It’s a fact we must accept somewhere along the line that some motorcycles are not perfect. I know; it’s hard to accept but it’s true.
And one of the things that can detract from the perfection of a ride out on your own is vibrations coming from the bike, either from the feet (rubber pads can help), the seat (a replacement cushion here is a big aid) or the handlebars (can become painful).
I’ve been on bikes where I either have to wear winter gloves (with additional padding) in summer or reduce my level of contact with the bike as vibrations cause all sorts of issues.
One bike, in particular, I could not ride on dual carriageways or motorways for more than around an hour; at 30 minutes my hands began to tingle and by 45-50 minutes, they were dead.
In this case, it was due to the vibrations coming up through the bars from the engine – it was a slightly-rough big V-twin.
Heading across country, where this particular bike excelled, wasn’t such an issue as the engine was constantly accelerating or decelerating but on a fast road, held at a steady engine speed, the vibrations would start to become an issue.
Related: Best motorcycle indicator upgrades
The good news is that if you have a bike like this, then changing the bar-ends can help. This can alter the mass of the bars themselves and dampen any resonant-frequency vibrations or change the speed that they occur so that the bad vibes move away from your usual cruising speed.
If you don’t suffer from bar vibrations, then changing your bar ends can help add a little functionality, protection or simply improve the looks of the bike.
Here are a few ways to change the look of your bars or get better vibes.
Ototec End Caps
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These basic yet great value end caps simply close-off the end of the handlebar tubes and offer a high-tech, classy look to finish off the bars. They are made from aluminium and are fixed with Allen-head bolts that pass through rubber spacers to a tapered nut.
The screw is tightened and this brings the nut towards the end, causing the rubber sleeve to spread and grip the inside of the bar. They come as a pair and with three rubber sleeves of different sizes, to fit 22mm handlebars.
Pros:
Great value
Easy to fit
Classic design
Cons:
Concerns over rubber fitting
R&G Crash Sliders
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R&G is renowned for its motorcycle crash protection and these bar-end sliders are no different. Available for a huge range of machines, they are direct replacements for the factory items and are essentially the companyu2019s stainless-steel bar-ends, designed to help dampen vibrations, with a layer of crash protection on the end so that in the event of a spill, the ends of the bars are protected.
Pros:
Help dampen vibrations
Protect the end of the bars
Fit in seconds with original bolts
Cons:
Make bars slightly wider
Anodised Aluminium Bar Ends
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These anodised aluminium bar ends are simple in design yet look good and should finish off your bars and help to eliminate any vibrations or at least move them to a different speed which hopefully will not affect your riding.
These particular ends are designed for 22mm grips and are tapered, finishing with a black plastic end-cap. They are fixed with expanding metal sleeves that grip the inside of the bars using the supplied fixings and are available in six colours.
Pros:
Look good
Help dampen vibrations
Aluminium and plastic design
Cons:
None we can think of
Oxford Racing Lever Guard
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Not strictly a bar end though it does fit in the same way u2013 with an expanding nut inside the handlebar tube u2013 this lever guard will make inadvertent or accidental application of the front brakes or the clutch impossible by preventing anything activating the levers.
These are mandatory on bikes use in racing and on track days now in the UK, to prevent brakes from being activated when bikes tangle and these from Oxford are designed for 22mm bars and are available for the front brake lever or the clutch.
Pros:
Prevent accidental brake or clutch operation
Protect levers in case of contact
Get the race look
Cons:
Might get funny looks at the fuel station
Aluminium Plugs
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These are probably as basic as bar-end weights get; a pair of machined aluminium plugs supplied with bolts and expanding rubber sleeves to fix to the inside of 22mm handlebar tubes.
They are available anodised in red, gold or blue and are designed to improve the look of the bars as well as dampen any unwanted vibrations. Fit quickly and easily to almost any handlebars.
Pros:
Very easy to fit
Three colours
Basic upgrade
Cons:
Concerns over rubber fixings
Bike It Carbon Ends
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These aluminium bar-end weights come with a touch of motorsport technology thanks to a ring of carbon-fibre effect inset into the outer edge. They are available in four colours u2013 this silver, red, blue and gold to suit a wide range of bikes and will help to change the dynamics of the bars, eliminating or changing the point where vibrations occur.
Pros:
High-tech carbon finish
Four colour options
Dampen vibrations
Cons:
Concerns over rubber fixings
Qii Lu Lighted Ends
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Itu2019s no surprise that someone came up with the idea of building lights into bar ends and this is one example. The amber LED lights could be used alongside (or no doubt, instead of) regular indicators on the ends of the bar to provide a different take on lighting.
They are designed for 22mm bars and use rubber fixings with the cables running inside the bars though, clearly, they will need holes in the bars to exit. They will also need resistors for non-LED indicator bikes to get the correct flash rate.
Pros:
Replace indicators for clean look
Supplement indicators for additional warning
Look cool
Cons:
Need holes putting into bars for cables
Gear Gremlin Bar Ends
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These simple bar ends from Gear Gremlin are produced in aluminium and come with a scalloped cylindrical design to suit any handlebars and pretty much any bike. They fit with a central Allen bolt and expanding metal sleeves with a tapered nut and are available in a wide range of colours and finishes; polished aluminium, black, red, blue or gold. Simple but effective.
Pros:
Great value
Range of finishes
Simple and effective
Cons:
Dimpled effect may not suit everyone