty

BRADEY · **Reply #15 on:** June 08, 2012, 02:15:13 pm

Quote from: Ducati Scotty on June 08, 2012, 02:03:12 pm

Do you still have the original chain? It may be time for a new one.

Scoty

Yes Scotty its still original. Do you guys also go for change of sprockets (front and back) with the new chain ??

Ducati Scotty · **Reply #16 on:** June 08, 2012, 04:20:48 pm

I usually do. You get max life out of all the parts that way. I didn't when I changed mine at 6500 because the sprockets were still good, the chain had just died an early death.

Scott

dynamyt · **Reply #17 on:** June 09, 2012, 06:53:25 pm

Quote from: Desi Bike on May 20, 2012, 05:26:11 pm

The old brit bike way of dampening the buzz was to fill the bars with lead shot or fishing sinkers. I'd wait until the bike is fully broken in to see if the buzz settles down. everything is just finding its place during the break in period.

The other solution we used was sand. Make sure to buy a bag of playground silica sand, don't go to the beach. It should be very dry. If my bike does not settle in after a 1000 miles or so, I'm going to fill my handle bars up!

barenekd · **Reply #18 on:** June 09, 2012, 11:17:40 pm

Past time for a new chain. Get a good one before it starts to eat your sprockets up!
Bare

Desi Bike · **Reply #19 on:** June 10, 2012, 12:49:05 am

I'm going to order a new one myself. So am I correct with a. 2011 C5 stock everything... A 530 o_ring at 102 links will fit? I've never owned a bike long though to wear out a chain.

Ducati Scotty · **Reply #20 on:** June 10, 2012, 12:55:39 am

Yup, 530 102 link. I'd recommend an x-ring over and o-ring. It's a better design and lasts a bit longer. I'd also say that you can safely go with a clip rear link instead of a riveted one if that's an option. That way you don't need a riveting tool. I put rivet links on my sport bikes, they're a bit stronger and more secure, but I went with a clip on my RE and no problems.

Scott