Bicycle Mechanics - How to grips

How do you install and remove these grips without destroying it.

http://sheldonbrown.com/harris/images/vargrips.jpg

I pour rubbing alcohol between the bars and grips. It'll help both removal and installation, and it evaporates relatively fast, and leaves no residue behind.

To help get the alcohol into the joint, tip the bike sideways, pour a bit of alcohol at the grip/bar interface and start twisting/turning/sliding the grip. You may need a little more alcohol as the grip starts moving. Sometimes, inserting a flat item (like a new zip tie or thin screwdriver) helps get the alcohol into the joint.

As above but use some WD-40 in there. Then use a blow nozzle on your air hose to walk the grip off.

Hairspray will let it slide back on and stick it fast when dry.

Hairspray or spray glue.

Compressed air to remove.

Won't WD40 cause the rubber to swell permanently? I want to be able to reinstall the grip later.

I don't have hairspray. Can I use dishwashing liquid?

Soapy water might penetrate better...and would be easier rinse off once you get the grips off.

Rubbing alcohol does work quite well, though.

I use soapy water and a THIN screwdriver. Work slow.
I save old mustard squeeze bottles (washed) for use on jobs like these.

I don't have hairspray. Can I use dishwashing liquid?

If you install the grips with dishwashing liquid, it will slide on very easy. However, the grips may continue to slide around for quite some time, since the soap will remain between the grip and bars. The soap does not evaporate easily and may just create a slimy mess. Hairspray does dry quickly and leaves a tacky compound behind. (You could get a cheap can of hairspray from a "99 Cent Only" type of store, no need to get a designer brand). Likewise, alcohol evaporates quickly, and leaves to residue so the grip can grip the bar.

+1 hairspray, if you're quick it slides on easy and after it sets it doesn't slip, in my experience. I'd use this instead of glue if you don't have compressed air. So you don't have to resort to a razor to get them off.

Compressed air makes it easy to take off and put on. I haven't had to yet on bicycle grips, but on my moto bike I had to drill a hole in the end a bit smaller than my air chuck and start the grip as far as I could slide it and finally give it a blast of air and the whole thing balloons up and slides on easy. The other end of the bars has to be plugged by something or someone.

Taking the grips off you can just peel up a bit from the inside and slide your nozzle in there and walk it off with a little twisting and pulling as someone said. I didn't have to use anything to loosen it up, couldn't hurt.

Water or Windex coming and going. It is *very easy* to mar the bar using a screwdriver to get under the lip so be careful. Air may be better.

Second vote for windex. All I've ever used.