The New And Improved Unofficial R65 Forum V2
Technical Discussion => BMW Technical Q&A, Primarily R65 => Topic started by: marcmax on July 28, 2010, 03:35:15 PM
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Does anyone have any comments, suggestions or recommendations on grips to use. I'm looking for more comfort than I currently have. The current grips I have are little more than a thickness of inner tube stretched over the bare bars. Add to that the dropped position and they get uncomfortable real fast.
I was thinking of something along the lines of a Gran Turismo style grip with the fat center, tapered to the ends or even a firm foam grip like I have on my K75S.
Also what length should they be. The ones I am using now measure 130mm or about 5.25". They seem a bit long because if I am not careful with the bare end mirrors I can bind the throttle almost like a cruise control.
If anyone has a recommendation I would love to hear it.
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If you are interested in heated grips try Koso brand. I have them on my R65 and they are very comfortable. It is not very often in southern California that I need heated grips but they do come in handy once in awhile, usually early morning. My husband has the BMW heated grips and he says mine work much better than his and if I remember correctly they cost about $60.00
http://www.kosonorthamerica.com/
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Thanks Ladyblue. Its hard to think about heated grips when the heat index is hovering around 108 F. Cold hands isn't my problem but tingling and sore palms from having my weight resting on them. If I ever move away from the south (not likely) I might invest in some heated grips. :)
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I have been considering a "radial" grip for my Honda I am building. I have been considering the more traditional type, as in this eBay offer: http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=360264971338&viewitem=&sspagename=STRK%3AMEWAX%3AIT
Then there are these more modern looking of the same genre:
http://www.motorcycle-superstore.com/3/13/121/23034/ITEM/Joker-Machine-Custom-Rubber-Radial-Grips.aspx?SiteID=SLI|Grips&WT.MC_ID=10010
(https://bmwr65.org/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.motorcycle-superstore.com%2FProductImages%2F300%2F0000-Joker-Machine-Custom-Rubber-Radial-Grips-Black.jpg&hash=e329bab27eb464397b5b67830d7a6ee67a4e7d76)
For my BMW, they will always be stock (heated) grips. I just couldn't see putting BMW grips on a Honda... ::)
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I've had "gel" grips on Tillie for the past several years - they weren't too bad, and were easy enough to cut the ends off so that I could fit the Napolean bar end mirrors on. They do get tiring after several hundred miles in the saddle though. This year I decided to try the fatter GT style grips and got some from JC Whitney catalog - cost all of $9 for the pair. I got a good price on NOS BMW rearview mirrors, and am trying this combination out now - we'll see how it goes this weekend because so far I've not ridden more than about 200 miles total with them. This weekend I may rack up 600 miles - if I am lucky!
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Saw these up on ebay.
7/8" diameter, 5" long, GT style.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/HANDLEBAR-GRIPS-GT-BESTON-BSA-TRIUMPH-NORTON-HONDA-/250651207513?cmd=ViewItem&pt=Motorcycles_Parts_Accessories&hash=item3a5bf9e759#ht_500wt_956
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I had a pair of those GT style grips on my old Yamaha back in the last century. I didn't really like the bulging look of them, but I never replaced them because they were so comfortable and easy to grip.
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I tried a pair of the generic type foam grips you find at most motorcycle shops .
They were a bit too large of diameter for my hands, so I'm back to the OEM grips .
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It'll only be OEM grips on my R65, because they look so - right.
And the Euro bars give you a sporting posture without the extreme pain.
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I recently 'improved' my stock grips because I'd finally tired of them working loose.
I'd tried a couple of different adhesives but they still eventually failed. I'd always wanted to try the barrel shaped grips that I'd seen on earlier British bikes but never got around to it. I also kind of wanted to keep the original bmw style look to the grip.
Finally I took off the grips and built up a mild 'barrel' shape on the bar with black electrical insulating tape. This is the type that sticks to itself and, presumably, the inside of the grips (i reasoned). It's nonadhesive but joins with itself when wrapped. It is thick rubber tape separated by a vinyl strip on the roll.
The grip would not go back on. This tape really is sticky against other rubber. I soaked the tape well with rubbing alcohol and the grip slid on pretty easily. Sure enough, when the alcohol evaporated, the grip will not budge... at all! Fortunately, the profile ended up pretty much exactly what I wanted and I can attest that it's a HUGE improvement in comfort and, to tell the truth, in confidence. I feel a lot more connected to the front of the bike now.
I have a size XXL hand, so this is probably a more welcome change than it might be for smaller hands.
(https://bmwr65.org/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi802.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fyy303%2Fsvejkovat%2FSDC11979.jpg&hash=502bc7a4fda8e3274f165b86f5c3cbf0b988853b)
(https://bmwr65.org/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi802.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fyy303%2Fsvejkovat%2FSDC11980.jpg&hash=cd9778c6af215977863d649d1918a00a7f938832)
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Nice idea and the grips look great.
It's called "self amalgamating tape" in our neck of the woods. I've used it for years. There's some on the bike right now as insulation on the battery cable terminations. Amazing how it seems to fuse into solid rubber as you find out if you ever try to get it off.
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I think that it is also marketed as "Rescue Tape" over here - I have a roll of it in my tank bag - though I had never thought of it being used with motorcycle grips before - looks like it worked pretty well!