How to Remove Bike Handlebar Grips Easily

Bike Handlebar Grips are an important component of the bike’s handling feel. especially on mountain bikes, city commuter bikes, and even children’s bikes. But the comfortable and stable Bike Handlebar Grips can enhance your riding experience. If time goes by, your Handlebar Grips will show signs of wear, loosening. or expansion, etc. If this situation occurs, the first thing that comes to our mind is how to remove bike handlebar grips. Disassemble the old one, clean the handlebars, and then install the new style.

But when removing the bike handlebar grips, many people encounter some difficulties. such as getting stuck too tightly, being unable to pry them open, or even damaging the handlebars. Don’t worry! Here, this article will use a quick and simple method to enable you to remove the bike handlebar grips efficiently and easily. Please keep up the pace and continue to learn!

When is it necessary to remove the bike handlebar grips?

When should it be replaced? First of all, you need to observe whether there are cracks, hardening. or signs of surface peeling on the rubber or silicone handlebars of your bicycle Grips. because these signs will directly affect the comfort of the grip for the Push-on grips.

Another issue is that some handlebars lose their elasticity and do not fit well. When riding, they may slip and fail to lock in place. Or the fixing component screw of the Lock-on Grips is damaged and cannot be fixed.

Finally, there is a decline in functionality, with poor anti-slip performance or weakened shock absorption. At these times, we should all consider removing the bike handlebar grips without hesitation and updating them with bike handlebar ones.

Tools and Bike Handlebar Grip Types are Needed

The required tools：

Before removing the bike handlebar grips, we need to prepare some tools. The list is as follows:

• Flat-head screwdriver or thin tool (for sliding handle)
• Alcohol spray or soapy water (for lubrication)
• Compressed air tank (optional but highly efficient)
• Allen wrench (used for locking the handle)
• Dry towel (for surface protection and anti-slip)

Confirm the Bike Handlebar Grip Types

Different types of bike handlebar grips correspond to different disassembly methods:

• Push-on Grips: This type of bike handlebar grips is not fixed with screws and is fixed by friction. It is commonly found in recreational, children’s, or older mountain bikes.
• Lock-on Grips: This type of grips is equipped with small screws for locking, making the installation more secure. It is generally used in high-end mountain bikes, downhill bikes, etc.

Step-by-Step Guide to Remove Bike Handlebar Grips

The following are the operation methods for removing the handlebar covers of two different types of bicycles, namely Push-on Grips and Lock-on Grips.

The method of removing the Push-on Grips

The pus-on Grips adopt a sliding design, which is relatively economical and practical, and the design is also simple. Installation and disassembly are more efficient. The Grips of this type of bicycle are not fixed with screws, so the difficulty in disassembling them lies in the need for a relatively large friction force. The following is my operation method:

Method 1: Lubricate the removed bike handlebar grips with alcohol or soapy water.

1. Gently insert a flat-head screwdriver into the gap where the handlebars and handles are self-checking.
2. Spray alcohol or soapy water into the crevices and wait quietly for a few seconds to let the liquid seep through.
3. It can be easily removed by rotating it while pulling it outward.

Note: The advantage of using alcohol, of course, is that it speeds up and leaves no residue.

Method 2: Compressed air method.

1. Gently insert a flat-head screwdriver at one end of the handle, and then insert it into the compressed air nozzle.
2. Press the jet button simultaneously. The air will increase the pressure, and then the handle will bulge and loosen.
3. Now, the handlebars of the bicycle will slide out automatically or be pulled out more easily.

Method Three: Heating Softening Method.

1. Use the medium to high heating handle of the hair dryer for 30 seconds to 1 minute.
2. The heated rubber will become soft, and you can rotate it quickly and pull it out. This method can be used in winter or when the rubber ages and hardens.

If the above three methods don’t work, the quickest way is to directly cut the handlebar with a blade. But, if your handlebar is a carbon fiber mountain bike handlebar, I don’t recommend you to use this rough method. Because scratching the surface will weaken the strength of the handlebar and cause damage to its material surface.

The method of removing the Lock-on Grips

Compared with Push-on Grips, the locking type is easier to remove. As long as you find the position of the screw, it is easy to operate and safe. It is the first choice for DIY enthusiasts. The following is a step-by-step guide on how to remove the Lockon Grips:

1. Find the small screw on the inner side or the tail end of the handle (usually a 2mm or 3mm Allen socket).
2. Then use an Allen tool to loosen this screw.
3. After removing the screws, your handlebar covers can now be easily taken off.

Note: What should I do if the screws get rusty and stuck during the disassembly process and won’t move?
You can spray WD-40 or rust remover into the screw holes and the edges of the handles.
Use a dry towel to hold the handle and gently twist and pull it out to avoid damage.

Clean the bike handlebar grips& check

After removing the bike handlebars, don’t rush to install the new bike handlebar grips first. We need to clean the residues on the handlebars.

• 1. Use hotel water or warm water mixed with soap to clean the dust and residues on the handlebars.
• 2. Dry it with a dry cloth and then install a new handle to prevent it from sliding or loosening.
• 3. Take the Lock-on Grips as an example. First, after putting on your Lock-on Grips, you need to use an Allen wrench to tighten one or more bolts on the grip ring. Please be sure to tighten it by the torque specification recommended by the manufacturer to ensure a firm installation and prevent damage to the grip or handlebars.

Related Articles:

• How to Measure Bike Handlebar Sizes Correctly
• How to measure bike handlebar width
• Best Bike Handlebar Types for Every Riding Style
• How to Measure Bike Stem Length
• Top 8 Best MTB Grips for All-Terrain Riders

FAQ

Conclusion

In conclusion, through the content of the above article, we believe that you have already gained some understanding of the method of how to remove bike handlebar grips. Regular maintenance of bicycle handlebars is not only for aesthetics and personal preference, but also a habit. Having good bike handlebar grips can help you enhance your riding experience, handling, and comfort. So when your bike handlebar grips show various factors such as cracks, wear, and expansion. And non-fit, as mentioned in the text, please be sure to remove the Bike Handlebar grips regularly.