Super Shark Smart Skin Grip Buddies - Handlebar Comfort Grip Covers: Made in USA Available in Regular or Lite - Pair

Super Shark Smart Skin Grip Buddies - Handlebar Comfort Grip Covers: Made in USA by Original Grip Buddies - Pair

***Featured in the 2018 Rider Magazine Gear Review. SEE BELOW

We've all experienced the discomfort of a long ride: that numbness between your thumb and forefinger, tired wrists from holding a steady grip and kinks in our fingers from having to hold the handles too tightly. You can enjoy a more comfortable ride, though, if you're using the Original Grip Buddies. These American-made neoprene motorcycle comfort grips are a must-have for riders who enjoy long trips or rides through hilly terrain that put a lot of strain on your hands, wrists and arms.

These all-weather grips are even heated-grip compatible. They don’t move around on your handles unless you want them to, and you can choose whether you use the included adhesive grip. The Original Grip Buddies are available for several makes and models, including BMW, Ducati, Triumph and Buell. They're also made for Yamahas, Kawasakis, Hondas and Suzukis. No matter what you ride, it’s time to get more comfortable with Grip Buddies.

Features:
- Available in LITE version 3.2mm thick or 4.7mm for STANDARD version
- Dramatic improvement in the "Feel and Comfort" of your hands on your grips.
- Grips with All-Weather qualities. These grips do not absorb water.
- A heightened sense of Control over your motorcycle due to the satisfied feeling that your hands have finally been properly filled. . . . . . just the right amount (enough, but not too much).
- A product you can easily and quickly "Install Yourself", over the top of your stock grips. Does NOT require you to remove the bar ends or hand guards on your handlebars.
- Grips that are Heated-Grip-Compatible. You really feel the heat with these grips.
- A durable, long-lasting solution that Won't Migrate" like some other available grip options.
- An almost "Baffled Feeling" that such a seemingly small/inexpensive addition, could make such a huge difference in your enjoyment of your motorcycle.
- The grips can be quickly removed and/or moved to a different bike if necessary. You can decide if you want to use the attached adhesive strip on the grips.

Fitment:
OGB-AB-SS = Fits all BMW's, All Ducati's, Triumph Explorer 1200, Suzuki DR 650, Africa Twin and Most Sport Bikes
4-1/4" Wide x 4-3/4" Circumference

OGB-AA-SS = Suzuki V-Strom 650, Bandit 1250, Burgman 400 & 500
4" Wide x 4" Circumference

OGB-AC-SS = "Kawasaki KLR650, Buell Ulysses & Blast, Yamaha FJR 1300, Honda ST 1300
4-1/2" Wide x 4" Circumference

OGB-BC-SS = KTM 990, Yamaha Royal Star
4-1/2" Wide x 4-1/4" Circumference

OGB-BD-SS = Yamaha Super Tenere 1200
4-13/16" Wide x 4-7/8" Circumference

OGB-BE-SS = Honda Goldwing GL1800
5-1/2" Wide x 4-1/4" Circumference

OGB-BA-SS (CanAm) Outlander [ATV], (Honda) XR 650R, Harley Davidson Street 750/500 Series

OGB-CA-SS = Triumph Tiger 800, Most Triumph, Most Harley

OGB-BB-SS = KTM 790/1090/1190/1290
4-1/4" Wide x 4-1/2" Circumference

User Feedback
"I did not know what to think of the grip buddies until I tested them on my recent 2000 mile ride to Moab, Utah on my R1200GS in September 2012. I was very pleased with the comfort and fit on the first highway portion of the trip. I had initially planned on removing the grip buddy covers for hard off-road riding and did as soon as we hit the hard dirt. To my surprise, after a few minutes of off-road riding, I found myself really wishing I still had the grip buddies on the grips. Without them, I found I over gripped and had much more hand and forearm strain and fatigue. I put the grip buddies back on and I was so pleased with the results. The grip buddies are an excellent comfort enhancement to any motorcycle. They work great for both road and off-road riding. Once you use the Grip Buddies you will not likely stop."
Chad Olson
co/owner Adventure Designs
Castro Valley, CA

RiderMagazine.com Original Grip Buddies Smartskin Lite Comfort Grips | Gear Review 2018
Original Grip Buddies neoprene motorcycle comfort grips with Smartskin Technology add cushion to hard rubber OEM grips and provide a grippy, tactile feel through gloved hands. Because they fit over OEM grips, they add slightly to grip circumference. Many riders like that added grip thickness, but for riders who don’t, there’s now a thinner alternative.

Original Grip Buddies has added a Lite version to its Smartskin Comfort Grip product line for riders with smaller hands or anyone who wants the comfort and grip benefits with less bulk. Smartskin Lite comfort grips are made from the same rubber-rich neoprene as the originals, they’re just thinner: 3.2mm for Lite vs. 4.7mm for the original.

Smartskin grips are different from the foam tubes that slide over OEM grips. Made by hand in upstate New York in sizes to fit specific bike models, these rectangles of textured neoprene wrap around the bike’s handgrip. Installation is quick and easy. Just clean the grip with alcohol wipes (included in the kit), stick the adhesive strip along the length of the bike’s grip, then wrap the Smartskin grip around it. The sewn-in strip of hook-and-loop fastener holds it securely in place, and with a little fine-tuning you’ll have it all lined up. There is a seam, but align it where the crotch of your thumb is positioned on the handgrip and you won’t notice it.

If you want that same cushion, grip and appearance of Smartskin grips to extend all the way down onto your bar ends, Original Grip Buddies offers Bar End Buddies. Depending on the shape and width of your bike’s bar ends, both straight and tapered versions are available.

I’ve used Smartskin grips for years on my Honda ST1300, BMW R 1200 RT and Kawasaki Versys, and I like the improvement in hand comfort and control they provide compared to hard rubber OEM grips, especially over long distances. I put a set of the new Lite version on the Versys. The texture and tactile feel is the same as the originals and I found I prefer the less bulky version. I also noticed that the aftermarket grip heaters on my Versys heat up noticeably faster with the thinner Smartskin Lites compared to the originals I had before.

So why did I replace the originals? I’ve come to appreciate that what makes Smartskin grips work so well also makes them a wear item. Just as rubber tires interact with the road surface and gradually get used up, Smartskin grips interact with your gloved hands and over time they gradually get used up. Fortunately, at $24.95 it’s not expensive to wrap on a fresh set (in my case after three seasons). Just like a fresh set of tires, a fresh set of Smartskin grips feels great.