Hi folks,

I bought some Hippo Hands for warmth (handgrip covers) and ooh la la, they do the trick.  BUT, alas, they also push on the clutch and brake levers at higher speeds (force of the wind), which is NOT a good thing.

So - what to do.  The Hippo Hands website offers little brackets that are supposed to push the fabric away from the controls, but they look too small to do the job.

So I am thinking putting on moto-type hand guards and then slipping the Hippo Hands over those.  But - I'm not sure which guards would fit the S40.

Any experience with putting hand guards on the S40?

One thing leads to another...if the Hippo Hands weren't so darned warm, I would not be going down this path.  "Here's to winter commuting."

Thanks and ride safe,
Amy

Bill, thanks, say a little more....what's to keep the glass from also pushing on the brake lever...how I am going to get my hand around the throttle with a cup in there - I think I'm not picturing what you have in mind correctly.  *help*
Amy

Hmmm!  I see what you mean...not sure it will fit but worth a try...thanks for the suggestion.
Amy

Well, the First thing that comes to mind is, put enough vents in them so they dont blow against the levers, BUT, that wouldnt keep the hands so warm, now WOOditt? So, What about a hole( Maybe pop the endcaps off?) in the endcaps & a stout wire looped from the bar end around & to the handlebar, to support the Hippo Hands? Piano wire is always in my shop. Finding a piece of plastic that would fit in the end of the bar to drill & poke a wire into should be no big deal.

Ok.... thought about this one ... pretty simple..... Hose clamps,  and the thickest old metal clothes hanger you can find or a some thin "round-bar" from the hardware store.  Remember you will need enough for both sides.

- open hose clamp so that you can get it over the handlebar.  
-  take hanger  (or round-bar) and bent appropriately fo fit into the hippo hands  and so it holds the material away from the levers.  Also leave room to fingers to get over the lever.   It will have to get around the controls so that it will reach a spot on the bars to clamp down.
- Once you are happy with the bend, clamp it to the handlebar.  
- Optionally, use tape or old inner-tube rubber under the clamp & metal to prevent scratching the bars.

Hobby stores carry Piano Wire, VERY stiff stuff, so stiff it sometimes breaks if bent double. I keep several sizes on hand, all the time, just for little projects like thei. The hoseclamp idea is cool, no doubt. Not sure if I could figure a more sanitary way, but sanitary schmanitary, keep the grippers warm First!

If you had some kind of handlebar mounts, like a couple of small fairing / handlebar mounts, or mirror mounts to work from it might make it easier & cleaner And, as wwss mentioned, avoid scratching the h/bars.

How big is the wire? If its really piano wire, if it's 1/8th thick, you'll need some high quality wire cutters to cut it. I use some Klein linemans pliers & put them on a vise & smack them with a hammer. Be careful, occasonally piano wire fractures & little Hard SHARP pieces fly off. Either wear eye protection or look away & close your eyes when bending it far enough to break it. Bending it to make it look anything near decent takes a long time & some good tools. Ive ruined several pliers working with it. A board with rods poking out makes a good start. Stick the board in a vise & pput the wire between the rods & lean it over, move the wire & do it again, make a loop, then close it up with a vise & pliers. Lots of ways to do it, some take more strength than others. That ones pretty low horse[power. You can get a tabletop vise from Harbor Freight, clamps on the edge O the table & has a lever on the side that allows it to swivel.You may have to take it all apart & clean things yup & tighten the bolt it swivels on to make it work worth a hoot, I did.Its cheap, so its worth it.