Bonneville America Forums Forums Technical Forums Accessories RIII Grip Mod

Not sure if this goes here are not...didnt seem all that "Custom"...if it needs to be moved feel free.

I had a ugly, nasty, horrid, POS, set of drag specialty chromed out, I wish I was a harley, set of grips on my BA that came with it when I bought it. I have searched for the past few months for a set of grips I liked. I was in my local dealership a couple weeks back and happened to lean, rest my hand on a RIII...WOW!! The grips felt great.
I started trying to figure out how to make them work and the following is where I ended up.


Sightglass was good enough to send me a set of barend weights with the bushings and end cap ..no charge, not even postage. It has been said many times but the people on this forum are beyond definition with their generousity.( Thanks Peter, got ya a little thank you package going out in the morning ).

I got home and removed/cussed the left grip off and removed the throttle side. The problem with the RIII parts is that they are set up for a M6x60MM bolt...the America takes a M5x30MM (I think). I made a quick trip to Lowes and picked up a few different countersunk,panhead,SS, machine screws and headed back to the shop ( the one that works best is a 10x24x2.5"). After much measuring and pondering I decided to take a chance....I simply re tapped the bar ends to 10x24. The hole took the threads no problem, the tap was biting very well so I did the other side. Second problem the diameter of a M5 or 10x24 screw is roughly .190. The M6 that the Rocket stuff is set up for is .250. Hmmm, quick trip to the lathe with a piece of
6061 Aluminum round and I made two sleeves the dimensions if anyone is contemplating the mod is 1.320 long x .195IDx.247OD. I inserted the sleeve lined everything up, dabbed a little blue lock-tite on the threads and presto RIII grips on BA bars. Here are a few pics.

RIII Throttle side grip

RIII Clutch side grip

Bar end weight

Looks nice! This could even go in the tech misc section, but I think you made a good selection.

So a quick trip to the lathe eh? I have been trying for a while now to get Brent's union jack bar ends onto my aftermarket bars with no threaded insert. So far, aside from a rubber plug, which I may go back to, the best thing I have found is a molly screw inside a piece of plastic tubing inserted into the bar. Holds pretty well, but what I REALLY need now is a bushing to slip over the molly screw to keep it centered in the bar, ya know? Any ideas?

Benny, get me the dimensions ID/of the bars and the size and thread of the screw you are using. I will turn you a couple. I am not sure what you are dealing with but I envision a plug out of brass or AL that you would have to tap/drive into the end of the bars. I can drill and tap it for the screw size you are using while on the lather to make sure everything is dead nuts on center.I know there are some dis-similar metal issues but I don't think it is a show stopper. The only other option is SS and all the scrap I have is 1" round.....takes a LONG time to turn that down...I am lazy and don't want to engage the backgear,lol. Seriously, take a dial caliper and get me the dimensions. One caveat, give me the exact dimensions of the hole. I will cut the bushing with about .02 relief, otherwise you will be doing a lot of sanding and cussing!!

Oh yeah, thanks on the grips. I really like the feel. If ya can't afford the Rocket you can get the grips.

Looks great, and a mod that more may look to go with now that it's been done fairly easily. The completely untappered grip is very comfortable compared to the center bulged stock grips. I have problems with my hands, so the flat grips are a must for me on any bike I own.

Here's the part numbers of the OE stuff Ezcue started with

T2040969 X 2 Finisher (end cap)
T2041021 X 2 Bar end weight
T2041023 X 4 Bushings (rubber)
T2040968 X 2 Bushings (metal)
T2043711 X 1 Grip right hand
T2043710 X 1 Grip left hand

Thanks man! I'll get on that. I do have a caliper too.

I actually have football grips on mine. I like the bulge, but hey, everyone's body is different. In fact when I rode the rocket I noted to myself how I didn't like them, too narrow.

Anyway, keep your eyes peeled for a PM from me!

What do those bits cost? You could probably sell all those put together as a kit. Other than the power and balance, one of the things about my Rocket III test ride that stood out was the grips and the bar weights. I thought they should fit a TBA since the controls looked identical, it's just never been high on my list of priorities.

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What do those bits cost?

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I think somewhere around a $100.00 retail from the distributor. One other thing, the only reason I had to tap the bars is no hardware store worth a $^%& exist in my town.
If you could find a M5 screw about 50MM long all you would need is a sleeve to take up the slack in the bar end weight.

Just food for thought.

Hey Joe,

You could talk to Brent at newspeedmaster.com. Kinda barter the rights for your discovery/techniques. He could be the one that would put together a machined package (so to say). That is if you are agreeable. Heck Brent could call the package a name that embodies your efforts.

Great job and nice post. Never been one to fix a good part, but loads of others have modified the stock grips. Well, changed out the stock grips.

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Where you going with that grip in your hand?

Thanks, Moe.

Very nice, me wantem too!