| How To Install And Remove Grips |
| Wednesday, 18 July 2007 | |
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Ok so grips aren't sexy and if you haven't put them on or taken
them off then you probably don't see how we could write a tutorial on
the topic. But if you have swapped out your grips, then you likely had
a few challenges. Either way read on for some helpful tips. Removing Grips: The first step, obviously is to remove the old grips. Depending on how your grips were installed, it could be extremely difficult to remove them. If your grips haven't been glued on, then one easy method is to roll the grips off. Start on the inside end of the grip and peal it back. Then continue pealing back by rolling it over itself until the grip is off. Try not to let the last bit flip inside out as you remove it. It can be difficult to turn the grip right-side-out again. If you have access to an air compressor you can blow compressed air under the grip from the inside and pull the grip off at the same time. This is the preferred technique of bike shops. This method will not work if glue has been used. The most popular technique used by home mechanics involves a screwdriver and some spray cleaner. Slide a flat-head screwdriver under the grip from the outside edge. Once you have created a small opening spray in some cleaner (Window cleaner works well). Then wiggle the grip and repeat until you are able to spin the grip and pull it off. Finally, if you don't plan to re-use the grips, or they have been glued on, your best chance is to cut them off. With a sharp knife, cut a slit down the length of the grip and then peal it off. If you have carbon bars, press only hard enough to cut through the grip but don't cut the bar. Installing Grips: Installing grips is a challenge as well. To install them, they need to slide easily, but once on you don't want them to move. The popular home technique is to spray the inside of the grips with hair spray. Then, while the hair spray is still wet, quickly put the grips on and position them how you want them. After an hour or so, the hair spray should be dry and act as an adhesive and keep your grips on good and tight. If you don't have access to hair spray, spray window cleaners work well too though they take a couple days to dry. Fixing Spinning Grips If you have problems with your grips spinning, here are a few solutions. One solution is to use glue. We recommend ATI Grip Glue as the ultimate solution here. Another solution is to use ODI jaws and some ODI Compatible grips. A less elegant, but functional approach is to twist wire tightly around each end of the grip. By tightly twisting the wire around the grip, you will dramatically increase the grips "grip" on the bar. |
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