[Banger48]

Recently wiped out and twisted the bar mounts. The unbelievably strong stock Renthal 971 bars didn't bend which I'm amazed but the bar mounts were twisted. Took them off and they appear to be straight and the rubber bushings look ok. So wondering since it's apart if I should replace the bushings with aluminum to keep this from happening again or stick with the rubber bushings? What's the pros and cons of aluminum vs rubber? I'm also considering replacing the stock bar mounts with some fancy new ones if funds will allow. Do the aluminum bar mounts serve a purpose besides looking cool?
Thanks for the help
Kevin

[JimDirt]

The bushings (rubber or metal) will not prevent everything from twisting , actually you want everything to twist , if everything was rigid , you would snap or really bend something or everything , the torque specs are there to allow everything to flex so things don't snap

As far as the difference between the metal and rubber , the rubber obviously flexes which takes away vibration and keeps your hands from going numb on long or rough rides , its basically for comfort/cushiness , your hands and wrists appreciate this flex

The metal is for positive "feel" , so your suspension feels precise , and not sloppy so to speak , the downside is vibration , and you feel "everything" , from the littlest pebble , to the roughest washboard and square edge holes , all goes thru your hands and wrists
, and by the end of the ride , you are aware that you rode

[Banger48]

Thank you JimDirt, I'm sticking with the rubber bushings. I definitely don't need to make it any harder on this old body!

[JimDirt]

lol , I hear ya , i am on the far side of 55 (56 in August) , so anything to cushion the feel , i am all over , i have thought about flex bars , but the price is a damper for me , more so than the bars would be , i ride moto and off road

I do all my own suspension work , so i have both my bikes pretty plush , with valving and pressure spring changes , i can pretty much just run into stuff and hardly feel anything , its nice to ride 50-80 miles off road , or do 35 minute motos and still be able to walk afterwards