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From American Motorcyclist, September 2004 issue!
GOOD VIBRATIONS
Do you ride a big single or a V-twin on the road? Does vibration from the handlebars get to you after a while, making your hands tingle or go numb?
A company with the odd name of Manic Salamander says it has an answer, in the form of extra-heavy bar-end weights. Just bolt these on, the company says, and vibration goes away.
We wanted to see if they really worked, so we ordered up a set for a Kawasaki KLR650. The big KLR may be one of the most versatile bikes made, but it's also one of the most notorious paint shakers in the motorcycle world.
Installation was pretty simple-—just cut off the outside ends of the handlebar grips (this step is unnecessary for bikes that already have bar-ends), then pick up the weights (wow, they are heavy) and slide them into place, tightening the adjustment bolt with the included Allen wrench.
The first ride was a revelation. The stock KLR powerband has a couple of areas you avoid because of vibration, but the Manic Salamander weights quiet the vibes so much you can use the entire rev range. They don't eliminate all vibration, but they reduce it so much that the bike takes on a different, more user-friendly character.
Manic Salamander says they can do the same for your dual-sport, vintage, or V-twin bike, as long as it has standard 7/8 or 1-inch bars. And based on the evidence of our KLR, we believe them.—Bill Wood
Manic Salamander bar-end weights range in price from $59.99 to $79.99 a pair, depending on finish. For more information, call (763) 234-7242; or visit www.manicsalamander.com.
Reprinted with permission of American Motorcyclist
magazine.
www.AMADirectlink.com
