DRZ400E vibration?

[dmoo1790]

To any DRZ400E/S/SM owners out there: Do you get serious vibration through the bars at 90+ kph? It's so bad on my bike that my hands start to go numb after a while. I haven't done a test at high revs and low speed yet so I'm not sure if it's engine or tyres. I'm still running a knobbie front and a semi-knobbie rear tyre. The bike only has 600 km on it so far. Still running in.

[meteor]

My DR250 was the same until I put street tyres on it then was smooth as. But any dirt bike above 90kmh will have you hanging on tighter I spose and with even semi knoblies... vibration/shudder would be the norm.

[JATZ]

You sure this is the bike for you ?
this is the second bleat thread you've posted

[Taz]

Nopt sure about DRZ vibes but my KTM525exc is very smooth on the road.

[dmoo1790]

You sure this is the bike for you ?
this is the second bleat thread you've posted

Well, if you recall, the first "bleat" thread I posted uncovered the fact that DRZ400E's are horribly restricted from the factory.

And this thread is just an attempt to figure out whether my bike is unusually buzzy.

Time will tell if this bike is ideal for me. I wanted something relatively light and capable of doing everything and cheap. Impossible I know but I think the DRZ is the best compromise.

[dmoo1790]

You sure this is the bike for you ?
this is the second bleat thread you've posted

Well, if you recall, the first "bleat" thread I posted uncovered the fact that DRZ400E's are horribly restricted from the factory.

And this thread is just an attempt to figure out whether my bike is unusually buzzy.

Time will tell if this bike is ideal for me. I wanted something relatively light and capable of doing everything and cheap. Impossible I know but I think the DRZ is the best compromise.

[JATZ]

Well, if you recall, the first "bleat" thread I posted uncovered the fact that DRZ400E's are horribly restricted from the factory.

And this thread is just an attempt to figure out whether my bike is unusually buzzy.

Time will tell if this bike is ideal for me. I wanted something relatively light and capable of doing everything and cheap. Impossible I know but I think the DRZ is the best compromise.

O.K. p'raps bleat was the wrong word, I've only ridden one DRZ and didn't find it buzzy at all.
Any hooo..... vibranators will reduce vibration, or stickin lead shot in the bars or silicon, so I'm told

[bart]

The DRZ is a dirt bike first, and a road or SM second. If comparing the DRZ to a road bike, (or even a fireblade), you will be disappointed doing long road miles. The DRZ is based on a reasonably light, robust, off road machine. No namby pamby, rubber mounted, air bagged, counter ballanced, rubber cush drive bullshit here. Enjoy it for the rugged, nimble, weapon that it is.

Oh....and to answer your question....they do vibrate a wee bit. ;)

[warewolf]

Thumpers tend to be worse when new, but get smoother as they are run in.

A DR-Z400 isn't capable of serious vibration, is it? Try a 640 :blip:

[JATZ]

Thumpers tend to be worse when new, but get smoother as they are run in.

A DR-Z400 isn't capable of serious vibration, is it? Try a 640 :blip:

Noooooo........ try MINE !! 750 single :blip: :bleh:

[NordieBoy]

Noooooo........ try MINE !! 750 single :blip: :bleh:

That's just the crap forks.

[dmoo1790]

The DRZ is a dirt bike first, and a road or SM second. If comparing the DRZ to a road bike, (or even a fireblade), you will be disappointed doing long road miles. The DRZ is based on a reasonably light, robust, off road machine. No namby pamby, rubber mounted, air bagged, counter ballanced, rubber cush drive bullshit here. Enjoy it for the rugged, nimble, weapon that it is.

Oh....and to answer your question....they do vibrate a wee bit. ;)

Yep. I have confirmed it's engine vibration. I guess that's why the SM has rubber mounted bars. Funny you should mention cush drive. I've owned 2 XR500A's (twin shock) and on both of these the front sprocket ate a groove into the gearbox output shaft. I guess it was badly designed but a cush drive would have stopped that from happening. Yes, I know you pay a weight penalty for a cush drive. I don't recall (it's a long time ago) the XR vibrating as badly as the DRZ either. I rode the XR from Wellington to Fielding once so it would have been flat out in top for long stretches and I'm sure I would recall numb hands but I don't. I do vividly recall riding on a constant lean due to the cross winds north of Levin. Maybe the DRZ will get smoother with age as warewolf says.

[dmoo1790]

And the DRZ _does_ have a balancer or at least one is shown in the Clymer manual I have.

[dmoo1790]

Thumpers tend to be worse when new, but get smoother as they are run in.

A DR-Z400 isn't capable of serious vibration, is it? Try a 640 :blip:

It's not the size that matters. :-) The DRZ vibes are high frequency. I've had some old singles and recent twins which vibrated a bit but none caused my hands to go numb like the DRZ.

[bart]

It's not the size that matters. :-) The DRZ vibes are high frequency. I've had some old singles and recent twins which vibrated a bit but none caused my hands to go numb like the DRZ.

My hands would go numb on the DRZ after a couple of hours of riding. Similar happens on my DR650, but perhaps not to the same extent.

[dmoo1790]

My hands would go numb on the DRZ after a couple of hours of riding. Similar happens on my DR650, but perhaps not to the same extent.

Numbness starts pretty quickly on the DRZ. You feel it straight away and it's pretty bad within 30 mins. I have ridden my brother's DR650 and vibes are nothing like the DRZ. Much higher frequency vibes on the DRZ. Never had a problem on the DR650. DR650 has rubber mounted bars so I guess that could be a factor. And it revs lower than the DRZ.

[NordieBoy]

I didn't notice any numb hands on the only ride I've done on the DRZ.
Maybe you've got to ride further. I've only done 1000km total.

[MXNUT]

If you are still running the standard gearing ( sprockets ) it will vibrate a bit at that speed

Go to a 15/41 which is what the S model has and you will reduce the vibes and increase the fuel range.

Only down side is you will not be able to do wheelies in any gear higher than 1st

[dmoo1790]

If you are still running the standard gearing ( sprockets ) it will vibrate a bit at that speed

Go to a 15/41 which is what the S model has and you will reduce the vibes and increase the fuel range.

Only down side is you will not be able to do wheelies in any gear higher than 1st

Yes, still on 14/47 gearing. I plan to go to 15/44 to get some sort of compromise between off road and highway use. Also have some gel grips to put on.

[bart]

If you are still running the standard gearing ( sprockets ) it will vibrate a bit at that speed

Go to a 15/41 which is what the S model has and you will reduce the vibes and increase the fuel range.

Only down side is you will not be able to do wheelies in any gear higher than 1st

Good point. It'd be reving it's rings out with standard gearing.

I found 15/41 too high. 14/41 is a fairly good compromise. It depends what you have planned though. If doing a lot of 100kmh road stuff, 15/41 all the way.

[Pedrostt500]

My old TT500's used to have good vibrations, but ya could back her up and pull stumps out, More pull than a group of boy scouts.

[Woodman]

What jatz said, get some vitabrit anteaters and the vibrations will cease. i got them and they are very good

[JATZ]

vitabrit anteaters

:rofl: :rofl: :rofl:

Woodman.....you crack me up :D

[CRM]

My DRZ400E was too viby for any kind of distance on the road. I remember riding mine for an hour and a half to a trail ride, riding off-road for a couple of hours then on the way home stopping to put some air in the tyre and I couldn't hold the thingy onto the valve - dead hands... The bigger singles that I've ridden (XR600 and DR650) are nothing like that - they just do a pleasant dance with you.

[offrd]

My KTM vibrates too, I find not holding on does the trick !

[warewolf]

Don't laugh, I reckon that's one of the differences in noticeable vibes: if you have a tensed-arm death-grip on the bars, you get lots of transmitted vibration. If you are relaxed and loosely rest your hands on the bars, you get a lot less.

Oh, and some of the vibes are from the knobblies, not the engine. Run knobblies on the tar at high air pressures reducing carcass flex, and you feel every individual knob as it hits the hard surface.