New hand grips
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Account Deactivated
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 6,264
Likes: 1
New hand grips
How difficult is it to change hand grips? I have the stock grips and want the chrome and rubber grips, but I want to install them myself. I had seen where you can just cut the old grips off and glue the new ones on, true?
Road Warrior
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 1,482
Likes: 0
From: BOSTON originally / APPLETON WI now
RE: New hand grips
Very easy install - took me about an hour.
Went with the larger diameter grips - HUGE difference from those stock cheap a$$ skinny ones.
Close up of grips:
Went with the larger diameter grips - HUGE difference from those stock cheap a$$ skinny ones.
Close up of grips:
Road Warrior
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 1,823
Likes: 4
From: London, Canada
RE: New hand grips
You can only glue the left one. The right one has to be connected to the throttle and idle cables. As Oliver said, there are some little parts you have to deal with. It takes some patience.
2nd Gear
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 6
Likes: 0
RE: New hand grips
I just replaced mine not too long ago. The left is easy, & mine fit so well that I didn't use the glue. The right one is easy, but as Oliver said, make sure you get the ferrules in the slots right. It might help if you loosen-up the cable adjustments all the way, then after you get the new grip on & the switch housing back on, you readjust the cable adjusters again.
Tourer
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 418
Likes: 0
From: Leesburg, FL
RE: New hand grips
My new left grip didn't require glue. It has a large flange that the switch housing clamps to. It took me about 20 minutes to install both. I cut the left grip with a razor to remove it. On the right side, just loosen the cables with the tension nuts, pop the ferrules out, swap and reverse. Piece of cake.
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 5,256
Likes: 5
From: Concord, CA
RE: New hand grips
Here is a link to instructions with a pic or 2.
Be sure to pay attention to the part about a spacer in the brake lever.
Should take about 20 min if you put a towel under the right grip. If you don't, all bets are off!
HD brand grips require no glue. Others might.
Split left with a razor lenthwise, right just slides off.
https://www.hdforums.com/m_69241/tm.htm
Be sure to pay attention to the part about a spacer in the brake lever.
Should take about 20 min if you put a towel under the right grip. If you don't, all bets are off!
HD brand grips require no glue. Others might.
Split left with a razor lenthwise, right just slides off.
https://www.hdforums.com/m_69241/tm.htm
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Cruiser
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 163
Likes: 0
From:
RE: New hand grips
Just take your time. Left one is easy but the cables on the right one can be a little tricky.
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Road Master
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 1,200
Likes: 5
From: Currently the pig country of Arkansas
RE: New hand grips
I'm a no glue guy also...
For my left grip I first cleaned the handle bar of old glue by scraping it with a razor blade. Then I wrapped the left grip area on the handle bar with black electrical tape. This will make the bar thick enough to keep the new grip on with just friction. Don't overlap the tape, but rather run it "candy cane" style with a slight gap between edges of the tape. Slip the grip on.
Using the tape method makes for a grip which will not come off under normal use, however you can get it off without destroying it if you ever need to. I thought I might want new handle bars in the future so I didn't want to install my grips with glue. This method has worked well for me on both my Heritage and now my Road King.
Good luck and let us know how it turns out.
Edmo
For my left grip I first cleaned the handle bar of old glue by scraping it with a razor blade. Then I wrapped the left grip area on the handle bar with black electrical tape. This will make the bar thick enough to keep the new grip on with just friction. Don't overlap the tape, but rather run it "candy cane" style with a slight gap between edges of the tape. Slip the grip on.
Using the tape method makes for a grip which will not come off under normal use, however you can get it off without destroying it if you ever need to. I thought I might want new handle bars in the future so I didn't want to install my grips with glue. This method has worked well for me on both my Heritage and now my Road King.
Good luck and let us know how it turns out.
Edmo