What grips do you like? (or want)

I'm getting close on my project bike and I figure I better get some grips on order or I'll be twisting the throttle with a vise grip.

I understand it's a lot of personal preference but I'm open to opinions.
All the dealers and shops around me don't have didly in stock so online is my best option.

I'd like something with chrom caps on the ends (to hide the weights in the bars) and dress it up just a bit.
More important is the material:
Foam / gel / or rubber.

I'd like as much vibration dampening as possible.
BUT, I also want to extend the season into the cold months so the combination of thick gloves, fat grips, medium sized hands, and addiction to acceleration do not make a good combination.

I'm thinking these might be a good option to try.
http://www.jcwhitney.com/BIKEMASTER-CUS ... _10111.jcw

 

I have some grips VERY similar to those.

I can't complain.

But in the future I REALLY want to try some heated grips. I commuted to work early this morning, and FROZE. at stop lights, I would hold my hands up against my engine to warm them up. When I was in the middle of no where, with a real threat of frost nip, I was cursing not having purchased heated grips earlier.

 

I have THESE on both my bikes, mainly because I have large hands & these are 3/4" longer than most you can get, very pleased with them & they are cheap.

 

I think those were what was on my bike when I got it. Don't know the history of how much weather they endured, but the foam was pretty hard by the time they got to me.

I went to a rubber grip and put bar ends in. Had to loose the weights though, so probably not an option.

 

I like these: http://www.oldbikebarn.com/Gran-Tourism ... tegory=113 They're very similar (copies actually) to the grips that used to come on British bikes. The dual-wall construction allows for softness without giving up durability. They're quite comfortable, I have them on both my XJs.

 

Those look pretty close to stock Fitz.

No shiny bits, but sometimes that's better for contrast.

I'll think I'll order a pair of those.

 

Mike, I've got the exact grips that you linked to. Picked them up from a speed shop in Frankfort for $15. They look good and are very comfortable. There is a definite difference in vibration to your hands as well.

I went up with my GF up to Ohio yesterday to pick up another XJ. It has similar to the stock rubber grips on it and after my 120 mile ride home, I really learned to appreciate the foam and chromes I have on my other bike.

 

I have the Foam JC Whitney ones you referred to in your post.
They are much more comfortable than the originals and I am quite happy with them.

 

Currently I've got the aftermarket foam ones from Chacal. They're a bit thicker than I'd like, but they're comfortable and certainly look better than the previous pair I had on there.



What I think I'd like are the open cell foam ones like you can see in some of the close-up shots of the handlebar controls in the Haynes XJ650/750 manual. The particular picture I'm thinking of is on page 237 of my manual and is credited with being a UK 650 of some sort.

 

http://www.mikesxs.net/products-59.html#products

Im looking at the Dual Color Fin Grip set for mine here at MikesXS.

 

I recently wrapped rubber grips with some leftover cork bicycle handelbar tape on a cb360. Its the most comfortable grips I've ever had.

 

So many grips...and only two bikes (or three, maybe four).

What's a guy to do.
If they came off easy enough, I could get three or four pair and change them when the mood moves me.

I'm thinking I'll try the foam version and see if it help the vibes.

Thanks for everyone's responses.

 

Lol, thats why on my bags I velcro on my Badges and Emblems. So I can switch them out when it suits me.
I jsut got in a set of foam grips from JC Whit. Havent rode it yet, but they feeeel awwwwesome on the bike
http://www.jcwhitney.com/autoparts/Item ... up_listing
-SLK

 

I had the foam grip on the bike before i bought these. I did not care for the foam. They dried out in a couple years and started falling apart. These new ones are wonderful. I do not notice much vibration at all. There slightly longer than stock and bigger around. The girth helps on longer runs. Work great with leather gloves. The foam ones wore out and with leather ridding gloves on it was very slippery.
http://www.jcwhitney.com/autoparts/Prod ... ?Ntt=grips

 

I recently put a set of these Grips on my XS11. They are comfortable.

 

Twenty minutes after I get-on the Bike, my right hand starts go dead, or asleep, or has a nervous-system shut-down that takes setting the Cruise ON and letting go and "Shaking" it back to life!

So, ... I did a RickCoMatic, Modification-fabrication, Custom-made Throttle Grip!

Off to the Pharmacy
Got a Pair of Crutch Grips.
Did some Magic ...

XXXL XJ Throttle Grip

 

Which foam ones did you have? The ones from Chacal, like mine, or the open cell foam ones like the Grab On ones?

 

They looked like these but i bought them at the dealer in my town.
http://www.jcwhitney.com/DELUXE-SOFT-GR ... _10111.jcw

 

I'm sorry to say RickCo but those are butt ugly grips.

 

I don't care about the ugly.
I'm 61 years old.
I ride the bike to Duncan Donuts without even washing-off the green pollen.

All I want from the Throttle Grip is NO fatigue and dead-hand sensation.
Mission Accomplished!

 

Hahaha, that will definitely be my favorite part of being "over the hill:" being able to say, "I don't give a rat's ---, I'm -- year's old." I do imagine they'd be comfy.

 

I have arrived at the point where I have to manage the pains in my life.

Now, when somebody brings a bike over here for help getting it fixed; the extent of the HELP is me telling them what to do and where to find the tool to do it.

I wouldn't call it "Over the Hill", ... but, I can see the Hill!

 

I can see it now Rick at the age of 81 pulling up to Duncan Donuts on his purple Maxim using the handicap spot with a walker strapped to the front of the bike. As he gets off the bike you can hear him mumbling to himself check your brushes, check you brushes. You are very wise man Rick. I hope when I hit 61 I know half as much as you do about bikes. I hear its all about the senior discount.

 

You young guys think you are having all the fun.
Not even close.
You can take all the fun you've had in the past 5-years and it wouldn't come close to as much fun as we "Seniors" had in any one week of the '60's and '70's.

Sure it was a real bitch growing-up in a era where you had to drive-around until you found a pay phone to call-up your pals and get a beer party planned for the weekend.

But the upside was, AIDS wasn't even heard-of yet.

 

I love heated grips! They complement my rider/pillion seat heaters and heated backrest!

It does have to be COLD for me to use them though. When I use the seat heater all I can see in my mind's eye is that goofy monkey in the monkey-butt ads!