just to add one more tip, since everyone is trying different brands of grips: I got this one while I was working on bicycles pretty regularly. If the grip wont slide on with whatever lube you choose, try compressed air. Just start the grip onto the bar, then hold the air nozzle tip right against where the bar and grip meet. Open the nozzle while pushing the grip on. It will almost scare you how fast it will slide all the way on. Basically the air gets between the grip and the bar like under a hovercraft and makes install a snap.
I love getting these simple fixes from co-inmates. I installed the Renthal mediums. I chose the medium density because they match the color of all the switches and buttons. A great cheap good looking mod. I had no problem installing them. I heated them up with a hair dryer and doused the existing grips and the insides of the Renthals with simple Green. Off to ride without the hand cramp/ thanks
Recently fitted a set of Beemerbuddies. They were very easy to fit with no trimming required. The instructions were excellent. Quality is great for the price, and they seem to do the job well. I see the big advantage as being that you can take them on and off easily.
+1, perfectly fitted. And the price is fair considering you won't have to spend any time repurposing another after mark grip. Then again, it's winter...not a bad way to spend 30 minutes bonding with the bike.
Ya, only downside and I noticed it yesterday, that they really insulate the heated grips. I was riding with my winter gloves in 50 degree weather yesterday with the grip heater on high and my fingers were still a little bit cold. Without the Beemerbuddies I'm sure my hands would have been warm.
Thanks to all inmates for posting tips and tricks. I was able to use some Smith Dual Density Moto Grips las t weekend. I ended up using lots of alcohol for me :huh and my grips. 20 minutes later they were ready to go and I was feeling tipsy... Cheers
The Renthal grips let the heat through. If anyone wants a set of beemer buddies I have a set. New in package, never used. Never needed them.
Gangplank! Thanks for today's bump of your thread! I took my first fride on my new GS today, and within the first 5 minutes was really irritated with how thin the stock grips are. When I sat down to read ADV, your thread popped out at me. Off to buy some Renthals tomorrow......but I have 1 question: Which grips are thinner? The soft or the medium compound? Thank you!
I used the soft grips. 2 throttle side because the throttle side is thiner. Don't think the thin or medium are different in thickness. Glad it was helpful! Posted mobile on Tapatalk
Get the Renthal soft ATV/QUAD grips, no need to buy two sets to get two throttle grips. $16 at Royal D.
The ATV grips are the same inner diameter as the smaller of the motocross grips. They would be harder to instal, but the cost savings would make up for that. I did mine today................10 minutes with the air gun......DONE!
After doing mine I do think ATV grips would work ok if you use the soft compound. Keep in mind they are thicker so you will get a bigger OD after installing the ATV grips vs 2 throttle grips. ATV = 2 same as clutch side MOTO = 1 clutch side (thicker) & one throttle side (thinner)
Just used Yeehaa's method (and same cricket bat grip) on my F650GS. Found it on ebay from a UK company. Didn't have his fancy-shmancy bat grip applicator conemeister 2000, but a little hairspray worked great Improved comfort, grippiness, and looks IMO. Up close, you get this octo-suckers look :eek1, I'll bet those tentacle suckers will love the dirt From a couple feet away though, it's a cool textured look. Still need to test ride for feel, temperature loss from heated grips, etc. http://s1303.photobucket.com/user/GlibGlub/library/F650GS%20Modifications?sort=2&page=1 Octo-suckers unite!!!!!
yeah ... let us know how the heat works ..... I have the foam "grip puppies" and they are OK at heat transfer... not great, but OK ... I would think the foam would help absorb more vibration than the "solid" covers but am not sure on that .... as I've never tried the other options...
Yesterday I tested the cricket bat grip solution pictured above. Pros: 1. Slightly less hand cramping 2. Slightly smoother throttle control. I hadn't considered this benefit, but it makes sense. The smaller the diameter, the tougher it is to control those fine adjustments - for my hands anyway. I used to run into this playing tennis too. I always had better control with a racquet with a larger than recommended grip for my hand size. I used 4 5/8 tennis grip, for reference. 3. Slightly reduced vibrations getting through to hands 4. Heat still transfers (hard to compare, as it was 70F when I tested it - but could feel it, even on the low setting through my gloves) Cons: 1. Outer diameter is still not as big as I'm looking for. Compare my pics above to the Beemer Buddies in post #113, or the O-ring solution in post #56, and you'll see what I mean. The OD of mine still is smaller than the OD of the stock bar ends. For reference, my cricket bat grip was purchased from Splay - a company in the UK. 2. Left grip squirmed around just a bit. Not noticeable during ride, but those octo suckers weren't all lined up as neatly at the end of my ride (nothing spirited, just a 30 min commute on tarmac). Conclusion: This was an improvement, but in this case, size matters. Bigger would be better. Those o-rings would work, but they just look too "o-ringy" for me! :eek1. One is reminded of the Michelin Man
Beamer buddies report- I like these because on my last trip when it got really cold I was able to remove them to get more heat. The larger grips are wonderful! Less vibration. negatives- the seam... I keep the seam where I can't feel it... if I do feel it... it drives me crazy... I just bought another set for my R1150R