spandexsuperman

Used windex to get strong v choice grips on my nitto drops the other day... Now the opportunity for a ct80 dropped in my lap. It has no removable clamp face, gotta slide it over the bars. Won't go over the champs. How do I get the damn things off without destroying the grips, or my aluminum bars... Air compressor is what I was told but thatll scratch up the aluminum I think? >:-(

Scrodzilla

Roll them off. Think of putting on a condom, but in reverse.

TejanoTrackie 

Personally, I prefer the slide-on technique with condoms.

AlmostGreenGuy

Canned air, with the little straw tube. Slide the straw end under the far end of the grip, and blow. The grips come flying right off.

Insert just the tip. ;-)


If you have an air compressor with a ball inflation needle, even better.

NateRod

bmontgomery87

whats a condom?


*says the guy with two children.

EnzoRWD

Compressed air is the best. If you're at home without canned air, use some rubbing alcohol, get it under the grip and work it off. When you're done, the alc evaporates and doesn't ruin the grips. Might even clean them.

Rolling is easiest but sometimes, sometimes can stretch the grips.

50voltphantom

Back in my BMX days I'd just shoot a little WD40 in the end and start twisting till they loosened up.

Failing that, cut'em off with a utility knife.

cessanfrancisco

I stick a flathead screwdriver between the grip and the bar. Pour rubbing alcohol (I use isopropyl 91%) down there. Let it seep around the inside of the grip. It should then simply slide off with a little twisting and pulling. When putting the grips back on, pour some rubbing alcohol inside the grips, swish it around, pour it out, and it should slide right on. As the alcohol dries the grip will stick to the bar like glue. Well, not literally like glue, but you know what I mean...

Scrodzilla

Removing grips is tough. I hear it's even harder than removing crank arms!

TejanoTrackie 

I also hear that you can suffer serious injury or death when removing crank arms.

spandexsuperman

Yeah, especially when what you told me to do has no chance of working and I've removed plenty of crank arms before, I can't think of any response to questions I've asked or really any answer I've seen you give that has been helpful. I ended up taking a nylon spudger from electronics projects to not scratch it and filling it up with isopropyl, I learned ammonia eats at aluminum so I'm not doing the windex again. do something with your time other than trolling a bike forum and condescending to everyone without any basis, and maybe try spreading your apparent wealth if knowledge instead of saying life is crazy. By the way, the threads were perfect on my crank when I got the bolt puller out. It was definitely the tool failing, despite it being double washered

Scrodzilla

You can stroke your e-peen as much as you see fit but here is a 300+ page thread that proves otherwise.
Life is indeed crazy.

Leukybear 

This^.

Pro tip: be sure to have a finger or thumb cover up the hole at the back or tears if any so the pressure has no where to go and ends up pushing the grip off.

RoadTire 

What ever method, use lots of vigorous twisting/pushing - if you pull they can act like Chinese finger cuffs and tighten as they are stretched. Pushing will expand the diameter as they are compressed.

Use those plastic orange peeler thingies instead of a screwdriver = they look almost like a pencil sharpened to a wedge.

Compressed air with a plastic tip so you don't scratch everything.

A lubricant sprayed under the grip with the thin straw.

turky lurkey

+1 rubbing alcohol.
Lay the bike on its side, if you can slightly pry the grip open let rubbing alcohol run down the bar into the grip, get plenty down there and it should twist off easily. It also works great for sliding grips on because it will evaporate even with the grips on.

nelsonfung21

I use soap instead of alcohol.

Steev

I just water because there's usually a water bottle where the bikes are. The other stuff probably works better, but is not immediately to hand.

turky lurkey

Lately I've been keeping a bottle of rubbing alcohol with my tools and lubricants because I've also been using it to clean my rims. I overhaul a lot of older bikes and before I true the wheels I liberally lube the spoke nipples without worrying much about getting oil on the rims. Before I ride the bike I wipe the rim's with rubbing alcohol and it seems to clean them right up. Even if you just have dirt and road grime on the wheels rubbing alcohol helps, it improves braking and stops any squealing on old dirty rims. I know this has nothing to do with grips but just FYI for anybody interested.

EnzoRWD

I don't like this because you need to clean it up really well to prevent super annoying/dangerous conditions when you put those grips on another bike.

spandexsuperman

I believe you're the one stroking your epeen here since your internet thread is your claim to fame, and I'm pretty sure you don't know anything about me to make claims like that which kind of reinforces what I said.

Scrodzilla

And yours are your claim to being incapable of removing grips and crank arms.

Stick around, kid. You might learn something.

spandexsuperman

Damn, I guess you're right. Other than the fact that rolling them off won't work, and forged steel sheared before pulling up aluminum threading? And I really don't care what a bike forum thinks of me, I go here if I need help not to make myself feel better or burn time. I guess we just have perversely different skill sets, and mine doesn't involve being a jackass.

Scrodzilla

Be sure to come by the shop sometime if you're ever in San Diego. I'll take your grips off for free and give you a cold beer.

iTripped

Can we close this extremely productive thread now?