naked_ape

What kind of vibration? This sounds odd to me, I've only ridden about 3 days so far on the 2013 (three different ones, actually) but they all felt very smooth and quiet to me. What are you feeling, and are you sure it is normal? Well, it is a high frequency vibration. on the S1000rr board, there are quite a few complains about it. ppl suggested adding bar end weights and that takes care of the vibration. It is not unbearable so i am not planning to do anything about it but it is definitely a lot worse compare to the ZX14. it is kind of like KLR vibration but higher frequency. I got the bike at the end of the year so i only have about 500 miles on it. maybe It will get better once it is broken in. I do remember when i attended the school last year at VIR, the 2010 RR i rode was not as smooth as the ZX either. so i think it is normal. Oh, that probably explains it - all three of the bikes I rode were school bikes and I bet Will adds different bar ends for crash protection, which probably eliminates the vibration you are feeling. Bar ends DO make a big difference in handlebar vibration - I had two bikes in the past that were nearly unbearable to ride due to vibration (my hands were going numb after only a few minutes of riding!) and weighted bar ends COMPLETELY fixed it on both bikes. If it bothers you at all, go for the bar ends! They are not expensive, they are easy to install and as a bonus you get better crash protection - even if it just falls over in the garage or tips over in the driveway. Thanks Hotfoot, i guess i will try bar end weights.one more reason to shop before the season starts. woohoo!!

What kind of vibration? This sounds odd to me, I've only ridden about 3 days so far on the 2013 (three different ones, actually) but they all felt very smooth and quiet to me. What are you feeling, and are you sure it is normal? Well, it is a high frequency vibration. on the S1000rr board, there are quite a few complains about it. ppl suggested adding bar end weights and that takes care of the vibration. It is not unbearable so i am not planning to do anything about it but it is definitely a lot worse compare to the ZX14. it is kind of like KLR vibration but higher frequency. I got the bike at the end of the year so i only have about 500 miles on it. maybe It will get better once it is broken in. I do remember when i attended the school last year at VIR, the 2010 RR i rode was not as smooth as the ZX either. so i think it is normal.

my personal experiences are: 2002 Kawi Ninja 250 x2 both ran flawlessly. 2002 Yamaha FZ1 brand new came with a bad spark plug wire. It took me a few years to find out what was wrong with the bike because the bike only misfired once a while. I thought it was the nature of the bike. 2007 Suzuki Burgman 400: the scoot ran great. It did have a noisy automatic clutch though. Known problem for the burgman. 2009 kawi KLR650: that bike burned a quart of oil every 1000 miles. I just had to sell it. checking the oil level after every ride was getting to me. Known problem for 2008 and 2009 model year. got better 2010 and on, so i hear. Kawi 2011 ZX14: the motor is really smooth, almost no vibration at the handlebar at any rpm. smoothest bike i've ever ridden. It tends to run really hot in stop and go traffic, never over heat, but sooo close... 2013 s1krr: vibration around 4000rpm is worse than the thumper KLR. Then i hear, it is normal, and it did smooth out after i get pass 6000rpm. so no complains... 2012 Suzuki Vstrom 650: only have 150 miles on it, but so far i like it a lot. Good usable power for commuting. long travel suspension on the KLR and Vstrom is really good for back road riding in Jersey. Roads here are covered with potholes, with a sportbike, i have to carefully choose the path taken, with the KLR or the Vstrom, i just ride, take in the scenery, eating potholes like they don't even exist.