Coming to grips
We know the problem: You just finished that perfect restoration of your Norton Commando or Honda CB750, and nothing will do except for the factory-correct handlebar grips. The problem is, the factory items weren’t always that good. The Norton grips were often “pillowy” and the Honda items stiff — not exactly conducive to long-range comfort.
When the factory grips on my 1983 Laverda RGS finally gave up the ghost after years of service, I decided it was time to try something different. I’d never really liked the originals to begin with, and since my bike’s a rider, comfort is king. But I didn’t want foam grips, and most of the other grips I found just didn’t look right for the RGS. Enter Randakk’s Cycle Shakk’s GEN II Amazing Grips.
Designed by Randakk’s and made in their own proprietary molds, the GEN II Amazing Grips feature a proprietary synthetic rubber formulation that’s designed to offer resilience without being mushy. They’re also slightly tacky to the touch, which returns dividends in that your gloved hand never feels like it’s going to slip off, but neither is it stuck to the grip. Further, they’re handed, the right grip having a larger inside diameter to properly fit over the throttle sleeve.
I picked up a set two years ago, and I’ve never looked back. I’ve racked up thousands of miles using them, and I just put a set on my son’s project-in-the-works café Honda CB350. Simple in design, they don’t shout out their presence, and they look perfect on both bikes. More importantly, they’re extremely comfortable and just the thing for riders really putting on miles. The only possible downside? They’re only available for 7/8-inch handlebars. Price: $24.99. — Richard Backus