Sunline Grand Touring Grips

[gbw]

Just bought a pair of Sunline Grand Touring Grips. The outside edge (bar end or top of picture below) of each grip has a kind of pointed flange. When I install the grip this flange could be pointed forward or rearward or facing up or down. Anyone have any experience on which is the best way to orient this flange for best performance or most comfort?

 

[Dave8338]

A friend has them on his Gold Wing and he mounted them "**** up", says it's nice on the long trips...keeps his hands right where they belong.

 

[gbw]

A friend has them on his Gold Wing and he mounted them "**** up", says it's nice on the long trips...keeps his hands right where they belong.

Thanks Dave8338. I get the "up" part, but what is the "****" part about?

 

[Dave8338]

Thanks Dave8338. I get the "up" part, but what is the "****" part about?

Teets but spelled with an i. The language filter here, is somewhat judgemental.....

 

[gbw]

Teets but spelled with an i. The language filter here, is somewhat judgemental.....

Well, I got a pretty good chuckle out of that! Thanks for the clarification.

 

[Redman]

Hi Greg,

I have had those on my bikes since 1994. Are great, not only because they are larger diameter but beccause they are contoured and because they are softer, take less effort to hold throttle in position. And I got a set within weeks of getting this GK.

I have always thought that tab should be down or foward when throttle in at speed position. THis is so little finger can feel where the end of the grip is. THat is because there are often times That I lift the palm of my hand off the throttle and have only thumb and fingers on throttle while making adjustment and then grab back on.

(although that tab was cut off when I installed the grips on my GK to make way for the bar end weights).

.

 

[gbw]

I just got the grips on and they look great. Helps that they are at the end of new Daytona bars I'll post some pics soon.

Now I'm going to install bar-end mirrors. I'm wondering...can I just drill a hole in the end of the grip or am I going to have cut the whole end off the grip?

Any suggestions?

 

[TheCafeKid]

I just got the grips on and they look great. Helps that they are at the end of new Daytona bars I'll post some pics soon.

Now I'm going to install bar-end mirrors. I'm wondering...can I just drill a hole in the end of the grip or am I going to have cut the whole end off the grip?

Any suggestions?

You can make a hole in the grip. Mind you if the grip has a angular end, you'll likely have to cut it off. If its flat tho, you can simply make the hole large enough to get the BEM bolt thru. You might have to move the throttle assembly slightly inboard of the very end of the bar however, as sometimes the mirror assembly will catch on the grip and make it feel sticky...You'll see what i mean...

 

[gbw]

I'm very happy with the new bars and grips. Here is a pic

big difference between the old and new

 

[TheCafeKid]

I'm very happy with the new bars and grips. Here is a pic

big difference between the old and new

Makes a HUGE difference in the way the bike FEELS when handling IMO, and it makes for a sportier posture when on the bike. Plus, they simply LOOK cooler...LOL

 

[twr1776]

Greg, you will really like the new Daytona bars. I am not sure how much the bar end mirrors are but I ended up getting the round OEM mirrors for the 81 1000E model for my 1000 and they are longer mirrors than the L OEM's so you can see and I also installed Maniac bar ends. To cut through end the grips and throttle tube I scored the grip rubber with a utility knife in a circle and then drilled it with a wood boring bit the size of the inner pipe diameter using VERY light pressure to almost shave through the rubber and then through the plastic from the throttle tube. Vacuum the shavings out and you should be good to go. Have you done anything on tires yet? Tim

 

[gbw]

Tim! Good to hear from you.

Greg, you will really like the new Daytona bars.

I hope so! Can't wait to get finish up and take if for a ride.

To cut through end the grips and throttle tube I scored the grip rubber with a utility knife in a circle and then drilled it with a wood boring bit the size of the inner pipe diameter using VERY light pressure to almost shave through the rubber and then through the plastic from the throttle tube. Vacuum the shavings out and you should be good to go.

Thanks for the info. I've been trying to figure out the best way to do this. I was thinking about sharpening the end of the stock bar with a Dremel and files, putting the grip on, and hitting it with a rubber hammer to cut the grip. That, however will be a huge pain the butt.

Have you done anything on tires yet?

Not yet. I'm waiting for Joe's tire party. If I recall from last year it was early in the Spring. That works for me because I need to save for the tires anyway.

 

[Billy Ricks]

For BEM's I used a set of mirrors intended for a bicycle. They are Third Eye brand and don't look out of place at all. They are about $12 at bicycle shops and are well made with a wide range of adjustment. The mirrors are optically very good.
http://www.3rd-eye.com/(09).htm

 

[Grandpa]

I've been using Grand Touring grips for many years on my 850's and my GK, which I recently sold to TheCafeKid.

I've been quite satisfied with these grips, which have ribs that make for just the right degree of friction, glove to grip. They also bulge in the middle, which is good for people with large hands.

I've worn out several sets of these. Well worth the money.

The Venture's stock grips are very good, so I haven't had the urge to replace them with a Grand Touring set. Maybe some day I'll go back to these.

 

[bwringer]

I absolutely LOVE these grips.

However, they're pretty thick and block about half the heat from my Symtec grip heaters.

So I switch the grips on my VX800 twice a year -- thin "normal" gel grips in the winter, thick wonderful comfy Sunlines in the spring and summer.

 

[TheCafeKid]

I thought the felt comfy initially on the GK, but they seemed to make my hands fall asleep....Dunno if it was the bulge in the middle or what..I didnt care for em personally...

 

[gbw]

I absolutely LOVE these grips.

I can't decide about the grips yet. I had to cut a good bit off the end to get the bar-end mirrors to mount correctly. And the Cramp-Buster does not appear to work on them. Not sure if I will need it or not.

I also installed the 1/4 turn throttle mod, so maybe between the new throttle sleeve and grips I'll be ok without the Cramp-Buster.

If I decide I don't like them I'll just go stock. I already have the R1 grip for the throttle side. I guess I could just get the left-hand side and be good to go.

When you switch between grips, do you use grip glue? I've been using electrical parts cleaner spray to slip mine on and compressed air to remove them. I've put them on and taken them off a dozen time while I work out all the fitment issues. I planed to use grip glue once everything was settled but I suspect that once I do that my only option will be to cut them off.

Also, I'm having a little trouble with throttle cables now that I installed the new bars. I think I'll start a new thread for that discussion.

Thanks for all the comments.

 

[TheCafeKid]

I can't decide about the grips yet. I had to cut a good bit off the end to get the bar-end mirrors to mount correctly. And the Cramp-Buster does not appear to work on them. Not sure if I will need it or not.

I also installed the 1/4 turn throttle mod, so maybe between the new throttle sleeve and grips I'll be ok without the Cramp-Buster.

If I decide I don't like them I'll just go stock. I already have the R1 grip for the throttle side. I guess I could just get the left-hand side and be good to go.

When you switch between grips, do you use grip glue? I've been using electrical parts cleaner spray to slip mine on and compressed air to remove them. I've put them on and taken them off a dozen time while I work out all the fitment issues. I planed to use grip glue once everything was settled but I suspect that once I do that my only option will be to cut them off.

Also, I'm having a little trouble with throttle cables now that I installed the new bars. I think I'll start a new thread for that discussion.

Thanks for all the comments.

I use hairspray for fitting them. That grip glue works GREAT, if you're sure that you'll never need to take them off and want to reuse them. Hairspray works really well, and you can actually re-use the grip if you need to take it off for whatever.

As far as your cable issues go, without looking at the bike, i couldnt tell you. Sorry i couldnt be of any assistance there...

TCK

 

[Baatfam]

I thought the felt comfy initially on the GK, but they seemed to make my hands fall asleep....Dunno if it was the bulge in the middle or what..I didnt care for em personally...

Agreed...I tried a set for a couple of weeks and my hands kept going numb.
I didn't like the shape either, and I have fairly large hands.
Got a nice set of gel type grips and love them.

So I've got a set of Sunlines that are like new if anyone wants them, free for the shipping. Just PM me.

 

[bwringer]

What? Not everyone ADORES their Sunline grips? How dare you?


Anyway, they're just one of those things you have to try.

I always use hair spray as grip adhesive -- the cheapest, nastiest, stiffest 1950's bouffant glue gunk you can find. The more expensive hair spray doesn't work nearly as well -- stay away from anything with "silk" or "conditioners", or "flexible hold" or anything like that. Douse the grips inside, stick 'em on the bars (quickly!), then blast a shot of compressed air under the grips to dry the hair spray instantly.

When it's time to remove them, work a bit of brake cleaner or WD-40 underneath and work them off. Once in a while, one does gets stuck and you have to cut it off, so keep a spare set of grips around.

And just to reassure the Nervous Purvis types, I've ridden thousands and thousands of miles in extremely crappy weather, and not once has a grip slipped that I've put on with hair spray.