One of the easiest modifications you can do on your motorcycle is replacing motorcycle grips. Motorcycle riders often get bored with their grips, and many change them out quite frequently. New grips can give an old bike an entirely new look and feel without spending much money or investing much time in this simple mod.
The first thing you need to do is select new grips for your bike. This decision should not be made lightly; there are many different types of grips out there, each one suited for a particular riding style. For instance, off road motorcycles often have rubber grips with a waffle design to give muddy gloves something to grab on to. Many custom street motorcycles with have shiny chrome grips or grips that have been shaped to complete a certain look on the motorcycle. While large touring motorcycles might have soft supple rubber or leather grips, or even heated hand grips for those long rides. Select a grip that fits your needs and particular riding style.
The next step in changing motorcycle grips is removing the old grip. This can be a little tricky, because the grips are not designed to come off. Compressed air is far and away the best way to remove old motorcycle grips. If you have access to an air gun hooked up to a compressed air line, such as many repair shops have, then you have an easy task indeed. Simply aim the air gun in to the open end of the grip, between the grip and the handlebar and squeeze the air gun. This will separate the rubber from the metal, allowing you to slide the old grip off with relative ease. No air gun? No problem. You may need to work at it a little harder, twisting in the opposite direction of the throttle as you slide the grip off the bar. If the grip will not budge, you may need to use a scraping edge or sharp blade to separate the rubber grip from the bar, or may even need to cut the grip apart to get it off. Street bikes often have metal-based grips, in which case a screw can be found at the end of the grip for easy removal.
Next you need to thoroughly clean the handlebar where the old grip was previously attached. You must remove any rubber pieces or bits of old adhesive from the bar. Use a degreaser or alcohol-based cleaning solution and an old rag to remove any dirt or residue. Let the handlebar dry and wipe with a clean rag.
You are now ready for the final step. Using a high-quality grip cement, apply a ring around the inside of the grip at the open end, and very quickly slide the new grip on to the handlebar. As you are sliding the new grip on, twist the grip to ensure even coverage of the grip cement the entire length of the bar. When doing the throttle side, of course twist in the opposite direction of the throttle pull. Squeeze the grip tightly to set the cement, and then let the cement dry for at least twelve hours before riding. When replacing metal grip, apply lubricant according to manufacturer’s specifications and slide the grip on to the bar and reattach the screw holding it in place.
You have just completed one of the easiest motorcycle modifications, changing the motorcycle grip. Now go ride and enjoy the fruits of your labor, until you become bored with your grips and want to change them again.
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