OEM grip (who stole my hiking boot sole?)

[schrocketeer]

Were the OEM grips brutally hard?

I ordered a throttle tube and grip (part # 32 72 1 451 732, from either Max's or Bob's) and there's a super hard, black cylinder around the throttle tube. Printed at the base in says, "Made in W. Germany" so I'm guessing it's OEM, original factory stock grip. My bike does Not have heated grips (I am groot).

It seems like someone took my 1980's Dexter hiking boot sole, and made a grip out of it.

Do people normally cut off that OEM grip and put on something from this century? You may notice in the picture, what I have installed now, is a comfortable foam grip.

1985 K100RT

[frankenduck]

Your hiking boots probably flex more.

Yes. They suck.

I put ProGrip 699 grips on all of my Ks. They come in both open ended and closed ended so be sure to get the right ones for your bike if it does/doesn't have bar ends. (Although you can cut out the center end of closed ones if you have bar ends.)

If you have OEM heated grips then you need to buy two pair because the clutch side heated grip has an added tube the same size as the throttle tube. Each pair of the ProGrips has a grip with a larger inner diameter (25mm) for the throttle side and a grip with a smaller inner diameter (22mm) for the clutch side. Therefore, if you have BMW OEM heated grips then you'll need two of the 25mm throttle side grips which is why you need to buy two pair.

They are made of a gel compound and even comfy riding barehanded. They do a good job of transferring heat if you have heated grips. They're the first thing that I install when I get a "new to me" K bike. They even come in various colors but I always get black.

If you have heated grips then be careful not to damage the HG wires when removing the old grips. The wires are wrapped around the tube and easy to damage if you are not careful.



Aerosol hairspray is good for installing them. It acts as lubricant to slide them on and then sets up. It's not as grippy as "real" motorcycle grip glue but that makes them easier to remove if you ever need to.

[Chaos]

I've been happy with Grab-On foam covers.

[jad01]

To each their own... I like the stock grips and keep them on my R bikes.  My K came with Grip Puppies over the stock grips and I like that too.  Lots of options out there...

[frankenduck]

Nothing wrong with grip puppies. My K1600 has those from the previous owner and they seem to work fine.

[beemuker]

if I remember correctly , the smaller set fit my bicycle bars, and compressed air greatly aided installation.

[frankenduck]

Aerosol hairspray is good for installing grip rubber. Acts as a lube when installing and then sets up. It's not as adhesive as real grip glue so if you ever need to remove the grip rubber it is easier. (Learned this from the experienced inmates over at ADV.)

[lmiklosy]

I put ProGrips on my lighter '90 K75s and new stock grips on the '93 ABS bike. For LONGER  trips the ProGrips begin to feel like a wheelbarrow where the stock ones are definitely more comfortable. The stock ones are ergonomically shaped to your palm. My perception is the stock grips harden over time and loose their 'stickyness' to the glove. Glad this topic about rider comfort came up, or maybe a sign of operator aging.   

[frankenduck]

I've never had issues with ProGrips when LD riding.  But we're not all built the same so personal preferences may differ.

The 4 valve K grips are softer rubber and have circular grooves vs the lengthwise grooves like the earlier Ks had.

[Swampyankee]

My old R100RS had foam grips which I find too squishy. I replaced them with stock for the year which is the lengthwise groove grip like above. I liked them well enough because they were a solid grip, especially for the throttle side. My K100RS came to me with foam grips but overwrapped with bicycle handlebar tape. I pulled it off and will probably replace the old mashed down foam grips with something else. I like the gel grip option.