New retro grips

[Papa Weeley_imp]

As a follow-up to my bar end weight thread (To bar end weight, or not to bar end weight - that is the question.), I decided to experiment and forego the weights and try some grips I really wanted to use on the bike.
They're designed for the previous generation Triumph Bonneville, which is what I had them on, and really loved 'em. Very retro, and even more comfortable to me than the Grip Puppies that I've used on several bikes over the years. I got them from New Bonneville, and they call them "Gran Turismo Style Grips", but the old guys always called them "football grips" due to their obvious shape. I had the foresight to order two sets way back when, and luckily, both my Bonnie and the CB have 7/8" diameter handlebars.
I still wasn't sure about the fit, or running them without the bar weights, but they fit perfectly, and if the lack of weights in the bars causes too much vibration, I can still just cut the ends off the grips and run the weights through them (haven't ridden it yet to find out, literally just finished putting them on!). I do like the slimmer (width) feel of the bars though, and even though I'm using them expressly for comfort, the retro style looks great to my eye, too.


[url=http://s157.photobucket.com/user/mustangfeverrr/media/2016-8-10%20192_zpsi9clf9k4.jpg.html]

 

[the Ferret]

cool. When I was in the bus I must have sold a million pairs of those grips.

 

[The A-man]

I loved those back in the day ! Do you know where to find them today?

 

[LongRanger_imp]

I loved those back in the day ! Do you know where to find them today?

Google "Gran Turismo Grips" and you'll see 'em. My RD350 came with them. Very comfortable.

 

[redbirds_imp]

Those grips bring back some memories. Looks really nice, waiting to read how they work without the bar end weights.

 

[4 Paws_imp]

Look similar to the old style "soft grips" I think I remember (it was the 70's after all) having on my CB550.
Good grips in all weather conditions.

 

[the Ferret]

I loved those back in the day ! Do you know where to find them today?

Google "Gran Turismo Grips" and you'll see 'em. My RD350 came with them. Very comfortable.

If it did someone put them on before you got it. THe stock RD 350 grip was a skinny hard affair with raised ridges the length of the grip and spaced around the grip making a bunch of rectangled ridges which were actually a big improvement over the typical grip of the day with a bunch of weak waffled ridges the length of the grip.

 

[Papa Weeley_imp]

I loved those back in the day ! Do you know where to find them today?

newbonneville.com still has them.

 

[Rocky_imp]

Most any vintage British bike parts dealer would stock them.
I have them on both of my vintage British bikes.
I have those grab-on grip covers on my other bikes.

 

[vegasdriver_imp]

those are what I have been looking for. they were called them ti*** grips, in the 70's. They were supposed to get rid of the vibration in the handlebars in your hands. If the weights do that then I might go for the look, rather than function. maybe an internal weight. thanks for showing them, you deserve some new Orleans beads.

 

[Garver_imp]

Dime city cycles has a nice selection of retro grips along with a huge selection of other retro aftermarket parts, here's the link for the grips

http://www.dimecitycycles.com/retro-black-solid-barrel-style-grips-for-7-8-inch-handlebars.html

 

[Papa Weeley_imp]

Yup, looks like the same animal!

 

[Carguy1959_imp]

I just ordered a pair, thanks for the link Garver...

 

[postoak_imp]

How are motorcycle grips sized? I want a replacement set that is somewhat larger in diameter and will allow me to keep the bar ends. I measured the ones on the bike and they seemed to be 5" long and approximately 4 1/8" circumference, which converts to about 1.31" diameter.

The circumference of my Goldwing Valkyrie grips is about 4 15/16" and they fit me, but might look weirdly large on the CB, so something between the CB1100's and the Valkyrie's.

I assume the odd sizes are due to these bikes being Japanese and probably metric.

 

[Papa Weeley_imp]

I keep forgetting to post a follow-up here about the grips - I love them just as much on the CB as I did on my Bonnie. Really comfortable, especially since I'm getting arthritis in the lowest joint of my left thumb (where it meets the hand). A few minutes with my Grip Puppies on was murder, yet running the stock "skinny grips" was never comfortable for the rest of my hand. These are perfect - they're a small diameter where my thumb and forefinger wrap around the bar, yet a nice thick, comfortable diameter for the rest of my hand. And they must absorb vibes really well, because I can't really tell much difference with the bar end weights and handlebar weights removed. Another win-win mod!

 

[Cormanus]

King of the mods ...

 

[Carguy1959_imp]

Mine came in the mail yesterday, put them on, rode to work today. I thought they would be a little cushier, but not bad, they look good with my Windjammer. Most people think my bike is a lot older the it is.

 

[Cormanus]

^^^ Many people think that about my bike too, but it has little to do with mods.