Originally Posted by
BigChief
So they came on the handlebars.They must be quite old. What a stroke of luck. Funny how after you look at old bikes long enough small details stand out. My eye wants to see them on pre war rod brake roadsters. I don't know the thinking behind this, but all of the English manufacturers seemed to use the short grips on rod brake bikes and longer ones on caliper brake bikes. Not sure when this changed. My 1970 DL-1 came with the same full length Dare grips as the Sports.
For what it's worth, I think it was a hangover fromlate 1800's & early 1900's bikes which all seemed to have short grips in various materials, often cork. Rod Brake bikes continued this and I guess when Cable operation came along it was different enough to cause a re think as the handlebar designs changed, on the other hand I could be talking total rubbish. Someone might know!!!!!!