Kawasaki Concours Forum
The C-14, aka Kawasaki Concours-14, the new one :) => Accessories and modifications - C14/GTR 1400 => Topic started by: nxtdoor on May 18, 2011, 09:24:24 PM
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As a new Concours owner having just bought a new 2009, I find the grips are too skinny for me. Any recommendation on thicker grips? Are there any foam slip ons that can be put on the stock grips?
Thanks
Jeff
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Pro Grip 714's..............
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Try Grip Puppies from California Sport Touring. They are a foam grip that slide on over the stock grips, work great!
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Pro Grip 714's..............
714s are great, but I don't know that they are any thicker.
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714s are great, but I don't know that they are any thicker.
They sure seem to be, plus them are comfy!!!! Grip Puppies are great until you ride in the rain, then they become a sponge. :banghead:
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The old Johan Superbike grips were thick, foam nice grips. They still make them.
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Try Grip Puppies from California Sport Touring. They are a foam grip that slide on over the stock grips, work great!
I literally just put on some puppies and they seem to work quite well. Very comfortable. As for the sponge factor, I live in the northwest, so I'm sure I'll find out soon. I might try treating them with a water repellent or something. But hell, for $10 including shipping, can't beat it.
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I literally just put on some puppies and they seem to work quite well. Very comfortable. As for the sponge factor, I live in the northwest, so I'm sure I'll find out soon. I might try treating them with a water repellent or something. But hell, for $10 including shipping, can't beat it.
You cannot water repel a sponge. ;)
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I'm pretty sure Grip Puppies are closed cell foam, so they shouldn't absorb any water. I have been in some real gutter washers on mine, and the Grip Puppies never lost any grip, or got soaked.
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You cannot water repel a sponge. ;)
Haha. Technically you can't make it water repellent, but saturating it with a solution that is could work. Doesn't leave any room for the water to collect. The only thing i'm worried about is making the grips too hard. Kind of like a paint brush. Paint soaks up easily when new, but does not after having been saturated and dried. A bit of an extreme example for hardness, but I'm going to try to figure something out that still keeps them supple. That is if they do turn into a sponge...
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I wrapped mine with a tennis racket grip that I found at a sporting goods store. Only cost 7 bucks
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I wrapped mine with a tennis racket grip that I found at a sporting goods store. Only cost 7 bucks
That's not a half bad idea... As long as it stays tight on there, what the hell. Let me know how it holds up for duration.
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Some people like the BMW grips (old p/n's 32721458395 & 32721458396, service guy can cross ref to new p/n's).
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Murphs sells grips. I believe they are the Progrips. I have them on mine and they are much more comfortable than the stockers. They are larger in diameter and comfortable to hold. I also tried the BMW grips but they taper and are small in diameter at one end so they didn't help me.
Here is the link for the grips from Murphs: http://www.murphskits.com/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=130_133&products_id=35&osCsid=80c3583789ab2c1a11166bbe47b4c06a (http://www.murphskits.com/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=130_133&products_id=35&osCsid=80c3583789ab2c1a11166bbe47b4c06a)
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I have paws.. 2x to 3x gloves. OEM grips felt like magic markers in my hands, fingers digging into my palms. Found these-
http://www.motorcycle-superstore.com/1/4/68/16201/ITEM/Sunline-Grand-Touring-Grips.aspx (http://www.motorcycle-superstore.com/1/4/68/16201/ITEM/Sunline-Grand-Touring-Grips.aspx)
Thee best grips for me, relaxed and grippy. I sliced off the ends for my Throttlemeister, and all is good in the world.. 8)
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As a new Concours owner having just bought a new 2009, I find the grips are too skinny for me. Any recommendation on thicker grips? Are there any foam slip ons that can be put on the stock grips?
Search is your friend:
http://zggtr.org/index.php?topic=216.msg2119#msg2119 (http://zggtr.org/index.php?topic=216.msg2119#msg2119)
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I slide foam grips for 1 inch handlebar motorcycles over the top of normal grips. They last about 2 years before needing replaced, about one year in the Texas sun.
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I run the Pro Grip 714's on my vstrom and they are great. Has anybody tried slipping them over the grips on a 2010 with heated grips? I have the grip puppies on now but the are hard as a rock.
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Thanks guys. I just realized I could also use grip wrap for a bicycle too.
Jeff
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I slide foam grips for 1 inch handlebar motorcycles over the top of normal grips. They last about 2 years before needing replaced, about one year in the Texas sun.
\
Leo
So you use the larger grip puppies over the OEM grips?
Like these for the Goldwing?
http://www.casporttouring.com/cst/motorcycle/GRIPPUP/GPGL.html (http://www.casporttouring.com/cst/motorcycle/GRIPPUP/GPGL.html)
Thanks in advance
Crash
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Some people like the BMW grips (old p/n's 32721458395 & 32721458396, service guy can cross ref to new p/n's).
+1
I had Grip Puppies, and liked them. The BMW grips are more expensive, but last a lot longer. I had to replace the GP's after about a year/year & a half as the foam would start breaking down.
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That's not a half bad idea... As long as it stays tight on there, what the hell. Let me know how it holds up for duration.
I've got about 5,000 miles on them and they look and feel like they did when first put on.
They work for me
Bill
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I second the bmw grips, really like mine
ken
Murphs sells grips. I believe they are the Progrips. I have them on mine and they are much more comfortable than the stockers. They are larger in diameter and comfortable to hold. I also tried the BMW grips but they taper and are small in diameter at one end so they didn't help me.
Here is the link for the grips from Murphs: http://www.murphskits.com/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=130_133&products_id=35&osCsid=80c3583789ab2c1a11166bbe47b4c06a (http://www.murphskits.com/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=130_133&products_id=35&osCsid=80c3583789ab2c1a11166bbe47b4c06a)
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Long hands and fingers as well (3x-4x gloves) +1 on Murphs grips. I purchased them soon after I bought the bike in '09, and I have 22,000+ miles with them. Outside most of the day, rain or shine, still look as good as new.
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+3 on the BMW grips.
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You can also get the Grip Tek Grip Covers from Premier Cycle Accessories for $10.50. I installed these and they are very comfortable. They slip over the factory grips. They are a little long and you have to cut them to length. They work fine with my Throttle Meister.
https://www.premiercycleaccessories.com/Grip_Covers_p/13005.htm (https://www.premiercycleaccessories.com/Grip_Covers_p/13005.htm)
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I have the BMW grips and they are hard, and tapered. I like the 714s better.
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Haha. Technically you can't make it water repellent, but saturating it with a solution that is could work. Doesn't leave any room for the water to collect. The only thing i'm worried about is making the grips too hard. Kind of like a paint brush. Paint soaks up easily when new, but does not after having been saturated and dried. A bit of an extreme example for hardness, but I'm going to try to figure something out that still keeps them supple. That is if they do turn into a sponge...
There you go. Just change the it's relative permeability to water.
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I wrapped mine with a tennis racket grip that I found at a sporting goods store. Only cost 7 bucks
I tried this too. In fact, I had one grip wrapped with a nice tennis racket grip and the other with a grip puppy. I figured it was a great way to compare. The grip puppy was MUCH better.
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Never tried the grip puppies, though I do like using a thicker grip on longer rides. Do the Grip Puppies go off and on easily?
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The grip puppies won't come off without taking a knife or razor to 'em. But I can't imagine wanting to take them off. They really add a nice comfort.
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Never tried the grip puppies, though I do like using a thicker grip on longer rides. Do the Grip Puppies go off and on easily?
And how long do they last?
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I haven't heard but they're cheap enough. I expect a 2 year life at minimum.
http://www.casporttouring.com/cst/motorcycle/GRIPPUP/GPSMALL.html (http://www.casporttouring.com/cst/motorcycle/GRIPPUP/GPSMALL.html)
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Murph should sell these.
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I second the bmw grips, really like mine
ken
I see you quoted me when you wrote this. I didn't like the BMW grips. They are tapered and they caused me the same pain the stock grips did since the diameter at the small end was too small for me. I went back to the Progrips that Muph sells.
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I have heard of a couple folks using these grips:
http://www.phatperformanceparts.com/Kuryakyn_Black_ISO_Grips_for_7_8_Handlebars_Uni_p/6341.htm (http://www.phatperformanceparts.com/Kuryakyn_Black_ISO_Grips_for_7_8_Handlebars_Uni_p/6341.htm)
Aaron
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I have heard of a couple folks using these grips:
http://www.phatperformanceparts.com/Kuryakyn_Black_ISO_Grips_for_7_8_Handlebars_Uni_p/6341.htm (http://www.phatperformanceparts.com/Kuryakyn_Black_ISO_Grips_for_7_8_Handlebars_Uni_p/6341.htm)
Aaron
I had those ISO grips on my Honda cruiser for 2 years. Overall, they were pretty decent but after a year, I had gotten to the point that I no longer liked them and wanted something else. They stopped being comfortable, perhaps because the rubber had gotten harder after just a year.
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The grip puppies won't come off without taking a knife or razor to 'em. But I can't imagine wanting to take them off. They really add a nice comfort.
I've taken mine off several times. ??? Just use some air or just turn them inside out. It'll exercise your fingers, but not really that big a deal.
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Do the Grip Puppies go off and on easily?
NO!
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The old Johan Superbike grips were thick, foam nice grips. They still make them.
You can get them at Bike Bandit, but it's spelled Johar and they are super thick and cushy.
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You can get them at Bike Bandit, but it's spelled Johar and they are super thick and cushy.
I used to use those on my CB 1100F. Bought them for my REX, but used the 714s instead.
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I have heard of a couple folks using these grips:
http://www.phatperformanceparts.com/Kuryakyn_Black_ISO_Grips_for_7_8_Handlebars_Uni_p/6341.htm (http://www.phatperformanceparts.com/Kuryakyn_Black_ISO_Grips_for_7_8_Handlebars_Uni_p/6341.htm)
Aaron
I'm one of the folks he's referring to - love mine, work like a champ and look great. Had grip puppies on the last bike, and had good luck with them, but the ISO's are the ones to beat in my book.
madcap
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Grab-On Grip Covers. Simple, cheap, work well, made in USA, works with heated grips, been around since the Ice Ages.
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I am installing the grips from Murphs and the grip heaters. The grip heater instructions call for a thin coat of adhesive between the heater and the grip. Is this necessary?
Thanks,
Gregg
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here is what i came up with. used two sets of murphs foam grips. outstanding i think.
just thought i would show new seat.
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Grip Puppies go on pretty easy if you have an air compressor with a narrow tube gun that will fit under the GPs. You have to soak them in VERY soapy water ... get them really wet. Then as you slide them on, just use the air compressor to inflate them a bit and they go on very quickly. Use dish detergent.
If you don't have an air compressor, just soak the crap out of them in VERY soapy water. They will slide on with some twisting over the stock grips.
I've done both on several bikes .... both work. You can trim the GPs after you get them on with a razor knife, or blade.
You'll find them a bit 'twisty' for a couple days until the soap/water dries up. It all turns out fine.
GPs are cheap, EZ on (above notes),
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I am installing the grips from Murphs and the grip heaters. The grip heater instructions call for a thin coat of adhesive between the heater and the grip. Is this necessary?
Thanks,
Gregg
I doubt they would put it in the instructions if they didn't think it was necessary. ;)
The heater elements are easily damaged, so the adhesive probably acts as lubricant during the install. The main reason would be to hold the elements and grips together as one, so there's no chance of them rotating easily if you grab them and twist.
I put a set of Murphs Grips over the stock 2010 grips, after cutting the ends off of them. :)