Cycle Canada Magazine, August 1999

We’ve encountered riders of Sportsters, XS650s and SR500s who tell us their bikes don’t vibrate. Not a bit. On the other hand, plenty of riders would love to be able to reduce the high frequency buzzing that can prove so annoying on a highway trip. Trouble is, there’s not a lot that can be done about inherent engine vibration. One partial solution is something called the Bar Snake, a devise used originally by California desert racers riding buzzy two-stokes. The Bar Snake is nothing but a solid neoprene rope that fits inside the handlebar to help damp vibrations.

We installed a Bar Snake on a Honda CB350 rat bike, admittedly a severe challenge. Installation was simple: remove the handgrips, feed a wire (supplied, through the handlebar and attach a wire to a reinforced end of the rubber Snake. Next we liberally greased the handlebars inside ends and the Bar Snake itself before hauling it through the handlebar. One the Snake passes through the other side, its ends are trimmed off and the handlebar grips replaced.

Riding the CB350 afterward was still rather short of sheer luxury. Nothing less than a miracle would halt its vibration, but we noted an immediate reduction of the most objectionable high frequency buzzing.

Bar Snakes are available in sizes for steel and aluminum handlebars and one-inch sizes to fit Harleys.

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