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TPE15: Spank adds vibration damping foam to Spike handlebars

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spank-spike-vibrocore-handlebar-with-vibration-damping-foam01

Following in the footsteps of the wider Spike DH/Freeride bar, the 760mm Oozy handlebar will be getting a Vibro-Core option that fills the body with their vibration damping foam.

Designed to kill the buzz that can lead to hand, arm and mental fatigue over longer and repeated runs, the Vibro-Core filling reduces the size, frequency and duration of vibrations. That means they’re drastically reduced by the time they reach your hands, and it’s all done with a low density foam that adds very little weight.

Closeup cutaways and more below…

spank-spike-vibrocore-handlebar-with-vibration-damping-foam02

The bar retains their XGT (Extreme Gradual Taper) design that keeps the interior and exterior walls very smooth, with a consistent taper from center clamping section all the way out to the ends. That prevents stress risers and weak spots, so you get a stronger bar that’s still competitively light. Closeups of the taper shown here.

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It’ll be available in 5mm and 15mm rise options, weights from 235g.

spank-Oozy-Trail295-bead-bite-mountain-bike-wheels02

The Oozy rims aren’t new, but they’ve evolved over the years. Originally launched with premium alloy materials that have even been borrowed by other rim brands, the Oohbah shape puts a hump in the middle to help the beads sit low for easier seating and add stiffness to the rim.

Spank-Oozy-Rim-BeadBite-hook-profile

Since then, they’ve added the Bead Bite design, which places small hooks on the bottom and sides of the bead seat/sidewall to really grab the tire’s bead. The goal? Avoid burping and keep the tire in place under hard cornering with lower pressures.

spank-Oozy-Trail295-bead-bite-mountain-bike-wheels01 spank-Oozy-Trail295-bead-bite-mountain-bike-wheels03

Spank-Ind.com

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Ascar Larkinyar
Ascar Larkinyar
8 years ago

Or……..is spike too lazy to remove the foam used to make these bars and just calling it innovation?

JasonK
JasonK
8 years ago

What are “energy waves?”

Alex
Alex
8 years ago

God I love mint Aero.

Slow Joe Crow
Slow Joe Crow
8 years ago

I think this is similar to the “bar snake” used on motorcycles. The foam would actually have to be added after forming the bars since the mandrel has to fit inside.

Matt
Matt
8 years ago

Energy Waves are light. Light can’t propagate down a tube filled with foam. The claims on completely stopping energy waves are 100% correct.

Foamy Bath
Foamy Bath
8 years ago

Imma get me some high density spray foam and fill me bars with em. Why not?

mrazekan
mrazekan
8 years ago

EXTREME…gradual taper.

That aside, this does work. Many motorcycles have bar-end weights to combat bar vibration. I’ve used expanding foam on a vintage MX with success.

Randall
Randall
8 years ago

@Matt “Energy waves” obviously refers to the kinetic energy in the vibrations of the bar. Adding foam will change the amount of energy the bar can absorb, and most likely decrease the number of resonant frequencies it has.

JasonK
JasonK
8 years ago

Randall, I was being facetious, as was Matt. The bar damps vibration, or claims to. “Energy waves” is meaningless in this context.

Mrazekan, handlebar end weights do work, but not the way this foam works (if it works). Handlebar end weights reduce the natural frequency of the bars below the forcing frequencies generated by the engine. They don’t damp anything at all…they just keep the bars from resonating with the engine.

Professor
Professor
8 years ago

The initial reviews I’ve read on the vibrocore bars have been very positive.

Gixxer
Gixxer
8 years ago

I was also thinking the same…use those foam insulation spray from Home Depot.

OFfCourse
OFfCourse
8 years ago

@Foamy Bath FTW! I think you nailed the comment that possibly everyone can agree upon regarding this one.

Smitty
Smitty
8 years ago

I actually just used a bunch of these bars to build my new house since I live near a fault line. During the next big earthquake, I’ll be sipping my coffee and say “Oh, an earthquake. That’s cute.”

feldy
feldy
8 years ago

I would submit that using “energy waves” in this context isn’t any worse than “rotational weight”, using “alloy” to describe something that’s made of aluminum and not steel, or any other of the myriad of scientific misnomers common to the velo-vernacular.

Michael
8 years ago

@Foamy Bath: Why stop at the bars? There’s plenty of “energy wave” blocking space available within a frame and seatpost!

mrazekan
mrazekan
8 years ago

JasonK, agreed with the the mechanism for the bar ends. Getting actual damping is challenging.When I foamed my moto bars, I skipped the light weight and stiff expanding foam. I found a heavier latex based flexible sealant. Spank indicates a “low density foam”. Hopefully it has the right material properties to actually damp vibrations.

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