Cheap way to (figure out if you'd like) thicker grips

[philipmat]

This is pretty ghetto as far as mods go, but for the reasonable price of $0.00 or thereabouts, I thought it was worth a try. If you have a bike shop in your area - just drop in and ask if they have any left overs; they often do.

Bicycle handlebar tape. Bonus for the kind that has an gel strip. Bonus for being able to overlay it so that it goes from 1-2mm thick to as much as you want and everything in between. Since Grip Puppies and Grip Buddies don't have too many choices in thickness, the tape version is a win.

The kind I used in the photos below is one and quarter wide (3cm) and I had a strip of about 20" long. You can see the gel strip on the back of the tape.

The thinnest is when you have little overlap and pull on it more as you wrap the grip.

If you overlap it more, you get a thicker wrap:

It can get quite chunky

This was just for trying it out, not for riding. For the latter, you'd want to affix it in place by using some sort of tape (duct tape in this photo) that goes all the way around and locks it in place.

I don't yet have answers for how does it feel like riding (comfortable in the garage) or how well does it work with the heated grips (though I suspect no different than neoprene sleeve of the same thickness).

Thank you for coming to my TED talk.

 

[moto.monk]

Well from a safety stand point that's a terrible idea. However the tape would add an additional layer of protection in case of a crash. I would say your idea is highly marketable and deserves much attention.

 

[Madhatter]

ghetto and cheap ,I like . since it's not a permanent mod and cost mostly nothing and if it works for you ,I say great job thinking outside the box . a friend gave me a set of grip puppies , almost too thick . you just have to like them or not. I like your thinking.

 

[Kruzzin5]

This is pretty ghetto as far as mods go, but for the reasonable price of $0.00 or thereabouts, I thought it was worth a try. If you have a bike shop in your area - just drop in and ask if they have any left overs; they often do.

Bicycle handlebar tape. Bonus for the kind that has an gel strip. Bonus for being able to overlay it so that it goes from 1-2mm thick to as much as you want and everything in between. Since Grip Puppies and Grip Buddies don't have too many choices in thickness, the tape version is a win.

The kind I used in the photos below is one and quarter wide (3cm) and I had a strip of about 20" long. You can see the gel strip on the back of the tape.

The thinnest is when you have little overlap and pull on it more as you wrap the grip.

If you overlap it more, you get a thicker wrap:

It can get quite chunky

This was just for trying it out, not for riding. For the latter, you'd want to affix it in place by using some sort of tape (duct tape in this photo) that goes all the way around and locks it in place.

I don't yet have answers for how does it feel like riding (comfortable in the garage) or how well does it work with the heated grips (though I suspect no different than neoprene sleeve of the same thickness).

Thank you for coming to my TED talk.

I used tennis wrap on my V Strom and it worked beautifully. Never have to rewrap.

 

[Dirt_Dad]

Search Grab on grip covers. Cheap, thinner, less absorbent, and far more durable that Grip Puppies.

Used them for years on lots of bikes.

 

[Checkswrecks]

I don't understand why this could have an impact on safety and like the idea of being able to quickly try various things.
I've seen somebody use hockey stick tape to dot he same thing. He's a hockey player so always has a bunch of rolls.

 

[Kruzzin5]

Exactly, There is no safety value by adding wrap to a grip for crash protection.

 

[philipmat]

I used tennis wrap on my V Strom and it worked beautifully. Never have to rewrap.

Tennis wrap was my first inclination as well because I always seem to have some around. Not this time and it's been serendipitous that I had some bike tape leftovers, because a) it's thicker and I wanted that and b) the gel makes it more comfortable and takes some of the vibrations out of it.