Removing heated grip

[brider]

I know there is a lot of common-sense involved with something like this, but I have never removed a heated grip from a throttle:





I want to change the throttle tube to one with a different cam/ramp profile, but this heated grip has me intimidated all to heck. How fragile is the element? I'm thinking a long, lubed-up screwdriver slipped in and then WD-40 squirted inside with the long nozzle and just try to work around while pulling off, Is that about the meat of it? Any other time I've removed (non-heated) grips I just cut them off and install new.

[Stretch]

It's a good question - and some heated grips are glued on with Super Glue.

Acetone dissolves Super Glue. Has anyone had luck removing heated
grips installed like that?

                                                       -Stretch

[Dirk_S]

Last year I changed handlebars on my one bike, and attempted to swap my Oxford heated grips from one handlebar over to another. I used a long skinny flathead screwdriver. I wound up breaking one, I believe the left (which I just bought a replacement), but the other was fine. I remember trying lubricants, including WD40; they helped a little at spots but not completely, hence the broken grip. Acetone seems like a potential solution, but I’m curious what it’ll do to the interior of the grip, and it’ll absolutely affect the rubber on the exterior if it comes in contact.

If there were some piece of metal that was straight longitudinally, but curved axially (think a shoehorn) that was also thin enough to slip in between the grip and bar, I think that would be a little better than a screwdriver.

[Mike Tashjian]

One suggestion I saw was to use a small torch run down inside the throttle tube.  They said it ruined the tube but the grip was unscathed.

[Stretch]

Acetone is funny stuff. Things you think wouldn't be affected dissolve instantly,
and other stuff is just fine. I guess I'd try it on a small spot and see what happened.

I have Oxford grips on the KLR, and they're great. Installation is relatively straightforward,
the wiring kit is hi-quality, and they seem made for the long haul.

I've got to put them on the big Cali at some point.

                                                         -Stretch

[John A]

If you have an air compressor, blow air between the grip and tube to lift it off or on. Alcohol is inert enough to use as a glue solvent

[Dirk_S]

If you have an air compressor, blow air between the grip and tube to lift it off or on. Alcohol is inert enough to use as a glue solvent

Not a bad tip for normal grips, but Oxford heated grips (assuming these are Oxfords) have rigid interiors that fit over the handlebar. They’re not flexible rubber that can simply peel and work off.

[Vagrant]

Your idea might work. But I would start the bike and turn the grips on high and try when red hot.

[brider]

These grips are of unknown type, but the rubber is thick and seems pretty tight. I have some old bicycle spokes I think I might try inserting in 4 quadrants & squirting some WD40 in and see what happens.

[Tom H]

FWIW: With only the experience of replacing the rubber grips on my EVT... The heating element is basically part of the throttle tube.

I was able to "carefully" cut the old grips off and slide on new grips, required two throttle side grips, had to buy two sets of grips.

So it you want to replace the throttle tube, if I'm reading this right, you would likely need a throttle tube with the heating element of the ratio you want. And likely it will come with the grip installed??????

Hope this helps,
Tom

[someguy]

If it comes to the need for different grips you could consider something like these. You use whatever throttle you want and whatever grips you want. Personally I prefer silicone grips as opposed to the stock rubber types.

https://ktmtwins.com/products/moose-offroad-motorcycle-grip-heaters-hand-warmer-kit

[cappisj1]

I tried to document replacing grips on my Norge. Maybe this will help.

https://wildguzzi.com/forum/index.php?topic=115295.0