OURY Mountain Grips

I just installed a pair of red OURY grips.  They feel great with or without gloves.

Both grips were kept at standard length.  Shifting feels the same even with the extra length.

I cleaned the handlebar with Windex and used rubbing alcohol to install the grips.  I put a nickel in each grip to act as bar end caps.  That should prevent the handlebar from punching a hole through the grip.

UPDATE NOVEMBER 17, 2011: The combination of these grips and the Misfit Psycles FME bar gives me a lot more knee/handlebar clearance for those super tight, slow speed turns.

UPDATE NOVEMBER 29, 2011: I left out two points that may help prevent the grips from twisting.

• I wrapped the ends of my handlebar with 4 revolutions of duct tape (just the width of the tape) to make it a little thicker.  
• The handlebar ends stick pass the grip a bit.  You can see it a bit on the 3'rd picture on this post.

UPDATE MARCH 7, 2012:  The grips never twisted on me during riding.  Twisting is a common complaint for slip on grips.  I really think the duct tape helps.  

Red Cables

Today I installed a new brake, and shifter housing.  This was done for aesthetic reasons.  The original ones are still in good condition. 

The new cables were cut 6" shorter than the original to make the cable routing tighter.  I used a Dremel with a cutting wheel to make smooth flat cuts without crushing the housing.

I applied a light coating of Finish Line Dry Teflon Lube (for bicycle chain) on the cables before inserting it into the cable housing.

This could all be in my head but it's shifting smoother/easier.  Is it because of the shorter cable?  The lube?  I dunno. = /

Misfit Psycles FME Bar

I picked up a Misfit Psycles FME handlebar today.  For $22 it's hard to go wrong.  It provides a better wrist/hand position for control, and it's almost half the weight of the factory one.

The factory Kona handlebar weights 607 grams.  The Misfit FME bar weights 336 grams.

To install it, I had to pry the stem clamp open a bit to slide the centre section of the handlebar in.  I probably could have rammed it in, but I didn't want to scratch the finish.  =)  

The FME's riding position feels similar to the bar it replaced, and has more handlebar/knee clearance for tight, slow speed turns.

UPDATE NOVEMBER 11, 2011: The price of the handlebar went up.  Yikes!

UPDATE NOVEMBER 18, 2011: The extra bit of drop and reach from this bar puts extra weight over the front wheels. The bike feels more balanced and puts me in a slightly more aggressive riding position.  

UPDATE NOVEMBER 28, 2010: I can feel the handlebar flex a little on rough surfaces.  It takes a little edge off the bumps. 

Removed The Chain Guard

Work has finally eased up a bit.  Now I have a chance to ride my bike.

I removed the chain guard for no particular reason.  I never really like the way it looked.  It's too "swooshy".  The type of chain guards on old three speed bicycles would look better.

I also reinstalled the kickstand too (not shown in this picture).  It was to useful to leave off.

UPDATE:  Chain gaurd and bracket weighs 170 grams.

Current Pictures

Just posting some current pictures of the whole bike.

New Seat Post

I installed an aluminium seat post today.  It's a micro adjustable type.  I bought it @ ebay.  It got here fast, but it took awhile to clear Canada Customs. >=(

The seat post size for the 2010 Kona AfricaBike is 27.2 mm.

Weight

After removing my kickstand (8mm Allen or hex key), I'm gonna try to weigh all the parts I've changed or removed. 

• Basket, bracket, and bolts 955 grams
• Kona bell (haven't weighed it yet)  
• Bell I'm using now (haven't weighed it yet)  
• Kona Stem (steel) 522 grams
• Profile Design Stem 282 grams
• Kona handlebar 670 grams
• Misfit Psycle FME handlebar 336 grams 
• Kona grips 121 grams
• Oury grips 100 grams
• Kona saddle 486 grams
• Brooks B67s saddle 810 grams
• Chaingaurd and bracket 170 grams 
• Wheel lock with key 404 grams
• Kickstand 182 grams
• Wheel & pedal reflectors 48 grams
• Specialzed 1.25" Fatboy tires 390 grams x 2
• New seat post collar 21 grams (haven't weighed the old one) 
• Original inner tubes (haven't weighed it)
• Specialized inner tubes (haven't weighed it)
• Kona seat post 401 grams
• Aluminum seat post 259 grams 
• Original pedals 245 grams x 2
• Tektro 849 AL linear pull calipers only (no pads) 119 grams
• Avid Single Digit 5 linear pull calipers (haven't weighted it)
• Kool Stop Thinline brake pads (haven't weighed it)
• Front/rear fender 477 grams
• Cyclocomputer 44 grams

My bike originally weighed approximately 19 kg (42 lbs).  Now it's about 15 kg (34 lbs).  I'm not a weight weenie, but it's neat to know these things.

P.S.  This list will constantly be updated.

P.S.S.  I weighed it today (July 1, 2011) and updated this post.

UPDATE NOVEMBER 18, 2011:  The kick stand goes back on. =)

UPDATE JANUARY 18, 2012:  Weighed the whole bike with a digital hanging scale today.  Before I used a bathroom scale.  That was pretty difficult and not very accurate. The official weight is 15.19 kg or 33.48 lbs.