Grip — Motorcycle
Guard-Tex adds custom vibration damping and grip diameter to any handlebar — under grips or over them. Removes clean from chrome, aluminum, or powder coat. The cockpit mod that costs less than a tank of gas.
Road vibration on a motorcycle is relentless. Every bump, expansion joint, and rough patch sends high-frequency energy through the bars and into your hands. On a 30-minute commute, it's background noise. On a 200-mile day, it's a medical issue — hand-arm vibration syndrome, carpal tunnel aggravation, and the deep-bone numbness that makes operating controls dangerous.
The standard fixes are gel grips, bar-end weights, and throttle locks. Gel grips help with vibration but add uniform diameter everywhere — including the throttle side where extra bulk can interfere with rotation and control feel. Bar-end weights reduce vibration at the ends but do nothing for the center of the bars where your palms sit. And none of them let you customize the diameter — thicker for long highway days, thinner for tight canyon riding.
The real solution is targeted padding that you can adjust for every ride, every route, and every condition — without permanently modifying anything on your bike.
Zero Adhesive
Guard-Tex uses cohesive technology — each layer bonds to the layer beneath it, never to the handlebar surface. Remove it and your bars look factory-new. No residue on chrome, no damage to powder coat, no solvent needed. Your bike stays clean.
Guard-Tex is a self-adhering gauze tape — originally developed for factory workers who needed hand protection without gloves. Riders discovered that the same woven-gauze construction that protects a machinist's fingers also absorbs handlebar vibration: the interlocking fibers act as a micro-damper, absorbing high-frequency energy before it reaches your palms.
Wrap four layers on the clutch side for maximum damping on highway runs. Build up two layers on the throttle side for comfort without affecting rotation. Add extra layers under the palm zone and leave the finger area thinner for control feel. Each bar gets its own custom profile — because your left hand and right hand don't take the same abuse on a motorcycle.
"I ride a Harley Road Glide — 20,000 miles a year, mostly highway. Guard-Tex under both grips eliminated the hand numbness I was getting by hour three. I can ride all day now. Eight bucks and fifteen minutes changed everything."— Steve K., long-distance touring rider, Denver, CO
Because there's no adhesive, the process is fully reversible. Try a thick build for a touring weekend, strip it for track day, rebuild for the next road trip. When you sell the bike or swap bars, everything comes off clean. Your bike stays bone-stock underneath.
Most riders cycle through the same progression: gel grips, then bar-end weights, then heated grips, then resignation. Here's how they actually compare:
| Guard-Tex | Gel Grips | Bar-End Weights | Foam Slip-Ons | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vibration damping | ✓ Variable by zone | Moderate — uniform | At bar ends only | Moderate — uniform |
| Custom diameter | ✓ Layer by layer | ✗ Fixed | N/A | ✗ Fixed |
| Throttle compatible | ✓ Smooth base | Check clearance | ✓ | Can bind |
| Zero bar residue | ✓ | Glue residue | ✓ | ✓ |
| Adjustable per ride | ✓ | ✗ Permanent | ✗ Permanent | Removable but clumsy |
| Left/right independent | ✓ Different builds | Same both sides | Same both sides | Same both sides |
| Cost | ~$8 | $25–60 | $30–80 | $15–25 |
The full process takes about 15 minutes. You'll need one roll of Guard-Tex (1" width recommended for bars) and your grips.
Ride for 30+ minutes and pay attention to what fails first. Numbness in the palm means vibration damping is the priority. Finger fatigue from squeezing means the grip diameter is too thin. Both? You're building for both — and Guard-Tex handles them simultaneously.
Remove grips if you're building underneath (the cleaner install). Wrap Guard-Tex in smooth, overlapping layers. Three to five layers for vibration damping. Six to ten for significant diameter increase. Keep wraps even and smooth — lumps under grips create pressure points. On the throttle side, ensure the build is uniform so the grip rotates freely.
Slide grips back over the Guard-Tex build. The tape provides a stable, non-slip base — grips won't spin or shift. For a quick test without grip removal, wrap Guard-Tex directly over your existing grips to feel the diameter and damping difference before committing to a cleaner under-grip install.
Ride your normal route. If numbness persists, add layers. If the throttle feels sluggish, reduce the build on that side. If the diameter feels too thick, peel a layer from each bar. Guard-Tex removes clean every time — experiment freely until the setup is perfect for your hands and your riding style.
Most Popular for Motorcycle
One roll is enough for multiple handlebar builds. Disappears under dark grips. The same tape trusted by industrial workers, athletes, and riders since 1935.
Shop Now"I commute 50 miles each way on a Triumph Street Triple. The stock grips were killing my hands. Five layers of Guard-Tex under the grips and I ride an hour without numbness. Best mod I've done."— Alex P., daily commuter, Chicago, IL
"ADV rider — my BMW GS sends everything through the bars on gravel. Guard-Tex under the grips smoothed out the worst of it. Eight layers on each side. My hands survive 10-hour days now."— Dan W., adventure touring, Boise, ID
"I tried gel grips, throttle rockers, even $200 weighted grips. Guard-Tex under my stock grips works better than all of them combined. And it cost me eight dollars."— Lisa M., sport touring, Austin, TX
"The clean removal sold me. I change grips every season on my track bike — nothing worse than glue residue on clip-ons. Guard-Tex peels off clean. Bars look factory every time."— Ryan T., track day rider, San Jose, CA
Riders who discover Guard-Tex for their handlebars tend to find other uses fast. It works anywhere you need grip, padding, or protection without adhesive:
Wrap bicycle handlebars with the same approach — same tape, same technique, different vehicle. Pad tool handles in the garage during bike maintenance. Protect fingers from chain lube burns and wrench blisters during roadside repairs. Wrap lever blades for custom finger grooves on long rides.
One product. One roll. Every contact point on your bike dialed in — and not a trace of adhesive on anything you own.
Not when applied correctly. Wrap the throttle side smoothly without lumps, and ensure the grip slides freely over the tape. Guard-Tex creates a slightly tacky but non-adhesive surface that grips sit on without binding. Many riders actually prefer the feel — grips hold position without the slippage that happens on bare bars.
No. Guard-Tex contains zero adhesive — it bonds only to itself. It removes completely clean from chrome, aluminum, steel, and powder-coated bars. No residue, no sticky film, no damage to finishes.
Each layer adds damping through its woven gauze structure. Three to five layers provides noticeable relief on highway rides. Six to ten layers provides significant damping comparable to gel grips. It reduces high-frequency buzz without deadening road feel entirely.
Yes. Wrapping over existing grips is the fastest way to test whether additional padding helps. It adds thickness and damping immediately. If you like the result, move to a cleaner under-grip install for a permanent setup.
The 1-inch width covers bars efficiently for full-length builds. The 3/4-inch width works for targeted palm-zone builds. One roll handles both bars with plenty left over for future adjustments.
Foam slip-ons add uniform bulk everywhere and can feel spongy, reducing control feedback. Guard-Tex lets you build variable thickness — more padding in the palm zone, less near the fingers. It also works under grips for an invisible install, while foam covers go over grips and change the look of the bike.
Wraps anything. Sticks to nothing. American made since 1935.
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