new grips
Tourer
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 362
Likes: 0
From: Plattsburgh, NY
RE: new grips
Spread an old comforter or something under the bike to stop those damn things from bouncing when they hit the garage floor. I did this and it saved me throwing my pliers through the wall and about a half hour of searching. Its really not bad at all. Most grips will come with instructions as well.
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 6,478
Likes: 12
From: Nashville, TN
RE: new grips
Well...it sounds easy enough. I'm kinda gun shy on this one. One of the first additions I made to the bike was the chrome buttons on the housing. That turned into a nightmare!! However, I do know a considerable bit more about wrenching on a Sportster now than I did at that time. I'm gonna hafta replace my grips soon. The stock throttle grip is just about worn out.
Road Warrior
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 1,416
Likes: 0
From: East Central Illinois
RE: new grips
Kawsakimx6, that is why I mention it. That was my second beer and 10 minutes was trying to find the ferrule on the first throttle cable when it went flying off. If anyone wants directions, go to kuryakyn's sight. They have installation instructions available online for their grips, which install just like any other brand.
Grand HDF Member
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 4,007
Likes: 126
From: Manassas, VA
RE: new grips
I used a Torx 25 last night to remove my switch housings. The T-27 was too big. Try to resist the temptation to grip the cables with pliers, or vise-grips. If you kink the cables they'll fray and break prematurly. It's best to loosen the cables at the other end ie. throttle body or carb. Youll need to remove the air cleaner to get to them.
My $.02.
My $.02.
Tourer
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 412
Likes: 0
From:
RE: new grips
No way 10min Took at least 45 plus an hour to drive to the dealer after dropping the ferrule. Had a white sheet (dont tell wife) on ground and missed the sheet (hit fender with 1 and foot with other).Probably would have been easier with another pair of hands. The front cable was the hardest to hook up more tension Back had no tension .Back together and the bike runs fine
Novice
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 17
Likes: 0
RE: new grips
OK, put new grips on my Nightster last weekend, the instructions with the grips help you with the left but not the right. ( Says to refer to your service manual)My H.D. parts guy told me to loosen the idle cable ( thats the cable thats returns the throttle back to the OFF position). Went home did the left, then unscrewed the switch housing, took the air cleaner and mounting hardware off and found no way to loosen the cable. After fussing around a bit, looked at the cables and remembered that the throttle adjustment is in the center of the cable. Figured out which cable pulled the throttle and loosened up the opposite one. Cable comes right off ( WATCH THE FERRULES). Before you loosen the cable, measure, make a mark, take a picture, or do something so that when you put it back together you know where to reset it to.Took maybe 45min.s, been faster had I rememered how to adjust the cables. Love my new grips.
HD Forum Stories
The Best of Harley-Davidson for Lifelong Riders
7 Surprising Harley-Davidson Products that Are Not Motorcycles
Verdad Gallardo
8 Best Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever
Pouria Savadkouei
10 Worst Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever
Pouria Savadkouei
Killer Custom's Jail Break Is The Breakout That Refused to Blend In
Verdad Gallardo
Crazy Bunderbike Build Looks Amazing, But Is It Impossible to Ride?
Verdad Gallardo
Harley-Davidson Reveals Super Cool Cafe Racer Concept
Verdad Gallardo
Engraved Rebellion: Inside Bundnerbike's Glam Rock II
Verdad Gallardo
10 Motorcycles You Should Never Buy
Joe Kucinski
10 Things Harley-Davidson Needs to Fix in 2026
Verdad Gallardo
RE: new grips
I just changed mine out tonight. The only problem I had was tightening the throttle cables. After I screwed everything back together the throttle grip was still too loose even setting it to where it was before. Had to make them quite a bit tighter. Plus I was a little nervous cutting stuff off my brand new bike, beings this is the first mod I've done and the first motorcycle I've ever owned! But it was worth it. What a difference!
Grand HDF Member
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 4,007
Likes: 126
From: Manassas, VA
RE: new grips
If you take the air cleaner off, you can hold the throttle in the open position to introduce more slack without having to pinch the cable with pliers. I had my gas tank off anyway so I slid a long, thin screwdriver handle down through the top to hold the throttle open. Piece of cake. My throttle tension adjusters wound up in a slightly different position, too. Works fine.
Pics of blacked-out handle bars and relocated turn-signals on '05 883C coming soon. I'm fabricating a bracket to relocate the ignition switch. Hopefully, just a couple more days.
Pics of blacked-out handle bars and relocated turn-signals on '05 883C coming soon. I'm fabricating a bracket to relocate the ignition switch. Hopefully, just a couple more days.
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post