How to Install Harley Grips

Put grips on your Harley motorcycle.

Keeping that firm grip on the handles of your Harley is a crucial part of maintaining control over it. Handle grips pass the vibrations of the motor onto the rider’s hands. Therefore it is important to keep them in shape in order to provide that much-needed buffer for the hands and wrists--during those long rides, every little helps to add to the rider's comfort. Friction caused by rubbing the grips will cause the grips to wear and become thinner and loose, necessitating their replacement.

Difficulty:

Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need

• Screwdriver
• Torx wrench
• Bolts
• Utility knife
• Flat-head screwdriver
• Sandpaper
• Cloth
• Adhesive
• Needle-nose pliers

1. • 1

     Position your motorcycle on a flat surface. Turn off the motor and put it in gear.

   • 2

     Observe the bolts and the screws of the clutch or brake assembly. Use a screwdriver or a Torx wrench to remove the bolts of the clutch assembly, which is wrapped around the left handle. Separate the upper and the lower switch housing and place it away from the handle. The switch housing holds the the switches used to control the motorcycle.

   • 3

     Place a towel on a counter. Put all the detached parts on the towel so they won’t get lost or roll off.

   • 4

     Cut the left grip carefully lengthwise, using a utility knife. Take a flat-head screwdriver and insert it between the handle and the grip to help get the grip off. Take sandpaper and a cloth and wipe away any residue on the handle. By doing so, the new adhesive layer will get a better hold.

   • 5

     Slide on the new grip to test if its edges are aligned with the channel of the clutch housing. Slide it off and spread adhesive inside the grips. Use your fingers to spread the glue. Pay attention to not put too much glue on the grips, otherwise excess glue could get on the clutch housing.

   • 6

     Slide the grip onto the handle by rotating it back and forth. Level it with the channels of the housing. Grip the handle and squeeze it firmly. Hold the grip for a few moments for the glue to bond.

   • 7

     Reassemble the clutch assembly. Position the channel of the switch housing around the grip’s edge. Adjust the position of the clutch lever. Fasten it with the bolts, using a Torx wrench.

   • 8

     Insert the grip on the right handle. Take the Torx wrench and remove the bolts holding the switch housing. Separate the upper part from the bottom one. Observe the position of the throttle cables that are now visible and remember their exact position.

   • 9

     Move the throttle cables away from the throttle sleeve using needle-nose pliers. Push and slide off both the throttle sleeve and the switch housing.

   • 10

     Cut off the grip using the utility knife, in the same way that you did in Step 4. Clean the area with sandpaper and cloth, then apply adhesive into the right hand grip. Slide the grip while rotating it onto the handle. Align and squeeze the grip and wait a moment for the glue to bond.

   • 11

     Slide the new throttle sleeve onto the handle and reattach the throttle cables in their position. Put back the switch housing and fasten it in place using bolts.

Tips & Warnings

• Use a spray carb cleaner to dissolve the glue if you do not want to cut the grip off.

• Do not lubricate the grips prior to their installation. This may cause them to slide off when riding.

• Not installing the handlebar grips the proper way may result in injuries and even death.

• Use only compatible parts for your Harley, to avoid malfunction of the motorcycle.