Changing handlebar grip

[scubasimon]

Hi folks.

 

I've read several posts in this forum where people were talking about changing handlebar grips. There were a number of people who asked about installation but there really wasn't any post on the topic. Well, I went to PML to get my BMW handlebar grips today and just finished installing and testing them out on my bike. Here's a short description for those interested in doing the same.

 

1. Go to Performance Motor Limited to get your grips. You can find them at the start of Dunearn Road, right after Rifle Range Road and before the Esso station. On your way there, do pop into Rifle Range Road for a nice ride :-)

 

2. If you rode your bike there, please note that the best place to park is on the pavement just outside the exit gate. That is where I parked. It is convenient and hassle-free. The car park inside does not allow for motorcycle parking. Of course, you can park inside if you drove there.

 

3. Proceed into the main showroom, then walk up to the 2nd floor. At the top of the stairs on your right is the Parts Counter. You can request for the handlebar grips there. Then proceed to pay at the reception counter on the same floor.

 

4. Get home and start removing your old grips. Here's how my old grips looked like on my handlebar.

http://simonnunis.smugmug.com/photos/618681245_kzdMx-S.jpghttp://simonnunis.smugmug.com/photos/618682844_VWhgr-S.jpg

 

5. To remove, slip a small (but make sure its long enough) flat-head screwdriver into the bottom of the grip, in between the grip and your handlebar. Work the screwdriver so you loosen whatever adhesive might be inside. The grip may be very difficult to work out at this time so squirt some WD-40 into the opening created by your screwdriver. The grip should work out easily with a few squirts. Get both sides out. The old grips will look really dirty and icky but that's OK. You can also use a blade to cut your grip out if they are made of rubber or silicone. Here's how mine looked when I had them removed.

http://simonnunis.smugmug.com/photos/618683580_sBgUH-S.jpghttp://simonnunis.smugmug.com/photos/618683232_588Mb-S.jpg

 

I'm sure you noticed how dirty they are. That's why you need to clean up your handlebars in the next step. Be a little extra careful on the throttle side as there is a plastic sleeve that covers the handlebars which controls the throttle wires. My apologies for the lack of pictures as I forgot to take them in my excitement!

 

6. Use dish soap to clean your handlebars. Then wipe it dry. If you can feel unevenness from leftover, hardened adhesive, use a thinner or rubbing spirit to clean that off, then use dish soap again.

 

7. Now the new grips should look like this.

http://simonnunis.smugmug.com/photos/618680509_mmbk9-S.jpghttp://simonnunis.smugmug.com/photos/618680895_aDnwG-S.jpg

Notice how one end has a higher sleeve from the other? Also notice how one grip has a bigger inner diameter than the other? Good. The end with the higher sleeve will face the inside of your handlebar. The grip with the bigger diameter will go onto your throttle sleeve. OK?

 

8. Now to install. You simply squeeze the grips into place. On my bike they were really tight! In fact, it could only go in a third of the way on the clutch side. So I took it out and put a thin film of soap onto the bars and tried again. This time it went in easily and came out easily. So I just wiped off the soap and tried again. Did it a few times and eventually it sat on the bar nice and tight! Then align it the way you like it and you're done with one side.

http://simonnunis.smugmug.com/photos/618683888_q2EeJ-S.jpg

 

9. Do the same with the throttle side. Just take note that since this side is a plastic sleeve, it will slide in a lot easier. So make sure you test it so it does not slide out easily. Also, you want to try out the throttle control after you are done. It should move effortlessly without resistance. When you release, it should spring back into place immediately. If you feel any resistance, you've pushed it in too far. So just pull it out a little.

http://simonnunis.smugmug.com/photos/618684209_uhnGu-S.jpg

 

Some bikes require that you install the grip with the inner sleeve inside the control switch-box. If your bike is like that (and you'll know when you try to remove your existing handlebar grips), then you'll need to unscrew your switchbox in order to remove, and to install your grips.

 

Well, that's how I did mine. Some people recommend using grip glue, others don't. Some people recommend using safety wire, others don't. Well, unless you intend to race, you really do not need safety wire. I'll leave it for you to decide if you want to use grip glue. I found it to be unnecessary on my own test ride. It responded well and gripped perfectly just after 5mins.

 

So now you can head down to PML and get your new grips and do your own easy installation. It took me all of 15mins to do mine (plus pictures). Should be a breeze for you too!

 

Enjoy!

[ProFatSir]

to touch up your PT7

 

1 grip is soft,1 grip is hard.soft for throttle,hard for left

 

you can also use wd 40 to install the grip

 

remember to add in balancer heavy type can be purchase @ beside LAB selling 12-15sgd.

 

job well done!!!

[guwakzai]

u can actually bring the grips to the motordiam to install.. the use the compress air gun to remove the old grip..

 

save the hassle on the cleaning part ")

[ProFatSir]

u can actually bring the grips to the motordiam to install.. the use the compress air gun to remove the old grip..

 

save the hassle on the cleaning part ")

 

 

we all also know ride to motortiam ask them to use compressor to blow the grip in/out.

 

this is a hands on thread.

 

meaning DIY aka do it yourself.

 

thanks for the advise.

 

ya hor TS,why you dun ask the bike shop to buy for you and you ride down there ask them to install and u stand aside just like our famous "raffles" along singapore river????(just joking only)

 

hands on

 

grip-25sgd

workmanship-free

total-25sgd+time

 

motor shop

 

grip-30sgd

workmanship-include(some might charge you 2sgd)

total-30sgd plus?

[scubasimon]

i prefer to hands on as much as possible. afterall, bikes are much simpler than cars and its a way for me to learn all i can. i actually do not like the idea of having others do my stuff for me, unless its something i dislike doing, or something i do not know how to do. that's why lah.

 

by the way, even though you go to the shop and they remove the old grip with compressed air, you will still have all sorts of dirt on your handlebar. i recommend that you ask them to clean it before installing your brand new grip. another reason why i prefer to do this myself...i know exactly what i did so if something goes wrong its easier for me to figure out how to do better next round :-)

[crazydj]

My old GRP handgrips look like that! They were so horrible!

[scubasimon]

you mean like my old grip? yeah, mine had absolutely no more cushion actually. happy to change them out for the bmw ones. will give it a good long ride tomorrow and report back.

[ProFatSir]

i prefer to hands on as much as possible. afterall, bikes are much simpler than cars and its a way for me to learn all i can. i actually do not like the idea of having others do my stuff for me, unless its something i dislike doing, or something i do not know how to do. that's why lah.

 

by the way, even though you go to the shop and they remove the old grip with compressed air, you will still have all sorts of dirt on your handlebar. i recommend that you ask them to clean it before installing your brand new grip. another reason why i prefer to do this myself...i know exactly what i did so if something goes wrong its easier for me to figure out how to do better next round :-)

 

that good.can teach me how to diy....?.

[scubasimon]

adoi...i just did it this once. when you changing your grip?

[Phang]

i prefer to hands on as much as possible. afterall, bikes are much simpler than cars and its a way for me to learn all i can. i actually do not like the idea of having others do my stuff for me, unless its something i dislike doing, or something i do not know how to do. that's why lah.

 

by the way, even though you go to the shop and they remove the old grip with compressed air, you will still have all sorts of dirt on your handlebar. i recommend that you ask them to clean it before installing your brand new grip. another reason why i prefer to do this myself...i know exactly what i did so if something goes wrong its easier for me to figure out how to do better next round :-)

 

Well said and well done

[ProFatSir]

adoi...i just did it this once. when you changing your grip?

 

i change it abt 4 mth ago liao loh.

 

was pulling your leg leh.

 

i into diy a lot.some say im too extreme

 

go look @ the naked bike,honda cg thread to see my rebuilt of my bike.heehee

[scubasimon]

hey...pulling my leg huh?

 

good...now got question for you. i want to paint my bike frame and engine but do not want to take things apart because i don't know how to. also don't know which areas can be painted and which areas should not be painted. right now, am thinking frame to be dark grey paint, engine will be silver/enamel paint, plastics to be black. my swing arm is already nice and silver so i'll leave that alone. tank i want to paint either silver or grey. do you think this is doable without taking things apart? i ride a tw200...

 

...hehehe...now you gotta answer the question since you pulled my leg...

[ProFatSir]

hey...pulling my leg huh?

 

good...now got question for you. i want to paint my bike frame and engine but do not want to take things apart because i don't know how to. also don't know which areas can be painted and which areas should not be painted. right now, am thinking frame to be dark grey paint, engine will be silver/enamel paint, plastics to be black. my swing arm is already nice and silver so i'll leave that alone. tank i want to paint either silver or grey. do you think this is doable without taking things apart? i ride a tw200...

 

...hehehe...now you gotta answer the question since you pulled my leg...

 

wow trying to test me issit....

ans 1 by 1..

 

no sparying on plastic.will crack after a few week.try to replace with a new piece or use sticker to wrap it.

 

your oil tank need to patch up the hole and remove the sticker and sand than can apply paint(need to remove the petrol)

 

1.remove the seat/tanks/plastic/exhaust/handle and what ever you can

why,easy to spary.

 

2.clean your bike with degreaser.make sure very clean,no oil is allowgot oil ,paint will not stick

 

where to buy?

 

got budget

NTUC yellow liquid/transparent bottle/white spary head with red nozzle.

 

no budget

use petrol(petrol will dry up fast) no smoking while doing this.

 

3.use sand paper to sand away the rusted area(remove all dust after sanding)

 

4.do the engine 1st.

use hightemp spary(2 colour only black or silver)

why high temp? engine is hot.hightemp paint can last

can do a 2 tone effect.mix and match black and silver

avaliable @ defu lane 10 tat lee long hardware 8.50sgd/ can (also can spary your exhaust)

 

5.spary thin layer by layer.

 

6.engine done complete dry use newspaper and masking tape to mask the engine and area you dont wanna to be spary.make sure no gaps between the newspapers(mask more rather than less.)

 

7.use primer gery 4.50-5sgd @ ubi ave 3 arena hardware(primer got brown/silver/gery) for the frame.also thin layer by layer

 

8.get a clear coat paint to do a finishing for the frame

 

9.fix back all stuff.

 

what you need

masking tape

high temp spary paint

primer

clear coating paint

newspaper

 

fast job not nice:dot:

nice job not fast:cheeky:

 

how was my reply?

Edited August 13, 2009 by ProFatSir

[scubasimon]

wow trying to test me issit....

 

fast job not nice:dot:

nice job not fast:cheeky:

 

how was my reply?

 

not bad, not bad. wah...just thinking of sanding down that engine is making me think 3-4-5 times about whether i wanna paint by myself. but then again, send to shop no shiok also. i suppose this is gonna take a few days to do man...1 day just to dismantle and clean, another to sand plus 1st coat primer, then another 2-3 days to do more primer and paint and mask. wow...ok...gotta see which week i will sacrifice and not ride my bike and use my car more. terok man.

[compfused]

You can also put on grips by insertin a few cable ties (2-3)..Place it in the grip an different parts..Hold in place..Push the grip onto hanlebar as usual..Once its in desired placement just pull out the cable tie..

 

Some other alternatives are..Using hairspray..WD 40 and even hairspray..Leave it a while to dry and it will stick really good..

[scubasimon]

the cable-tie idea is a really good one. i can see how that will help with the insertion process tremendously! thanks man...next change will remember that :-)