DIY Bike Grips

I bought a cheapo fixie bike from Walmart back in March. After riding through summer time traffic in Ocean City, MD a couple of times I decided my handlebars were too wide... so I cut them to the width of my shoulders. Since I'm too lazy and cheap to go buy some new grips I thought I would just make them out of an inner tube I had blown a few weeks back.

-This Instructable will show you how to make grips for a bike using trash and supplies from around the house.

Step 1: Supplies

You are going to need:

-An old inner tube
-Scissors
-Electrical Tape

Step 2: Cut the Tube

Measure out how long you want the grip to be. (Mine are just wider than my hands.)

Step 3: Cut Again

-Cut a straight line down the side of the tube.
-You may also want to wipe out the inside of the tube with a rag, there is some sort of powder in it that makes it hard for tape to stick to.

Step 4: Making the Grip

-Sit the tube on the bar and put a piece of tape on the tube going into the bar.
-Tape the shorter section to the bar itself. Make sure it is secure because you will be pulling the rubber fairly tight.

Step 5: Finishing the Grip

-Pull the longer side of the tube around the bar making sure it is tight.
-Tape the edge down.
-Get rid of any wrinkles by stretching the rubber or by letting some of the pressure off.
-Finish wrapping the end of the tube. (This doesn't secure it any more it just makes it look cleaner.)

Step 6: Wrap the Grips

Using electrical tape, start at the end nearest the stem and wrap the tape tightly around the tube, the tighter the better.
-It doesn't have to be electrical tape but it was the look I was going for.

Step 7: Watch Out!

This little (a little larger than a 50 cent piece) Wolf spider almost got me while i was crouched down wrapping the grips. 

Step 8: Finished!

After the grips are wrapped tight you are finished, just cut the tape and make 'em look pretty. Now repeat for the other side.

Comments

[yeeeeeap]

RONNIE!! ELECTRICAL TAPE HAS LEAD IN IT!! NOT GOOD IDEA!!

[veryken]

Why not use tube repair rubber cement instead of the electrical tape? It'll look even better (seamless) and won't get all gooey like elec tape does after a while.

[profpat]

this is cool, but unfortunately the electrical tape will eventually loose contact and be loose, i would recommend to slip on the grips a rubber shrink tube and heat it up so it will shrink to fit.. you can get the shrink tube at radio shack or any electrical supply outlets..

[Yard Sale Dale]

I have used electrical tape and Gorilla tape for make-do bar tape before. They stink. The glue gets hot and runs, then it's all a sticky mess. Try cutting the rubber tube into a 1" wide tape. You can start at one end of a mtn bike bar, insert the bar ends or cut-down wine cork, then wrap all the way to the other end, and cork it off.

[Yard Sale Dale]

I have used bar-tape made from inner tubes on a road bike drop bar. It has a LOT of grip, even when wet, and feels like leather tape. Pro-tip: Use spray adhesive and bar-end caps. I like it way better than the $20 store-bought cork tapes and will never go back.

[useraaaaa]

yea..
make slippery handles for you bike :-)

[Ronnie.W13]

Its not bad, its kinda like a tennis racket grip, and its better then bare metal.
-Ronnie

[FriendOfHumanity]

Hey Ronnie,

A nice clear Instrauctable but may I suggest that you do yourself a favour by covering  the open ends of your bars with either some bar end plugs or simply by taping a penny/cent over each end ( before step one).

Landing on an unplugged bar can do some serious damage ( I did it).

Happy Riding.

PS
It will also keep the spiders out.

[Ronnie.W13]

I thought about the bars ends but didn't feel like driving to get some, I live about 30 minutes from civilization and was being lazy. The penny is a good idea and I will probably do that now.

I also fell yesterday (11.11.12) because when I replaced my bars I apparently didn't tighten the stem all the way and when I went to stop on my fixie the front wheel turned and I'm fairly bloody now- YOLO! I also need to rewrap the right grip because its a little scraped up.

[Ronnie.W13]

And Thanks BTW.
-Ronnie