Installed new grips today

[postoak_imp]

The OEM grips have a circumference of 4 inches and are a little small for comfort. They're also hard, but the size was the main issue I had with them.

So, I ordered some Pro Grip 719s which is what The Ferret says he puts on all his bikes.

I've never had the bar end weights off before. It looked like the bolts had blue Threadlocker (high strength) on the threads, but I had no trouble getting them out. I put the new grips on with no problem and was interested to note that the bar ends lock into a particular position, so whoever said they should spin freely isn't correct.

The new grips have a circumference of 4 1/8" on the left and 4 1/4" on the right. I would have liked to have seen 4 1/4" on both sides but we'll see how these feel. The one on the right was also a little bit short -- I can see some of the white pvc grip underneath -- maybe as much as 3/16".

It would be nice if one could order grips by circumference, but I've looked at a few dozen grips and this dimension usually isn't given.

I put blue Threadlocker on the bar end weight bolts and will give it 24 hours for things to harden.

 

[Cormanus]

The OEM grips have a circumference of 4 inches and are a little small for comfort. They're also hard, but the size was the main issue I had with them.

So, I ordered some Pro Grip 719s which is what The Ferret says he puts on all his bikes.

I've never had the bar end weights off before. It looked like the bolts had blue Threadlocker (high strength) on the threads, but I had no trouble getting them out. I put the new grips on with no problem and was interested to note that the bar ends lock into a particular position, so whoever said they should spin freely isn't correct.

The new grips have a circumference of 4 1/8" on the left and 4 1/4" on the right. I would have liked to have seen 4 1/4" on both sides but we'll see how these feel. The one on the right was also a little bit short -- I can see some of the white pvc grip underneath -- maybe as much as 3/16".

It would be nice if one could order grips by circumference, but I've looked at a few dozen grips and this dimension usually isn't given.

I put blue Threadlocker on the bar end weight bolts and will give it 24 hours for things to harden.

That's a good plan. They can go astray— Something's Wrong!

 

[postoak_imp]

Well, I had just read that thread and popgun's recommendation.

 

[Lord Popgun]

The screw is an ALOC screw and the service manual says to use a new one(comes with locker on it). Or just put locker on it. The joke for ALOC is that it stands for Apply Locker Or Crash. OK, I know you won't crash if you don't use locker on the bar end weight. Cormanus proves that!

 

[Cormanus]

Who said I didn't crash?

 

[postoak_imp]

I will probably order some of those bolts, then (Honda calls them oval screws but since they go into a nut, they're bolts as far as I am concerned).

I just found and ordered some Oury grips that actually gave dimensions. They're 4 1/2 inches which sounds like a little better fit for me. They're close ended but I will just cut the ends out.

 

[Lord Popgun]

postoak, just put thread locker on them and all will be fine.

Cormanus, maybe you did crash. But at least your typing hand is good!

 

[Cormanus]

Who said ... nah ... never mind. I didn't crash really, but it was an interesting day which I'll share if I ever get round to writing the report.

 

[postoak_imp]

My Honda bar end screws came in today, so I was able to switch to my new Oury grips. These are about 5 mm longer than the Pro Grips, which provides a better length fit on both sides. Especially, though, on the throttle side the white PVC or nylon piece is hidden from sight unless you pull outward (to the right) on the grip -- there's a little bit of left-right movement in the throttle which can expose some of the white if you pull out (to the right), but in normal use, no white shows.

These grips are close ended, and I thought I would be clever and use a drill to make a center hold to get my knife started. I used a 3/16ths inch bit and this almost proved a disaster as the rubber is soft and it quickly grabbed the drill bit and ripped rubber out past the diameter I had intended to cut. This doesn't show too badly under the bar end, but I would recommend a sharp pointed knife to start the hole, or maybe an ice-pick, and no drill.

The two Honda replacement screws, even though in original packaging, were just as bunged up on the end as the ones I took off the bike, so no gain there. When I say bunged up, some of the finish was removed.

These grips were advertized as 4 1/2" diameter, but the left came out 4 1/4" and the right 4 3/8", but that's better than the smaller Pro Grips, and should be nice for me.

The only downside to the Oury's is that you have horizontal stripes on them and the name "Oury" that have to be lined up from end-to-end and also matched from side to side. If you are OCD, this would probably drive you crazy getting it right. Fortunately, I'm not.



That was result of turning on the drill and turning it off as fast as I could.