How to Get Those Stuck Grips Off Bike's Handlebars

Sometimes people need to take their grips off a bike's handlebars, but often the only way to do so appears only to cut them. This instructable tells you how to do this in another way. You will need:

- a pair of grips to take off,

- water, and

- a flathead screwdriver.

Step 1:

First start off by taking a flathead screwdriver and slightly pushing it in between the handlebars and the grip.

Step 2:

After doing that, gently push the screwdriver sideways, leaving a small gap between the handlebars and the grip. After that, pour some water into the gap and remove the screwdriver. Originally I used wd40 (a penetrating oil) but later found out that simple water works just as fine and you don't need to clean anything up after it.

Step 3:

Now you are ready to remove the grip by twisting and pulling the grips up.

Step 4:

You're done! If, afterwards, you put the grip on another handlebars, do it while it's still wet; water eventually evaporates leaving the grip sitting very tightly.

Comments

[aaahotdog]

I have found that Windex glass cleaner works great. Same thing with screwdriver. Windex is a tad more slippery than good old water. For goodness sake though, no more WD-40 that's too messy.

[Dustin Rogers]

+1 on the air compressor method. Hair spray works good when reinstalling new grips. It provides the lube for install and then the adhesive once it dries.

[joshcube]

Another +1 on the air compressor if you have a decent one. I used to work in the fitness equipment industry and that's how we would put grips up to 18 inches long on things like elliptical handles.

[wavey davey]

Instead of water i spit down between the screwdriver and handlebar! Dosnt get water everywhere and always available!!!

[AllexT]

Use hairspray instead. You can direct it so you don't get everything wet and by using it to help slide new ones on they dry in place ☺

[avocadostains]

Now is that an I've tried both methods and discovered that hairspray is vastly superior to water comment? Because to me youre outside, you have your bike, you have a hose or some other source of water, bike gets a little wet, not the end of the world. Bike not made out of cheetos. Bike not delicious but bike not melt. Stands up even to the rain, etc. The water will dry. I dont see how hairspray, basically fast drying liquid glue would work better as a lubricant here.

[Flaky_Jay's]

I see why you would think it doesn't work that good, but coming from a down hill mtb rider who has been using hair spray for years to change out his grips, it really does work quite well. yes hair spray is a mild adhesive, but while its still wet it acts as a mild lubricant, with a faster dry time than water.

[avocadostains]

oh ok. I thought we were just crazy speculating. If it works it works, good tip. Personally I dont use grips. Thus I've never had any qualms with just cutting grips off theyre tight since I throw them away anyways The plain even metal tube feels better to me. Then again I dont do a lot of extreme riding. In fact none.

[VadimS]

I always just used an air compressor and an air gun with a fine tip. Like the upper one:

http://www.fluidcontrol.no/Products/HoseReels%20Sp...

Stick in under the grip from the inside, and it'll blow the grip off instantly.

[IamGutter]

Great Instructable! This is a fantastic method of removing the grips, especially for those of us with no hair, no need for hairspray and don't feel the need to add more chemicals to our atmosphere! Plus...I always have water and a screwdriver on my bike! Thanks again!!