Tips for Changing Grips: How to Remove Stuck Grips
Changing grips is the easiest custom for changing the look. Here are tips for cleanly removing stubborn stock grips and sliding new ones on smoothly.
- The benefits of changing grips
- How to remove stuck grips without damaging them
- Tips for fitting new grips smoothly
Changing grips is the classic easy custom. On a used bike or one that's been ridden for years, the grips are almost always soaked with sweat and grime, with worn surfaces. Just replacing them makes them feel dramatically better in your hands.
These days there's a wide choice of well-designed grips, and simply picking a color or shape completely changes the look of the handlebar. They're a fun part you can enjoy at a fairly affordable price.
01 A set of grips changes the whole look
Grips are always in your hands and always in view. Simply changing the material, color or pattern can change the look of the whole bike.
02 How to remove stuck grips
It's a common story: you go to change your grips and the old ones are stuck fast and won't come off. If you're not reusing them, slicing them open with a utility knife is the quickest way.
On the other hand, grips in good condition can be removed cleanly and used on another bike or kept as spares. That's where Brake & Parts Cleaner comes in handy.
- Insert a thin flat-head screwdriver between the grip and the handlebar to make a gap.
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Spray parts cleaner into the gap and twist the grip back and forth.
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Once the adhesive inside lets go, the grip slides right off.
If you have a compressor at home, blowing air into the gap while working the grip back and forth makes it even easier.
03 Fitting new grips
When fitting new grips, too, a light spray of parts cleaner inside before sliding them on lets them go all the way on surprisingly smoothly.
What we used
- Replacement grips
- Thin flat-head screwdriver
- Utility knife or Brake & Parts Cleaner
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*Installation is at your own risk. If you're unsure about doing the work yourself, we recommend consulting your local motorcycle shop.
*The content and photos reflect the time of writing. Please check each product page for current specifications, fitment and stock.