Replacing handlebar grips

[Gizmo!]

OK, I'm stumped. How the hell do you do it?

Got bored with the essentially unpadded standard ones on my Scott Sportster, so bought some replacements. Some trouble getting the old ones, so I had a mini strop and hacked one of the old grips off with a stanley knife.

But now can't get the new one on more than an inch, it won't go on any further or come back off either.

[markoc]

First up, if you've hacked off the old ones, make sure you haven't damaged the bars at all.

To get the new ones on, I either use a bit of soap (seriously... but not the squidgy hand squirt stuff, some lather from a block of soap) applied to the bars - or some WD40/GT85. They'll slip on nice and easy and then when it dries they'll be held snugly.

[Gizmo!]

markoc said:

First up, if you've hacked off the old ones, make sure you haven't damaged the bars at all.

To get the new ones on, I either use a bit of soap (seriously... but not the squidgy hand squirt stuff, some lather from a block of soap) applied to the bars - or some WD40/GT85. They'll slip on nice and easy and then when it dries they'll be held snugly.

Didn't even scratch the bars - stretched the rubber and split it

Now, where did I put the WD40...

[Steve UK]

Hello,

Do yourself a favour, get some lock-on style grips. My favourite are the Odi Ruffians which came in a bonus pack for about £15. Sounds pricey for grips but I will never use the non-lock on type again.

Have a look and see what you think.

Steve

[MrTom]

I always put new grips in hot water so they expand. The soap trick hasn't worked for me in the past, it usually doesn't stick and you end up with spinning grips.
The lock on grips are much less faf.

[Gizmo!]

A bit of WD40 has done the trick. Didn't put too much on so hopefully it'll bond into the rubber as opposed to staying slippy and helping the grips spin... although they can't come off, because one reason I was replacing them was to be able to put bar-ends on.

[thepickle]

Too late for the OP, but hairspray is what I always use on "normal" grips. It lubes the bar/grips so they slide on easily, then sets really well preventing grip spin. The Ruffian MX lock-ons on my other bike are far better though...easy to fit/remove and zero movement.

[snotrag]

Hairspray is the ONLY fluid you should use to affix grips.

But realstically, you shouldnt use anything. Nothing worse than spinning grips.

Airline to remove them.

[markoc]

I remember back in the day using zipties to secure my grips on my proflex - just checked the new grips on my 'Dale and they don't have grooves for them - but the Yeti ones on my Orange do...

[smack]

To get them off - compressed air, 10 seconds. Grips usually have a hole at each end. Block one end up, blast compressed air the other side. Block bar end with the palm of your hand, and do again. That is the way mechanics do it in the trade.

As said above, fit new grips with hair spray. Again, how they do it in the trade.

[pdV6]

I find that GT85 / WD40 works for a while but eventually the grips come loose.

Hairspray, though, has never let me down.

To get them off, find a piece of wire (old coathanger is ideal), spray some WD or hairspray on it and slip it under the grip. Work it around a bit to lube the grip and then pull the grip off.

[smifffymoto]

Hair spray,lubes niceley for the on and sets like glue when dry.

[gbbird]

A spot of mildly soapy water does it for me. Twist and turn them on as far as possible, then try hitting the grip squarely on teh end with the palm of your hand - the short, siccessive blasts of force tends to do the trick.

g