Okay, so I finally got around to swapping out my motorcycle grips the other day. The old ones were getting pretty worn down, kinda sticky too, you know? Felt gross. Plus, I saw some new ones that looked way better.
Getting Started – Off With the Old
First thing was getting the old grips off. Man, sometimes these things are a real pain. The left side usually comes off easier ’cause it’s just on the metal bar. Sometimes you can twist and pull, maybe shove a skinny screwdriver under there with some soapy water. But mine were really stuck on there good.
Honestly, I just gave up trying to save them. I took my utility knife, be super careful doing this, don’t cut your handlebar or yourself, obviously. I just made a careful slit along the length of the grip. Did it gently, just enough to break it open. Once I had that cut, it peeled right off. Easy peasy.
The throttle side, the right one, is a bit trickier ’cause it’s on the throttle tube, that plastic thingy that twists. Same deal, I carefully cut the old rubber grip off. You really gotta watch it here, don’t want to score or cut into that plastic tube underneath. Just take your time.
Cleaning Up the Mess
Alright, old grips off. Now, the handlebars, especially where the left grip was, usually have some old glue or gunk left behind. The throttle tube might too. You absolutely gotta clean this stuff off. If you don’t, the new grips might not stick right, or they could slip later, which is bad news.
I just used some basic adhesive remover, sprayed it on a rag, and wiped everything down really good. Got all that sticky residue off. Made sure the bar end and the throttle tube were totally clean and dry. Took a few minutes but it’s worth it.
Putting the New Grips On
Now for the fun part, putting the new ones on. Lots of ways people do this. Some use special grip glue, some use compressed air, some use soapy water. Me? I usually go for the old hairspray trick. Cheap aqua net stuff works great.
Here’s what I did:
- Grabbed the left grip first (usually the one with the smaller inside diameter).
- Sprayed a good amount of hairspray inside the new grip. Just coated the inside pretty well.
- Quickly, before it dried, I sprayed a little on the clean handlebar end too.
- Then you just gotta shove it on. Give it a good push and twist motion. The hairspray acts like a lubricant to help it slide on.
- Make sure you push it all the way on, right up against the switch housing or whatever is there. Get it straight how you want it positioned.
Did the same thing for the throttle side. Sprayed inside the right grip (the one with the bigger hole), sprayed a bit on the clean throttle tube. Slid it on, making sure it was all the way on and lined up. Super important on the throttle side: make sure the grip doesn’t bind against the handlebar weight or switch housing. You need that throttle to snap back freely when you let go. Double check that movement before the hairspray sets!
Letting it Set
Once both grips were on and positioned right, I just left the bike alone for a few hours. The hairspray needs time to dry and set up. It gets sticky as it dries and acts like a glue, holding the grips firmly in place.
Came back later, gave them a good twist. Solid. Not moving at all. Throttle snapped back perfectly. Job done. Feels way better now, much more comfortable and they look sharp too. Took maybe, what, 30 minutes total? Not bad at all.
