Custom Grab Handles, post what you got!

[Nurse Ben]

3M makes a cloth electrical tape that is rubberized, not stretch, it is 3/4" wide, gets better with use as the rubber impregnated in the cloth smears across the cloth, super grippy even when wet, I wrap all my grips with this tape. I can't remember which model # I use, so I'll look at the tape when I get home. The tape allows you to have a smaller diameter grab vs using a rubber bike grip.

[Nurse Ben]

3M Temflex Tap:

http://solutions.3m.com/wps/portal/3...be3R0J9QPN38gl

I wrap from the clamp forward, putting the final wrap into the bar end, then I use a bar end plug to cap the end, on top of which I add the Coup de Resistance:

http://www.dickssportinggoods.com/pr...14020.12587231

This little rubber tip is a perfect fit on the bar end, also serves to dampen impacts on UPD, guards the brake lever, and provides an end grip/stop for your hand.

FYI: Be carefull about overtightening the bar end, grease your clamp bolt to prevent stripping the bar end threads. I have only had problems with breaking bolts, not sure if it's because the bolts are cheap, so don't be a gorilla like me and don't adjust them on the trail

[Nurse Ben]

I have one extra mount remaining...send me a PM if you want it.

[jamdallen]

I weigh 250 and my T7 Handle rails would bend easily when putting my weight into it or hopping. A little cad work and a friend with a mill...<p>

[Nurse Ben]

Jamdallen, that's a heavy looking contraption. How about building something like a Y frame, then you'd have all your weight on a frame section.

I think the seat/post mounted handles hit a certain limit, then you start breaking stuff, like the post, the seat base, the seat...

[jamdallen]

Originally Posted by Nurse Ben

Jamdallen, that's a heavy looking contraption. How about building something like a Y frame, then you'd have all your weight on a frame section.

I think the seat/post mounted handles hit a certain limit, then you start breaking stuff, like the post, the seat base, the seat...

Ben, the bracket does look chunky and heavy in the picture, but it only weighs about 200 grams. I have 10 minutes of CAD work and zero dollars into this so it was the cheap and quick solution at the time. I thought about the seat post breaking too, but surprisingly it's held up through two years of big man abuse.

An $850 uni should have been engineered correctly to be strong as an ox in the first place! The knightrider is quite delicate, but at least it's heavy. One of these days I'll replace the frame and handle with something better...But for now this works and I have money for other unicycles!

-jd

[Nurse Ben]

An $850 uni should have been engineered correctly to be strong as an ox in the first place! The knightrider is quite delicate, but at least it's heavy.

Yeah, the handle has a history of failing, so it could use a redesign, not sure what year you own, maybe they have improved them since your was made?

[jamdallen]

Originally Posted by Nurse Ben

Yeah, the handle has a history of failing, so it could use a redesign, not sure what year you own, maybe they have improved them since your was made?

I think mine is a 2009 model. I was looking at the new knightriders on UDC and they now come with a "shadow handle." It looks like a stronger design. But the uni frame itself looks the same, so I imagine it still flexes a lot - which is a bummer.

[turtle]

a prototype of the muni T(turtle)-bar:

[Nurse Ben]

Nice bar turtle, I like how it's closer to the seat than the KH; I rode a KH T bar for a little while.

[saskatchewanian]

I should dig up pictures of all the setups I have taken pictures of and write reviews for each but am just going to put in my blurb about the handle mount that Ben sent me (with a few other goodies).

I set up the handle with a mid-length aluminum bar end I found in the back of my vehicle. I fiddled around with different angles and positions and ended up ditching the freestyle bumper to give my hand a bit more room and sliding the bar end all the way up the mount.

I was a bit surprised that I found it a bit more comfortable if the bar end was angled slightly to the right (my grab hand), then the tip curves down and to the left. It was indeed a tight fit getting the bar end on and had to prop it open to get it on and positioned. I measured the stub 3 times with a digital calliper and came up with 22.30mm each time, which would explain it.

Getting around to using it I did a easy 5km loop across the lake and back on the snowmobile trails. It was comfortable and sturdy. definitely the lightest handle I have ever used other than the stock grab handle, and very stiff.

Overall I really like it. very simple and un-obtrusive. Where it really shined was climbing up the lakeshore cranking hard. It didn't budge and is in a great neutral position allowing the force to to strait to the pedals.

[anton005]

Well I finally took my 29er out for a ride today since I got my Nurse_Ben special grab handle. Just went out for a short road ride which turned into an hour and a half ride, about 8 miles with a good mix of ups and downs and a few flat spots. I was about 3/4 of the way through my ride thinking "I don't get this handle at all? Maybe I'll take it off when I get home." I was coming up to a pretty good uphill, I grabbed the handle and kind of pushed down on my thigh with my forearm and I just took off... It was really weird, I smoked up the hill! So it clicked all of a sudden and I got it.

I've been doing a lot of trials stuff on my 20 for the last month so I'm really used to grabbing the regular seat handle, when I went to hop up and down some stairs today on the 29 I kind of missed the old handle, but I reckon I just need to get comfortable with the new one.

As with most things in this sport I need to find my own way of doing it. It's gonna take some time adapting, but I think it is a definite worth while investment. The custom handle is a keeper.

Thanks Ben for making these, I really appreciate it. Hope your bottom line didn't suffer too much.

[Nurse Ben]

Anton, it is a little wierd when you first start using it, only because you are used to grabbing the seat closer in and with your hand turned, but once you use the grab handle for a while it becomes natural because it is a more natural position for your hand.

Eric, have you thawed out up there yet?

[edg]

My trails are still snow covered, but I have had a few road shoulder rides using the bar mount, and add my initial impressions. The mount provides an extremely solid connection to the grip, and I immediately noticed the additional stiffness over the stock plastic base/plastic handle. I tried two versions of a handle. The first was a converted MTB quill stem (something like this:

Amazon (Thumbnails)
Amazon (Thumbnails)

) but set up to mount to the stiffener/post platform. Better review to follow when trails open … edg

[edg]

Lets try that again-
My trails are still snow covered, but I have had a few road shoulder rides using the bar mount, and add my initial impressions. The mount provides an extremely solid connection to the bar, and I immediately noticed the additional stiffness over the stock plastic base/plastic handle. I tried two versions of a handle. The first was a converted MTB quill stem with the handlebar clamp mounted to the post, and the quill (modified and padded) serving as the handle. My goal was to come closer to the GB4/Reeder handle position. Since the handlebar clamp was too large at 25.4, even with extensive shimming, this didn’t work out, but showed potential. I then mounted the recommended bar end, which gave a fantastically stiff and connected feeling. I’m 100% sold on the stiffener/post for a mounting position, but still want a handle with a better angle than a bar end can provide. I’d love to see a remake of the GB4/Reeder handles (http://www.gb4mfg.com/products.html) but setup to mount to the stiffener/post platform. Better review to follow when trails open …edg