Big Hands, slim grips

[handtius]

Hey everyone,

I've done some scouring and came up with very little, so I thought i ask here. I a GS500E and the grips on it are a too slim for my hands. I'd like to increase the diameter of theme some how. Can someone recommend either a larger grip that's available somewhere or an I'd for making my current grips larger?

I've read about someone using tennis racket tape...not sure about that one. feels like it would make the grip that much larger.

I also found these: http://www.ascycles.com/detail.aspx?ID=43208

Thanks for all the help you could give.

oh, tack on question...My breaks have been squealling. Is this normal on GSs or do i need new break pads?

Thanks again.

[Eklipse]

Maybe you could try to find some of those chrome+rubber cruiser grips that would fit. I sat on some harleys and those grips were fat. My thumb barely touched my index finger (I'm like 5'8, so I guess I have normal sized man hands).

[handtius]

Those chrome/rubber ones are kind of nasty though...not my understated style.

[joshr08]

get bigger bars that take bigger grips

[Suzuki Stevo]

GRIP PUPPIES ™ Small.
http://www.casporttouring.com/cst/motorcycle/GPSMALL.html

[romulux]

Do you have like a death grip on the bars that their diameter matters?  I think trying to grasp the handlebars like you're trying to do pullups is very uncomfortable.

I do believe that holding the throttle open is uncomfortable.  If this is your motivation for larger grips, I would suggest a crampbuster or similar product.  It's just a plastic paddle that fits on your throttle.  You basically won't have to grip the throttle at all, just rest your hand on it and twist your wrist lightly.  Made it much more comfortable for me.

Very inexpensive, $11.

http://www.crampbuster.com/

[Eklipse]

Do you have like a death grip on the bars that their diameter matters?  I think trying to grasp the handlebars like you're trying to do pullups is very uncomfortable.

I do believe that holding the throttle open is uncomfortable.  If this is your motivation for larger grips, I would suggest a crampbuster or similar product.  It's just a plastic paddle that fits on your throttle.  You basically won't have to grip the throttle at all, just rest your hand on it and twist your wrist lightly.  Made it much more comfortable for me.

Very inexpensive, $11.

http://www.crampbuster.com/

I had something like that. It was really nice.

Also, those are the fat cruiser type grips I was talking about.

[pandymai]

http://pantablo500.tripod.com/id8.html

swapping with stock grips from other bikes.. sounds like a good idea. hope this helps

[handtius]

No death grip, just large hands. I'm loose on the grips, but it's still uncomfortable. and it's not just the throttle grip, it's both hands.

I'm going to check out those grip puppies.

[handtius]

Thanks for the swap grips idea...don't know any junkyards in queens, ny do you?

[pandymai]

found throttle tube w/ grips on ebay for about 15 bucks shipped.. just keep looking around for deals?

[Pigeonroost]

Another vote for grip puppies, I used the large ones.  I purchased from Bulldog at Shinoples.com

prs

[tt_four]

I also recommend some bigger cruiser grips. Just keep in mind that a lot of cruisers, and especially Harleys have 1" handlebars, instead of 7/8" like the GS has. You could wrap bicycle handlebar tape around your current grips. That's like your tennis racket idea you had, only with thicker tape that's actually meant to dull vibration too. When I was a bike mechanic in college we had a huge guy who would bring in his mountain bike and always had us wrap bar tape around his handlebars grips. They felt like hot dogs to me, but they fit him. The nice thing about bar tape as well is the sides are tapered, so it's completely up to you how thick you want to make it. It's all a matter of how much you over lap it.

[pandymai]

awesome idea with the handlebar tape. but i think the grip puppies are actually cheaper.. then again the few dollars extra for the bar tape could very well be worth the ability to make the grip as big as you want it to be..  i've been thinkin of making some changes to my grips too =P

[Ingersoll]

 http://www.cyclegear.com/spgm.cfm?L1=&L2=&L3=&L4=&item=TUC_17-0500 these are the best damn grips out there.  Well to me they are.  They do add a good bit to the grip size.  The only down side is they can hold a small amount of water if they get wet.  No big deal really.  The foam also lowers the vibes at higher speeds  They thick foam grips are way better than rubbery gel grips on long trips.  I have all ways used them on my all my bikes.  For about 6 bucks why not give them a shot. lol

[JAY W]

Hi,my oxford heated grips are about the same diameter as the foam ones,toasty instead of squidgy in the wet.(Tad more expensive though)

[tt_four]

I had those oxford grips on my last bike, they were awesome. A little hard for my tastes though. We actually found the old stick on heating elements at my wife's parents house that we were going to put on her bike years ago. They're like stickers that you put on your bars, and they're wired up to a switch, then you just put whatever grips you want over them. I'm sure they won't work as well as the oxford, but I'm gonna put them on the GS whenever I get around to buying new grips and deciding which bars I want to keep on the GS.

[pandymai]

oh, tack on question...My breaks have been squealling. Is this normal on GSs or do i need new break pads?

Thanks again.

i dont think any brakes should ever squeak. i'd get that checked =P

[Paulcet]

Rear brake squeak is common.  The fix seems to be elusive.

Front brake squeak isn't common.

[Suzuki Stevo]

Rear brake squeak is common.  The fix seems to be elusive.

The fix is far from elusive, M-77 Assembly Paste or equivalent behind the pads. One application last for years.