Getting Started with the Grips
Alright, so today I finally tackled getting those old handlebar grips off my bike. They were getting pretty worn down, kinda sticky too, which I hate. Figured it was time for a fresh pair.
First thing, I just grabbed hold of one and tried the old twist-and-pull. You know, sometimes you get lucky and they just slide off, especially if they weren’t put on super tight. No luck this time, though. Thing wouldn’t budge more than a tiny bit. Solid.
Bringing Out the Tools
Okay, plan B. I remembered reading somewhere about using compressed air. Sounded a bit odd, but I’ve got an air compressor in the garage, so why not give it a try?
- Dragged the compressor over.
- Got the nozzle ready.
I tried to carefully lift the inside edge of the grip, just enough to shove the nozzle underneath. Had to be careful not to tear the grip, though at this point I didn’t care too much. Hit the trigger for a quick blast of air. Boom! The air gets trapped between the bar and the grip, kinda inflates it like a little balloon. While it was puffed up, I gave it a good pull and twist, and wouldn’t you know it, the thing slid right off! Pretty slick trick, actually. Worked like a charm on the left side.
The Stubborn Side
Naturally, the right side decided it wanted to be difficult. The compressed air trick just wasn’t working as well. Maybe the throttle tube underneath made it tighter, I don’t know. The air wasn’t getting under there properly, or maybe the grip was just really stuck on good.
So, next idea. I grabbed some rubbing alcohol. Some folks use WD-40, but I had alcohol handy. Again, peeled back the edge of the grip best I could, dripped some alcohol down in there. Wiggled the grip around, trying to spread the alcohol underneath. Let it sit for maybe a minute.
Went back to the twisting and pulling. It was still tough, not gonna lie. But I could feel it starting to break free. A bit more twisting, a bit more pulling, working it back and forth. Slowly but surely, it started sliding. Had to put some muscle into it, but eventually, it came off too.
All Done
Phew. Got ’em both off. Took a rag and wiped down the handlebars afterwards, get rid of any leftover gunk or alcohol residue. Bars are clean and ready for the new grips now.
So yeah, that was my little project for the afternoon. Sometimes it’s easy, sometimes it’s a fight, but got it done. Always feels good to sort these little things out yourself.