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Best grips for 7/8" drag bars?

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  • Best grips for 7/8" drag bars?

    There's a million options. Any recommendations on the best (most comfortable) grips for a 7/8" drag bar?

    Thanks

  • #2
    It really depends on how your hands are built. I have large, but slim hands and I prefer the stock grips. Some prefer the "football" grips that are fatter in the center portion and some prefer large grips that feel "mushy". It's all up to what is comfortable for your paws.
    Can't beat the smell of gas & oil

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    • #3
      When you are looking for grips another thing that comes to mind is that grips such as Kuryakin makes are also longer inside. This does move your controls further in unless you use spacers. I used some washers that also acted as bar end weights.
      The other thing to consider if going to a fatter type grip is that the clutch/brake adjusment is harder to obtain. There is a fine line between slipping and free play adjustment with thicker grips. Of course if everything is set correctly clutch wise it is not that big of deal.
      Personally I like the fatter style grips with lots of shock absorption to take the harmonics out of the grips. I use the Kuryakin ones and am pleased with the effect that the weighted ends provide. My index finger on my right hand used to go to sleep with stock grips. Now it is no problem. Every person will have their own favorite for different reasons. As was stated above it is how your hands fit the grips and what makes you comfortable.
      2-79 XS1100 SF
      2-78 XS1100 E Best bike Ever
      80 XS 1100 SG Big bore kit but not fully running yet.
      Couple of more parts bikes of which 2 more will live!

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      • #4
        Check out JCW

        JC Whitney sells a pair of rubber grips that are cushioned just right, very comfortable, yet almost look stock for the XS. They're less than $10 brand new.

        I won't use anything else.
        Tom Clisham

        Age is relative YOU WON"T GET OLD TIL YOU SELL THE BIKE
        _____________________________________________

        '78xs1100E ,all stock & original GONE TO WISCONSIN

        '80 SG Vetter fairing,hard bags,trunk,fork brace,
        stock headers with fishtail mufflers,black & beautiful GONE TO ARIZONA

        79SF lowered,jardine 4/2 exhaust,pod filters,drilled rotors,fork brace, bar hopper

        79SF 1 owner,8000 miles, restoring to completely original ( I hope) GONE TO FRANCE

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        • #5
          go to a bike shop if there are any anymore hard to try grips on line try a bunch, what ever feels comfortable to you is what you want , they have to feel right to YOU . for myself I have OEM grips and cant stand Kuryakin grips a number of my friends love em ymmv
          Seamus Ó hUrmholtaigh
          Niimi Moozhwaagan

          NOTICE: No trees were destroyed in the sending of this message. We do concede, however, that a significant number of electrons may have been inconvenienced.

          Any connection between your reality and mine is purely coincidental.


          Member of "FOXS-11" (Former Owner of XS-11)
          and SOXS
          2008 Nomad "Deja Buick'

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          • #6
            Originally posted by FormerGlory View Post
            There's a million options. Any recommendations on the best (most comfortable) grips for a 7/8" drag bar?
            Hi Dennis,
            this will raise more opinions than tire and oil choices combined.
            But here's how to take them off and put them on again:-
            WD40!
            As simple as that. Remove by poking a long skinny screwdriver up between the grip and the bar or the twistgrip sleeve and squirting the WD40 up there.
            Pull the screwdriver out of there, take a strangler's hold on the grip and wring it off.
            Squirt the bar or twistgrip sleeve with WD40 and slide the new grip on.
            The grip will squidge about when it's first on but by the next day it'll be on there solid.
            Fred Hill, S'toon
            XS11SG with Spirit of America sidecar
            "The Flying Pumpkin"

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            • #7
              Originally posted by fredintoon View Post
              Hi Dennis,
              this will raise more opinions than tire and oil choices combined.
              But here's how to take them off and put them on again:-
              WD40!
              As simple as that. Remove by poking a long skinny screwdriver up between the grip and the bar or the twistgrip sleeve and squirting the WD40 up there.
              Pull the screwdriver out of there, take a strangler's hold on the grip and wring it off.
              Squirt the bar or twistgrip sleeve with WD40 and slide the new grip on.
              The grip will squidge about when it's first on but by the next day it'll be on there solid.
              Never heard of using WD40 for installation. I always use hairspray. Same deal though - it wiggles around for the first day or so, but once it finally dries out, its stuck quite well.
              1980 XS850SG - Sold
              1981 XS1100LH Midnight Special (Sold) - purchased 9/29/08
              Fully Vetterized and Dynojet Kit added, Heated Grips, Truck-Lite LED headlight, Accel Coils, Irridium plugs, TKAT Fork Brace, XS850LH Final Drive & Black SS Brake lines from Chacal.
              Here's my web page devoted to my bike! XS/XJ User's Manuals there, and the XJ1100 Service Manual and both XS1100 Service manuals (free download!).

              Whether you think you can, or you think you cannot - You're right.
              -H. Ford

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              • #8
                I recently put Kuryakyn ISO 7/8" universal grips on my Special bars and I love them. Very thick, I have XXL or XXXL hands. If you don't have small or average hands they're wonderful. I can see them being a bit on the thick side for your typical non-knuckle-dragger.

                They are a bit pricey and can look a bit faux Hardley. Easy to install.
                1990 Ninja ZX-10. It's the Silver Surfer. HI-YA!!

                2006 Yamaha XT-225. Yep, I take it on the interstate. It's Blue Butt.

                1982 Toyota 4x4. 22R Cammed, 38/38, 2" pipe, 20R head with OS valves, performance grind and other fun stuff. It's Blue RASPberry.

                1969 Ford F-250 Camper Special resto project. 390 RV cam, Demon carb, Sanderson headers, 2 and a quarter pipes with Magnaflow mufflers. It's Blue Jay.

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                • #9
                  Originally posted by CatatonicBug View Post
                  Never heard of using WD40 for installation. I always use hairspray. Same deal though - it wiggles around for the first day or so, but once it finally dries out, its stuck quite well.
                  Hi 'Bug,
                  you have hairspray in your garage? I tremble at the thought.
                  Fred Hill, S'toon
                  XS11SG with Spirit of America sidecar
                  "The Flying Pumpkin"

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