Best advice for taking off stock hand grips

[willowstreetguzziguy]

Got some heated grips for Christmas for my 1200 Sport and need to remove stock grips.  I don't have access to an air gun. What would be other methods you've used to remove hand grips?

[Triple Jim]

Take two screwdrivers and hold them parallel to each other, handles to tips.  Put the shafts against the bar, one on each side, just inside the grips, squeeze them with both hands to keep them against the bar, and while squeezing, give a good pull.

[PeteS]

WD40. Push the nozzle as far as you can under the grip, then start twisting to work the WD40 into the grip. Spray some more and twist....
Once off clean it with some solvent or even soap and water.

Pete

[Cam3512]

I carefully take a thin long screw driver and slide it under the grip. Lever the driver off the bars and blast a shot of WD 40 down inside.  Do that a few times around the grip and it should slide off.  Just switched grips on my Eldo.  Getting new ones on is another story.  WD comes in handy there too.

[Daleroso]

If you're not going to reuse them use a razor, cut one time long ways then peel them off. Definitely quickest. You will NOT cut through the plastic throttle sleeve.

[Arizona Wayne]

I use a common flat tip screw driver to pry open enough room to poor in a little gasoline, then immediately rotate, twisting the grip off.  Of course the grip needs to be in a downward position so the gas goes in between the grip and handlebar. Only takes seconds to get if off every time.  Gas evaporates in no time.   

[john fish]

If you're not going to reuse them use a razor, cut one time long ways then peel them off. Definitely quickest. You will NOT cut through the plastic throttle sleeve.

That's what I do. Grips are cheap.

[Arizona Wayne]

That's what I do. Grips are cheap.

Yeah, if it's a throttle grip that's a different can of worms than just on the handlebar.

[pehayes]

Air hose.  Nozzle tip.  Expands the grip somewhat like a balloon and it generally flies right off.  You may have to do a little wiggling to get the tip underneath the inboard end of the grip.

Patrick Hayes
Fremont CA

[canuguzzi]

If you're not going to reuse them use a razor, cut one time long ways then peel them off. Definitely quickest. You will NOT cut through the plastic throttle sleeve.

  :1:

[LowRyter]

twist and pull.  twist harder

[Perazzimx14]

WD40. Push the nozzle as far as you can under the grip, then start twisting to work the WD40 into the grip. Spray some more and twist....
Once off clean it with some solvent or even soap and water.

Pete

I use this method for removal and installation but with good old carb cleaner. The solvent flashes off quickly so within a few seconds of installation you are ready to ride.

[Kiwi Dave]

Me too, except I use Brakeleen.

[Tom H]

Never tried the carb/brake cleaner. But WD40 does work. Like mentioned gently pry the grip open and squirt some in. It will also work for installation if needed. At first the grip will slip, but after a few minuets it will dry and not slip, at least for a street bike, maybe a track bike would be different.

Tom

[Sasquatch Jim]

  If you can't get the tip of the air gun into the inboard end of the grip,  poke it up the other handle bar and put your finger over the hole in the ed of the grip.  Blow real hard and the grip will inflate and take itself off.  To do the other one
 wrap something around the end of the air gun to seal it and do the other side   If your bars have been filled with lead or epoxy to damp vibration, just insert the air gun tip into the hole in the end of the grip and blow while sliding the grip off.
  T'werks good.

[Two Checks]

He doesn't have access to compressed air. Solvent or razor.

[twhitaker]

For getting the grips back on a shot of hair spray lubricates nicely and acts as an adhesive.

[Triple Jim]

He doesn't have access to compressed air. Solvent or razor.

Or two screwdrivers as I said in the 1st reply.  It usually works easily.

[lucian]

For getting the grips back on a shot of hair spray lubricates nicely and acts as an adhesive.

Ok , got my hair all lubed and sticky ............ now what.   

[fubar guzzi]

Ive only done it once but,a blow torch did the trick (penderics idea) whats this about a plastic thingy???

[lucydad]

When I changed grips out on the V7R I used a long, thin bar-b-que metal skewer.  It worked very nicely, lubed with WD40.  Gentle does it and off they came undamaged. 

[mjptexas]

..Getting new ones on is another story...

Dawn dishwashing soap. Grips slide right on & you can twist them around to the proper position.  Let them sit for a day, the soap dries and voila, it turns into an adhesive.  To take them off use a screwdriver to pry them up, add a little water and the soap does it's thing one more time.

[willowstreetguzziguy]

Thanks for all the advise on taking them off. I have the New Oxford heated handgrips, and they recommend installing them with the super glue they have enclosed. Any thoughts on that?

[Sasquatch Jim]

  New handlebars?

[Scud]

I've used Grip Lock on dirt bikes, but not needed such strong adhesive on street bikes. But then I end up cutting them off. I've had street bike grips on and off several times using screwdrivers, WD-40, etc. as already described.

Does the manufacturer recommend the glue between bar and heating surface - or between heating surface and grip? I'd guess the former - and then use hairspray (or whatever other method you like) between heater and grip. That way, you'll still have the possibility to change grips without destroying the heating elements.

[willowstreetguzziguy]

No not new handlebars, new heated grips, the heating elements are INSIDE the grips. Maybe because the grips heat up is why the super glue is needed on these grips and not with regular non-heated grips.

[rss29]

No not new handlebars, new heated grips, the heating elements are INSIDE the grips. Maybe because the grips heat up is why the super glue is needed on these grips and not with regular non-heated grips.

Depending on what brand of grips you received, the rubber compound may be too hard for hairspray to hold. I found that to be the case with Oxfords. I wanted them easy to swap when warmer weather arrived so I safety wired them on insted of using super glue. Wire holds them perfectly and you can clip it and slide the grips right off if you wish. As for the old grips, just slice them off with a razor blade. Standard grips are very inexpensive.

[willowstreetguzziguy]

They do appear to be harder compound grips maybe because of the heating elements inside as they will probable get more flexible as they become hot. I plan on keeping them connected all year and won't be removing them.

[Cam3512]

They do appear to be harder compound grips maybe because of the heating elements inside as they will probable get more flexible as they become hot. I plan on keeping them connected all year and won't be removing them.

Then use the glue as recommended.