Proper grip. Which way do you grab the grips?

[rjs987]

I've mentioned about this several years ago on proper gripping of the grips while riding on another forum. The replies I've read sometimes indicate a "caveman death grip" is being used and the hands/wrists hurt after a time behind the bars. I would expect that. I've always held that the proper hold on the grips is much more relaxed and with your arms coming to the grips at an angle, much like the proper back swing grip on a tennis racket. Or as this FortNine video calls the ice creme cone grip. I always grip the grips this way and have never felt the angle of the handlebars on any bike to be wrong. Yes, the best angle for the grips is if they are angled back... not out. This promotes proper gripping of the grips by the rider.

[randyo]

I use a wrist rest and really don't grip the throttle, without an aid, I only curl my fingers around the grip

[Neil955i]

Absolutely agree for a high powered motorcycle Bob where fine control is essential, but for lower capacity scooters a mixture of both grips can sometimes be the appropriate way to go?  Easier to “grab a handful” with a full grip?

[Stig / Major Tom]

Absolutely agree for a high powered motorcycle Bob where fine control is essential, but for lower capacity scooters a mixture of both grips can sometimes be the appropriate way to go?  Easier to “grab a handful” with a full grip?

Well there you go....see, I haven't been on a powerful motorcycle
since I  climbed off of that yellow Norton Commando down in San Antonio in late 60's.. (those were the days!! - fellow medic trainees were tossing their white Mach 111's on car hoods while trying to master wheelies on that light 60hp bike!)
These days I use the Honda grip....(with my scoots, and with my Honda powered 21" mower)
Stig

[rjs987]

I actually debated about even posting this in this forum.
It is true that for the commute or errand or short slower riding as is most often done on smaller scooters any grip that is comfortable is what should be used.
My AK is the smallest bike I've owned after my very first Harley dual sport back in 1979. But even on that bike the ice cream grip what what I was taught by others who had been riding a long time back then... including the military motorcycle safety course instructor. I was required to take that class within a month after getting my first bike just to be allowed to ride on base.
Before the AK, and that first Harley, all my other bikes have ranged between 638cc to 1520cc and were used for the commute, riding over the road long distance, riding through exciting curvy roads all with a group or solo. The last 13 years 90% of the riders I ride with are of the sport touring persuasion, ST1300 to FJR to BMW to Ducati and others. Almost all of those riders do use the ice cream grip but that is due to the kind of riding they always do. Dirt bike riding is different and the handle bars are straighter across to enable the rider to more easily change grip depending on what they are doing. Riding up steep slopes or rock piles calls for the caveman grip just to be able to stay on the bike. Riding on twisty more level paths calls for something closer to the ice cream grip for more control and finesse.
This video does mention that there are times when either grip is better. It's just not highlighted much since it really doesn't need to be. Everyone who is self taught and/or rides smaller bikes already likely uses the caveman grip.

[Ex-KLR]

Full grip...arms relaxed...don't squeeze

[Iahawk]

thumb, ring finger and pinky loosely around grip, index and middle fingers on brake / clutch levers.

Tight grip and stiff arms is a classic new rider mistake...

[randyo]

thumb, ring finger and pinky loosely around grip, index and middle fingers on brake / clutch levers.

Tight grip and stiff arms is a classic new rider mistake...

or tired rider, stiff arms (leaning on the handlebar) is my indicator, that I should get off the bike and rest asap

[Neil955i]

thumb, ring finger and pinky loosely around grip, index and middle fingers on brake / clutch levers.

Tight grip and stiff arms is a classic new rider mistake...

From personal riding development I’d add shoulder aches & pains indicating that you’re tensing up whilst riding and need to relax your stance. Far better to learn these pointers from knowledgeable instructors than spending months or years waiting for the “penny to drop!”

[Mancashire]

I’m not sure that I have ever sat so close to the handlebar that I could hold the grip like an ice cream cone. Just like when in my car, my arms are loose but nearly fully extended to wheel. I don’t like feeling that my arms movements could be constricted.

I use a grip similar to Iahawk. Loose grip with first and middle fingers either covering the brake or close to hand grip depending on the amount of traffic and imminent stops. When out in the county I just use a loose grip - most pressure from thumb.

[rjs987]

As do I. The ice cream grip does not pull you so close to the bars. If it does you are doing it wrong anyway. In fact, if you have a common street bike or scooter the grips are not straight out like some less common bars have as if the grips were at either end of a straight bar. Most bikes for the road have a slight or better angle back. Using a caveman grip WILL crank your wrists at an awkward angle out which is the source of pain for longer rides and possibly many short rides... unless you really don't use the caveman grip and just to realize it. I find that if my wrists are straight to the grips on every bike I've owned (Gold Wing, Burgman 650 both versions, ST1100, CTX1300 and my AK) with my arms coming straight back and relaxed but slightly extended to the grips then I AM using the ice cream grip. Maybe just not as exaggerated as F9 shows. But then that is how he usually does in his videos... exaggerate the examples of the point he's making. I am not pulled up close to the bars, but also my wrists are not tweeked out. And I find it really easy to cover the brake levers with 2 fingers and have no issues pulling strong on those levers. I am also rotating my forearm to control the throttle and not wrenching my wrists up and down allowing me to have that better, finer control that is stated. Something that is really needed to properly control both the ST and the CTX bikes since they are known to have such twitchy throttles at low speed by everyone who has owned one. So maybe so many critics here really do not use the caveman grip unless it is called for in certain kinds of riding... like dirt and trail. But rather some form of the ice cream grip. But the main point in all this is that you maintain control of the throttle and handlebars the best way possible and not to be fixed in the grip you do use but be able to change up as needed for the type of riding that is happening at any given moment. It does have to become instinct. And for new riders to learn to get away from always using a caveman grip is a good thing for street riding. Don't just keep doing something the same way just because you never learned any other way. Figure out what works best.