View RSS Feed

Gremlin's Tall Stories

For a change… a cheap mod (02/11/2011)

Rate this Entry
4 Comments
by
Gremlin
, 2nd November 2011 at 19:44 (2148 Views)
Normally I woudn’t dedicate an entire blog to just one mod, but I thought this could apply to so many different bikes, was extremely handy and pretty easy to do.

The 1150GS had big fat handlebar grips, but when the R1200GS came out, they used thinner grips. I’ve been using my thinner ones since January, but the Hornet and KTM both have/had Oxford Grips, and you get used to thicker grips. I’ve also got big hands, so thin grips actually get quite annoying as you have to close your hand more than is comfortable.

When in the USA, and speaking to an American with a GSA by the name of David, he recommended ExcelCycleWerkes for accessories, and while browsing the website I came across a “kit” to make the grips thicker. A simple but very effective idea you wonder how many have thought of. Put O-rings over the grips. Heated grips still work, just make sure they are UV resistant otherwise they will never last in NZ sunlight. It was one of the products in the package from ECW.

Fast forward to earlier this week, the first attempt to fit them was an utter failure, foxed by BMW’s desire to use massive Torx bolts to secure the handguards into place. I’ve had Torx for a while, after owning the KTM, but most sets stop at T40, and the guards required a T55. A trip to a Repco when passing for work secured the bit, at $11.50 for one. It does have a lifetime warranty I guess.

Pictures are worth a thousand words, so here’s what they looked like.
Attached Thumbnails Attached Thumbnails Click image for larger version.  Name: DSC02962.JPG  Views: 81  Size: 104.9 KB  ID: 250066   Click image for larger version.  Name: DSC02963.JPG  Views: 78  Size: 120.5 KB  ID: 250067   Click image for larger version.  Name: DSC02961.JPG  Views: 85  Size: 137.7 KB  ID: 250068  

Submit "For a change… a cheap mod (02/11/2011)" to Digg Submit "For a change… a cheap mod (02/11/2011)" to del.icio.us Submit "For a change… a cheap mod (02/11/2011)" to StumbleUpon Submit "For a change… a cheap mod (02/11/2011)" to Google Submit "For a change… a cheap mod (02/11/2011)" to reddit Submit "For a change… a cheap mod (02/11/2011)" to Facebook

Categories
Mechanical Mishaps

Comments

  1. nzspokes's Avatar
    What are they like to ride with?
  2. Gremlin's Avatar
    Quote Originally Posted by nzspokes
    What are they like to ride with?
    I haven't given them a thorough workout yet, but I have another 2500km weekend this coming weekend, so I'll have a better idea. So far, they feel really good, but haven't yet tested the effectiveness of the heated grips, or how the o-rings are to grip when soaking wet...
  3. nzspokes's Avatar
    Very cool, I have a real problem with sore numb hands. Did you use the kit or just a hole stack of orings?

    I think part of it is my bikes got a lot of vibration being a single. Would love to try this.
  4. Gremlin's Avatar
    Quote Originally Posted by nzspokes
    Very cool, I have a real problem with sore numb hands. Did you use the kit or just a hole stack of orings?
    This was a kit specific to the new range of BMWs with thinner grips. For you, you'd need to look for o-rings with an inner diameter slightly smaller than the outer diameter of your grips. Make sure they're UV resistant, otherwise the NZ sun will kill them quite quickly.