I wanted to find out if anyone has changed the grips of the handlebar of the Silverwing. I did search the site but found only a couple of mention of some Kuryakyn grips and some other hand made ones. My bike came with some soft grips, they look like foam ones that I don't like. I would like to use some Progrips, rubber or gel maybe, but I would like something that will work well. Since I am in the USA I would like experience with grips that one can purchase here.


Thanks a lot.

Carlos,
As long as you are changing out the grips, would you like heated grips?

Thank you and no, I am really looking at just replacing the current foamy/spongy current grips with some other ones. I realized looking at some photos that they are not the original ones. I was looking at some progrips since I had some on my last bike (Kawasaki Tengai) and they worked really well.

Since I live in LA I have mild temperature most of the year so don't really need heated grips, at least not now.

I guess the sizes are the usual 7/8"?

Carlos- I have the Kuryaken grips and like them a lot. They are comfortable and provide good isolation.

Wayne

Thank you for the data. Could you tell me the model or maybe post a pic so I can see which ones you are talking about?

I am open to any suggestion, even though I really liked that progrips model.

get some stock grips---they work fine---bars are 7/8"----I had some sticker super bike grips that worked ok.

Thank you and I am looking for some of these or similar ones.

Highly recommend the Kuryakyn ISO grips. They are the Kuryakyn universal ISO's . Can't remember the size but if you search this forum, they are mentioned several times. Pricey but worth it IMHO.

Thank you. Are these the ones made with chrome and rubber inserts?

It would be great to have some photos and maybe some impressions, reviews or similar.

The advantage for me of the Grip Puppies is that they slip over the heated grips, a gadget I'd not be without.....and they are cheap.

Thank you for the suggestions. Aren't the grip puppies something you install on top of the original grips? If so I can't do it because i have aftermarket grips on it and I believe that these are a little thicker and also being the foamy compound I think they are not as durable...

I installed Grip Puppies after reading rider recommendations on a couple of forums. They're cheap, easy to install, but they painfully cramped the fore finger and thumb on my right hand after a hour or so, added nothing to the riding experience, and reduced the warmth getting through to my hands from the heated grips. Removing the Grip Puppies eliminated the cramped fingers straight away, and in hindsight I didn't have a problem with the stock grips.

I guess it depends from each ones hands, shape, size, thickness, etc. I personally prefer thinner grips, but also I prefer them firmer. The foam stuff gives me a vague feeling somehow.

I don't know how I could ever go back to stock grips after using Grip Puppies for 2 years.

One of the good things about Grip Puppies, as has been said several times, is that they are cheap so their less-durability doesn't matter so much as they can be replaced almost as a disposable item.

Indeed, they won't suit everyone but I found they dampened an irritating vibration I could feel through the bars.

These ar the ones I got. They are black which I like better than the chrome - The rubber (silicone) part is not just on the outside of the grip. It forms the inside as well which does an excellent job of absorbing vibration:

http://www.kuryakyn.com/Products/4022/Gloss-Black-ISO-Grips

Really comfortable for me anyway. They are quite a bit thicker than the stock grips soo if you have really small hands, they might be a problem but if hand size is relatively normal, no sweat.

You can google for revviews - there are some user reviews on Amazon.com



[quote="carlosw"]Thank you. Are these the ones made with chrome and rubber inserts?

It would be grate to have some photos and maybe some impressions, reviews or similar. [/quote

Thank you very much, these Kuryakin look very interesting. Also I looked over the grip puppies that were mentioned, I guess they are made of foam? Maybe that's what I already have on my Silverwing... I will check it out later today, I did not have a chance to ride it much yet but will tonight.

When I ride I try to enjoy riding rather then looking over the bits and pieces of the bike...

Coming from a Honda Shadow Spirit 1100 the Silverwing feels a lot lighter and a lot more manageable but also more jumpy... I like it a lot for sure, but I kind of miss the sure grip of the Shadow handle bar and grips. Not going back though, at least not yet...

Well, I went out with the Silverwing last night and checked out the grips currently installed. They seem to be the grip puppies or a similar product because they sit right on top of some other grips...

They appear worn out a bit though, and they are a little slippery even when I use my brand new deerskin gloves. I guess this is one of the reasons I wanted to replace these foam type grips.

On the other hand, I was able to spend a little time zipping around town, up to the observatory and down the other side... I had so much fun. Riding these is a blast. I love the automatic transmission or I guess I should say the CVT. I find it not only more comfortable but also really good on curves etc. when i don't have to shift before or after or bother with wondering which gear I should use. The bike does it all by herself.

Also I find the brakes really good and powerful. I kind of like the liked brakes I guess.

I don't seem to have any problems with the tires, they seem to be the Bridgestone ones. but they seem to be perfectly fine for the bike, unless I want to go racing...

I caught on pretty quickly that Grip Puppies were a complete waste of time, and binned them. As for thinking 'outside my small Meldrew daft box' I do, and that includes not adding non essential junk to my Silver Wing, unlike you my 'Silver Wing Guru' friend.

I'd take your comments a lot more seriously if you ever posted something about travelling or touring in Canada, instead of the weight of the Dr. Pulley sliders you were using this week, or the noise your latest toy makes. Apart from that, Have A Nice Day.

Meldrew

Look guys I think we will have to put our personal choice down to just that.

What suits one is not necessarily suitable for another. We all have our preferences and they are all valid and it is up to an individual to make that final choice whether to buy one mod or another.

I realise that my latest retort to the gentleman in Winnipeg has been binned, that's OK. Nobody's really bothered about the Queens toilet habit either, but the reference to Kraft Dinner is something else.

You've got to be a complete idiot if you can't knock up even a basic macaroni cheese, or mac n' cheese. It's cooked elbow macaroni covered in a cheese sauce, spooned into an ovenproof dish with plenty of grated cheddar on top, and baked in a hot oven until bubbly and golden... lovely!

Yet, there's a country where they can't seem to manage that and seem to prefer a far simpler version, opening a cardboard box, and mixing together the bright orange contents of a few packets. It's a national staple, they sell boxes by the million, and it's called Kraft Dinner!

To the original poster - I got my bike used with the Kuryaken ISO grips. I really like the tactile feel of the rubber (not sticky, buy never slippery) and the large diameter. They also dampen vibration well.

I dislike the chrome. Looking at the Gloss Black Kuryaken ISO grips (in the link above in cjuzda's post), I would get them if I did not get heated grips.

Thank you very much and I can see that these might be a good option. I generally prefer rounder grips without bumps but grippy and solid. I also have big hands so I was thinking to some grips that I had on my earlier bike, some progrip ones that were really good, comfortable, grippy and good looking.

Thanks everyone for the suggestions.

buddy19520 wrote:

To the original poster - I got my bike used with the Kuryaken ISO grips. I really like the tactile feel of the rubber (not sticky, buy never slippery) and the large diameter. They also dampen vibration well. I dislike the chrome. Looking at the Gloss Black Kuryaken ISO grips (in the link above in cjuzda's post), I would get them if I did not get heated grips.