Didn't see this thread until now. I bought my bike last year, April '10. I replaced my hand grips at the time. Bike didn't have bar ends so I purchased after market ends, about 2 months later. The weights were still in the clip ons and the replacement ends would not fit properly. NOT knowing anything, I took the weights out and have been riding that way since. My wrists start hurting after a while on a long ride, but never associated that with removing the weights. More so in the left wrist, but I was thinking that it was the onset of Carpal Tunnel. Wonder if putting the weights back in would make some difference.

On that note. If I do add the weights (have to get new ones, don't know where the old went), would I have to use stock bar ends?

 

Its apparently different for different people but personally I've never owneda bike that you could not feel the difference between weights or no weights. Maybe I just have real sensitive hands. Anyway.... its not OMG ! Its like subtle, generally high frequency vibration mildly radiated into the bars. Eventually leading to numbness and/or excessive tingling in your hands and often moreso in the throttle side since you grip that side firmer. I run solid stainless steel set that weigh somewhere between stock and those aluminum BS ends which is an acceptable compromise for me, wearing riding gloves.

So.....

Some aftermarket sets require the factory internals and some do not. Depends on the set.