Drive by Review: TechSpec vs. Stompgrip

February 17th, 2008 · No Comments

At some point you need to think about your knees. If you don’t know it already, they’re good for more than connecting the two parts of your legs and aching as you get older. For all sort of reasons, riders want and need to get a good grip on the tank.

Going down hill
For the long-distance set, they’re a critical part of properly executing the "Master Yoda" riding position.
If you shift your weight off the bike as part of your cornering technique (do that please), you need something for your uphill knee to grip onto.

Motorcycle tanks have the grip coefficient of applesauce. That means applying something to the tank. One solution is something called StompGrip. The other is a tire-tread looking material called TechSpec. They’re similar in that . . .

They are flexible, adhesive-backed sheets featuring high-friction surfaces between you and the bike.
They use releasable adhesives which means you can get them back off.
Putting them on is straightforward: clean the surface; apply the material.
There are many pre-cut kits. If your bike isn’t included, you can easily cut a sheet of the material to fit.

I have used both. I prefer TechSpec, mostly because I think the look is cleaner . . . more finished. Particularly if you have a black bike. At this point, I won’t ride without one or the other.

TechSpec on Aprilia RSV1000R Factory. I love the look, especially on a black bike.

Same treatment on a Suzuki SV1000S

StompGrip on Kawasaki. Very effective but the shiny surface looks cheesy. Good solution for a color other than blue or where the black accent would bother you.