Motorcycle equipment is crucial for overall safety and comfort when riding. However, while everything needs to suit the rider’s needs perfectly, there are some parts people rarely concentrate on. For example, grips never get enough attention, even while playing a crucial role in the bike’s maneuverability and comfort. Being a biker, you should always put necessary emphasis on quality grips, however, choosing the ideal one is not always easy with so many models available. We put our continuous effort and tested over 50 pairs of best-selling grips over the past 2 years. The outcome is presented as a list of the most comfortable motorcycle grips.
Best Overall (Most Moto) – Kuryakyn 6235
Best Overall (Harley) – Kuryakyn 6212 or Avon AIR-90
Most Premium – Arlen Ness
Best for Small Hands – Avon Contour
Best Heated – Oxford Heaterz or BikeMaster
Best for Vibration – Grip Puppy
Best Waffle Grips – SS Radial or SS Diamond
Best Gel Grips – Progrip 714BK
Best Foam Grips – Grab On
Benefits of Motorcycle Grips
Hand and Wrist Comfort: Motorcycle grips protect your hands from vibration that causes numbness due to poor circulation. Most grips come with a cushion to boost comfort on the hands while riding.
Better Control: Depending on the grips you buy, you can achieve better control over the throttle. Good grips will also prevent hand slipping.
Style: Grips significantly improve the bike’s aesthetics. They will surely add style to the two-wheeler from the design to color.
Customization: One can successfully customize the grips according to their preference. It’s possible to tweak each model to suit one’s needs.
Best Motorcycle Grips for Handlebar [Anti-Slip]
Types of Motorcycle Grips
ISO Grips
The motorcycle grips perfectly suit individuals who fancy long-distance riding. Since the pair is designed with resilient vibration, the rider is relieved from pressure passing through the hands. Kuryakyn is the brand familiar for producing these grips, as they have registered a trademark over it.
Billet Rubber Grips
Such grips are the common ones in the market. They include a merge of rubber and metal construction for control and comfort. The pairs are usually anodized and have various colors to choose from. Individuals searching for a pair offering both style and functionality are the pairs to go for.
Heated Grips
Bikers in search of advanced pairs should go for these heated ones. They include special wiring connecting the bike’s battery. Such features make it easier to change the temperatures on the handlebar grips depending on the weather.
Top Brands
Kuryakyn
Founded in 1989, the company has enough experience to make quality parts. For over 30 years, Kuryakyn has gained a positive reputation for crafting quality motorbike parts. The bike parts are renowned for their quality and attractiveness. Any Harley rider will get a stylish option for his favorite bike.
Arlen Ness
A famous motorbike designer is the one who founded the brand and named it after his name. Founded in the ’60s, the company has been producing quality and stylish bike parts with no fail. You can easily accessorize your bike with an utmost focus on Harley, Indian, and Victory bikes.
What Makes a Grip Most Comfortable and Best to Use?
Contouring
Some motorcycle grips come with a smooth surface with an even thickness on the entire grip. Others have contouring with a huge bulge where the palm rests, while a few have grooves for the fingers to rest. Just test ride to know the more comfortable features for your hands.
Rubber compound
Most grips come with a harder compound rubber as the inner layer that holds the grip form and hinders slippage on the bike’s handlebars. The outer layer consists of a soft rubber compound ideal for boosting comfort.
Grip pattern
You need to try out several patterns to determine the ideal one on your hands. You will find smooth, waffle, groove, and more texture grip patterns.
Flanges
Some grips come with a flared flange on the outer part of the grip. The reason for the flanges is the prevention of slipping while riding.
Motorcycle Grips Sizing
When it comes to motorbike grips sizing, you need to consider the grip’s overall thickness. Every rider wants grips that will perfectly fit the hands. In case you have small hands, thinner grips will fit you well. On the other hand, thicker grips will fit larger hands. The grip thickness is a matter of personal choice. However, many people never know that the grip on the right side is always bigger in diameter than the one on the left. That’s why you need to try the sizing using the right bar.
Are Motorcycle Grips Universal?
Motorcycle grips are not always universal. Some manufacturers try to develop standard grips offering a universal fit, while others are only compatible with specific models. For a perfect fitting grip, search by make or model. Some universal grips might fit a bike, but one may need some adjustments for the right fit, especially for the heated ones. Choosing a grip made distinctively for your model offers a perfect fit with no need for any adjustments.
How to Replace Motorbike Grips?
If looking for the best way to remove motorcycle grips, follow some simple steps in two subsequent parts:
1. Remove the ends of the handlebars
- Removing the bar ends – Bar ends are the metal pieces found on the outer part of the handlebar.
- Cutting off the grips – Take a razor or a hacksaw and cut the grips. Use a rag to wipe the remains of the previous grip off the handlebars.
- Clean the handlebars – Pick rubbing alcohol or any adhesive remover and remove the remnants with a piece of cloth.
2. Installing new grips
- Know where the grips go – It’s good to know which grip goes to which handle. The larger grip goes to the right and the small one to the left.
- Installing the non-throttle grip – Apply glue on the handgrip opening and along the handlebar. Slide the grip into the handlebar while raising one edge as the glue dries. Keep pushing until you notice the raised edge flushing against the handlebar.
- Installing the throttle grip – Apply glue to the grip and the handlebar. Slide the grip into the handlebar. Squeeze the grip for the glue to set.
What’s the Best Glue for Motorcycle Grip?
When installing grips, you need to get the best glue for the best results. Gorilla Clear Grip Contact Adhesive is among the renowned glues for its performance with a faster drying capacity. If you’re going to install the heated ones, remember, the Three Bond Grip Glue is the best glue for heated and regular grips. Other than drying faster, it also sticks well to any grip.
How Can You Install a Grip Without Glue?
Remove the old grips – Cut out the old grips using a sharp object.
Clean the handlebars – Take a cloth and wipe the surface of the handlebar. Leave no gunk or glue.
Prepare the inner part of the new grips – lubricate the inner side of the grips to help them slide faster into the handlebars.
Apply glue to handlebars – Smear your ideal glue to the handlebars. Before doing so, make sure the grips are ready to slide them faster before the glue dries.
Install the grips – Slide the grips into the handlebars. The process will need some force. Make sure the grips are set properly and leave the glue to dry.
How to Stop Handlebar Grips from Slipping?
- One can use glue or hair spray to clean the handlebar surface. Glue or hair spray stops the handlebars from sliding once they dry.
- Zip ties the grips firmly to the handlebars, stopping the problem.
- Upgrading to new lock-on grips can also help. Maybe the old grips got loose and the new ones will be the ideal solution.
- The first two methods will work great if you do not buy new grips. However, the important thing is to stop slipping since it’s dangerous.
Concluding Remarks
Hopefully, issues related to the best motorcycle grips discussed above helped you learn why these grips are so essential and how to maintain one. Control is everything while riding a bike. Why should you throw it away by ignoring crucial but simple items like a grip?
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