Grips look like a small detail, but they are how you hold the bike. Worn, cracked or rain slick rubber reduces control, rubs your palms and tires your wrists on long rides. Grips are replaced because of wear, for better ergonomics or simply for a fresh look.
Old grips often stick to the bar, and people cut them off with a knife, risking scratches on the tube. There is an easier way: a little lubricant under the grip, a screwdriver and a few minutes.
What you will need
- new grips for your bar diameter
- flat screwdriver or thin plastic lever
- WD-40 Smart Straw with the thin straw, or WD-40 Multi-Use
- isopropyl alcohol
- clean lint free cloth
- hex key if the grips have lock rings
Important: Once fitted, grips must not move at all: if a grip twists or slides, do not ride. That is why every trace of lubricant must be removed from the bar.
Step 1
Choose your new grips
Standard rubber grips are a tight push fit, while lock-on grips clamp with bolts and come off in a minute. Look at ergonomics, material and tread: ergonomic grips with a palm support suit long rides, a deeper pattern works better in mud and rain.
Check the bar diameter and the grip length, leaving room for brake levers and shifters.
Step 2
Prepare the handlebar
Remove the bar end plugs. If your grips are lock-on, just loosen the bolts with a hex key and slide them off, which makes the rest much easier. If shifters or brake levers sit close by, loosen their clamps and move them slightly inwards if needed.
Step 3
Remove the old grip
Lift the inner edge of the grip with the screwdriver and spray WD-40 Smart Straw underneath through the thin straw. Push the screwdriver further in to widen the gap and add a little more so the product runs along the bar.
Pull the grip outwards while twisting it. The lubricant breaks the bond between rubber and metal, so the grip comes off without cutting. Repeat on the other side.
Step 4
Clean the bar thoroughly
Wipe the bar dry with the cloth, then degrease it with isopropyl alcohol so no lubricant or old dirt is left on the tube. This is the most important step: on an oily surface a new grip will twist.
Step 5
Fit the new grips
Wet the bar and the inside of the grip with isopropyl alcohol and quickly push the grip on with a twisting motion. The alcohol acts as a temporary lubricant and evaporates within minutes, after which the grip holds tight.
Set the position, tighten any lock rings, return levers and shifters to their places and refit the end plugs. Wait 15-30 minutes before riding.
Tip: Do not use hairspray, soapy water or similar tricks to fit grips: they can stay sticky or, worse, slippery. Isopropyl alcohol evaporates without a trace.
What next
Wash the grips with warm water now and then, and protect metal parts of the cockpit and cables on a bike kept outdoors from damp with WD-40 Multi-Use, keeping it off the grips and brakes.
These uses come from the experience of WD-40 users in many countries. Always follow the instructions and warnings on the product label.
More guides in «How to use».