General topics » Handle Bar Grip Change

In case like me anybody finds the standard handle bar grips too hard and the wrong diameter for comfort I have detailed the work required in order to fit a pair of LSL Clubman grips part no 138CL 02.
NOTE non heated grip detailed.
Left hand - Pull back grip end next to switch gear and cut away about 20 mm of rubber grip a very sharp modelling knife works well, once completed this will expose a fixing pin that passes through the plastic sleeve. The plastic sleeve will the require cutting for its full circumference out 3 mm outboard of the exposed locating pin that must be retained as this locates switch gear in position. The standard grip is bonded to plastic sleeve so in order to cut I first used knife to trim rubber from plastic in order to better monitor depth of cut and to avoid scoring the handle bar with the junior hack saw blade that was used for this process, just a case of care and patience. Once cut completed and the grip/ plastic sleeve removed the next step was to use sharp knife to trim out the end of the new grip in order to allow it to ride up over the retaining pin and plastic sleeve adjacent to switch gear again time and patience with the modeming knife will produce a suitable relief in rubber to cover the remaining portion of sleeve. Now ready for grip fit - some web advice states use hair spray as lubricant but I found that softening the grip in hot water for 15 minutes and a SMALL amount of liquid hand soap applied to exposed handle bar WELL diluted with water works fine. The best way I find is to slide grip on to the end of exposed bar for about 50mm and then to strike extended portion hard with palm of hand repeatedly as this method avoids a griping or twisting motion of the grip and once motion is started just keep striking until end of grip aligns with end of bar. The soap water lubricant will soon dry out but I stress a very small amount of soluble soap required or perhaps the hair spry method preferred by others but I can't vouch for this.

Right hand - The grip is not bonded to the plastic rotating throttle sleeve so easy to use sharp knife to slice through and remove rubber portion. Once removed the exposed plastic section will require plenty of trimming in order to remove the multitude of tiny plastic pegs and the grip locators at each end that run around the circumference of the plastic sleeve. To perform this task the sharp knife and a fine file were employed to trim and smooth out and obtain a fine finish. NOTE you will see small plastic peg locator adjacent to switch gear that locates the sleeve to the throttle and this must remain in place easy to spot it's about 3mm square and positioned at the top of the sleeve so clearly in view and the new rubber grip will easily ride up over this once fitted with no trimming of new grip required. When all protrusions and original locators removed from each end you should just have one diameter for the complete length of plastic sleeve. Next its just a case of using same method as for left hand of a very very weak soluble soap solution and warmed grip pushed on then a strike with palm of hand until grip is flush with the end of the plastic throttle sleeve.

Why bother ? For me the standard grip is thin and vey hard and far too small so the benefit is a greater rubber dampening effect and the rule achieved that states a suitable grip diameter is to have approximately a pencils width between the finger tips and the palm of the hand. I had tried tape wraps but a little bit of an unsatisfactory temp style fix. Pictures provided to show final result. LSL handle bars also fitted but these are a direct replacement for standard so all fitting techniques and methods described still apply.

Thanks for that, Adrian. The grips are quite small in diameter, compared to almost every bike I've owned in the past. Of course, the heated grips add another layer of caution (when removing), that I'm sure some forum members can attest to. My only concern with thicker grips is losing the effective nature of the heating. Something I never concerned myself with before my RS, but now, don't want to ride without them.

I fitted Grip Puppies over the stock grips and the heating still works fine

Zitat von duccrazydave im Beitrag #2

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Thanks for that, Adrian. The grips are quite small in diameter, compared to almost every bike I've owned in the past. Of course, the heated grips add another layer of caution (when removing), that I'm sure some forum members can attest to. My only concern with thicker grips is losing the effective nature of the heating. Something I never concerned myself with before my RS, but now, don't want to ride without them.

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I tried the Grip Puppies, but could not get comfortable with the throttle modulation. I have been satisfied with the "skinny" standard grips, despite my size 11 mitts. Deerskin/elkskin gloves create all the comfort I need.

Grip Puppies are the first accessory I fit on every bike I get - even on my CBR600RR track bike. They make a huge difference in terms of comfort - both in terms of the bigger diameter grip and the fact that they help reduce any level of vibes. Best £12 or so you can spend on a bike. And yes - the RS heated grips work fine with them - just taking a fraction longer to heat up that standard.

I started to get a numb right hand(not always a bad thing) after riding for a while,I wondered if age was catching up with me.

Didn't really want to go down the old fucka route and fit risers to my RS so purchased some grip puppies, problem solved.

Bravo, I have the same problem with and without bar risers (however I am an old fart ). Good to know that the grip puppies worked for you. Did you actually fit that brand or are you using the name generically? Encouraged by your feedback, Ill investigate further.

I used to prefer small diameter grips on my race bikes back in the day, but I find as I got older larger diameter is more comfortable. I have been running Grip puppies on my last 2 bikes and find they cut down on hand cramping and numbness. Oh yeah the heaters work fine, just take a while longer.

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Zitat von Ray im Beitrag #9

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Bravo, I have the same problem with and without bar risers (however I am an old fart ). Good to know that the grip puppies worked for you. Did you actually fit that brand or are you using the name generically? Encouraged by your feedback, Ill investigate further.

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I've got high bars and Grip Puppies, does that make me a Double Old Fucka?

Zitat von Tony101 im Beitrag #12

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I've got high bars and Grip Puppies, does that make me a Double Old Fucka?

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Having foam grips on my 1986 K75c, I've looked back. Installed Grab-on grips (the US equivalent to UK Grip Puppies) within a week or two of purchasing the R1200RS.