How To: Installing Grips

[Woody_393]

This may seem trivial to some, but I can tell you, the first time I installed grips, I would have loved some instructions to follow so I made sure to do them right.

Now this how to is from "ME" and according to "Me" and the process I use I'm sure there will be others with something to add to this to make the job better.

Tools Needed:
1 New set of grips (your favorite of course)
some contact cleaner (brake cleaner in this case)
some hairspray (my wife current bottle)
and a utility knife.

*Note these grips are my old ones, but I had already put them on when I thought to take the pic.



Old Grip Removal:
1) Take your utility knife and cut the grips off. I usually don't like to cut (scratch) the bar end or the throttle tube, so I try to only cut about 3/4 of the way through the grip and then just tear them the rest of the way. I'll usually only cut to about 3/4 of the way to the end then just pull them off.

[Woody_393]

Installation:
2) I like to now take the contact cleaner and clean rag to clean the bar end and throttle tube so they are really clean. I don't want these buggers to slip on me, and want to make sure they don't have a reason to. I also usually give the inside of the new grips a squirt just for good measure (I know probably over kill), then let them all dry before proceeding. This also seems to make the rubber on the inside of the bars a little more tacky which is good.

3) Once everything is dry, take the hair spray and give the bar a squirt. Not much just enough to get it wet, then I'll squirt the inside of the grip as well.

4) Now take the grip and work it on. It should go pretty easily since it should still be wet. If it just slips right on, I usually take them back off and put them on again, so the hair spray is a little more dry. Then work it back on again, and twist them so they are where you want them and leave them alone for 24 hours or more.

I have used my grips at the 8 hour mark and they twisted on me, so if you know you are going to need them, do it with a day or more to spare before you go riding next.

Other Options:
Safety Wire: A lot of riders like to use safety wire on their grips. This is an excellent idea. I personally don't have the wire, or the tools, so I don't.
Grip Glue: A lot of riders prefer grip glue, and I know Renthal recommends their grip glue, so if you have it you can use it in place of the hair spray.
Super Glue: I actually got some super glue with my grips (package deal from eBay), but chose not to use it, since the hair spray has not failed me in the past and is much cleaner, so I didn't go that route, but it should work fine too. Just make sure you hurry so it doesn't set before you get them installed.

I'm sure there are other options, so use your imagination.

Finished Product:

[Imahoot393]

Niccceee Woody! Hairspray is what Zoo and I use to and it works like a charm. Only problem is the next day wondering where my darn hairspray is.

[Kirtwell]

I don't cut the grips off!
I take my air nozzle and stick it up under the grip and balloon it and slide it off...which now make them backup grips in an emergency. All the maintenance guys at my work have all of my spares on the handles of their tool boxes cause I change mine so often.

[napalm417]

Cool perfect timing Woody... I was thinking about getting some new grips and I was wondering how best to put them on. Thanks for taking the time to write that up!

[yzernie]

Originally posted by Imahoot393
Niccceee Woody! Hairspray is what Zoo and I use to and it works like a charm. Only problem is the next day wondering where my darn hairspray is.

WOW!!! You and my wife have something in common!!!!!

[nappers]

I also didn't cut the grips off. I used WD40, poked the little tube down the inside of the grip. The grip then tirned and slid off easily. Since I only changed them for looks, the others are good for a backup pair.

[zoohoot393]

LOL yzernie. Nice write up Woody. I agree with the hairspray technique as well. The first time I changed Ima's grips I used renthal glue and during her first ride it came loose.

[Imahoot393]

It was a real blast riding and my grip kept rotating the whole day. Definately threw off my beginners groove.

Come on Nappers...you dont ever crash thsat sucker and mess up grips? I guess you are my new hero.

[napalm417]

Really Zoo? Cause I was gonna to buy some Renthal glue to use. Maybe I'll just try the hairspray method instead. Kind of funny that hairspray would work better than glue :

LOL Ima yeah that wouldn't be too fun, not like you don't have enough to worry about already without your grips rotating!

[Desert Rat]

Your grips have small holes in the ends. If you have access to a compressor stick you pointed nozzle on and put it in the hole on one of them. Put your thumb over the hole on the opposite grip and give it a shot of air. Blows the grip right off. Reverse the procedure with a rag around the nozzel or one of those small white soft funnels inserted in the bar in front of the air nozzel (to get a good seal on the open end of the bars) and off comes the other. I slip the new grips on the bar a little bit. I stick the air nozzle in the end of the bar (with a good seal) and cup my had around the grip on the other side with my thumb over the end. A quick shot of air to balloon the girp and little and a simultaneous pull forward and on they go. You can add glue to them or whatever. I usually role mine back a little bit and glue the inner lip.

[KTM250rm393]

I haven't had much luck with Renthal glue either. The best glue I have found is Honda's Grip glue which is similar to Superbond Weatherstrip adhesive glue.

If you use Renthal soft grips, even their glue seems to melt through the soft rubber compound. I put renthals soft compound grips on and used their glue and 10 mins later the Renthal glue melted right through the rubber compound. :

The Honda Grip glue even seems to hold to the high silicone base Gel grips.

[zoohoot393]

Yeah, it seemed to me that as it warmed up the renthal glue went soft.

The hairpsray is what I used on my current grips and they are stuck there tight.

[nappers]

Ima, I wish I could say I don't crash, but everyone would know that was a big fat lie!! If you don't crash once in a while, you aren't pushing yourself!

The grips I changed were on the quad I try not to roll that!

I had never heard of the hairspray trick before, though. That's a good trick to know.

[Woody_393]

Wow... See, I knew you guys would add a bunch to this thread. Thanks, and thanks for the tip on the air compressor. I don't have one, so I won't be using it yet... but I do have plans to get one someday.

Anyway, thanks, and keep 'em coming. Very good input.

[char393]

You guys might laugh, but I didn't have hairspray, so I used some clear spray paint we had...seems to work fine. I've also used the air compressor trick to take off the old grips...thats the easiest for me. I also wire my grips on too....I hate it when the grips slip aorund on me!

[MATTXR250R]

For those of you that don't run handguards here is a tip for ya. Since i run handguards when I crash the bar is on the end of the grip(the side of the grip on the very end of the bar)so the grip does not get messed up..if you don't run handguards,after a few crashes the end of the grip usually gets a hole in it because you got the hole in the handlebar and the grip gets pushed in there and gets a hole knocked in it. Then your bar feels up with dirt when you crash:. So what you do is before you slide the grips on the bar take a coin..a nickel ususally seems to fit the best and drop it down in the hole in the grip...take a screwdriver and center it against the grip on the very end and then slide the grip on..usually a nickel is big enough that it won't fit into the hole in the bar..this will prevent you from getting holes in the grips.

Oh and BTW Woody.....GREAT JOB..I am trying your method next time Like Rick,Zoo said I have not had good luck with Renthal Grip Clue:

[jaswhitt393]

Clear paint....humm never thought of that. I use hair spray and safety wire as well.

[MotoMan]

I use the hairspray/saftey wire trick to install. I NEVER trust glue or anything else, I have had too many grips come loose on me at inoportune times not to saftey wire. It only takes a few minutes, and when done in 3 spots double wrapped those grips WILL NOT move...Ever.

I use the air compressor method to remove them as well.

[napalm417]

So when you use safety wire how do you put that on, do you just wrap it around tight a couple of times and twist the ends? It seems like the ends would be sticking out kind of pokey like :