How do I remove stuck bike grips? [Quick Question]

The Quick Question series answers your MTB repair questions. Do you have a quick question about mountain bike repair? 🤔 Email [email protected] and we’ll do our best to answer it!

This quick question actually came from my dad earlier this summer: “How do I remove an old pair of bike grips?” He was replacing the handlebar grips on a rusty, well-worn beach cruiser, and was looking for a quick and easy fix.

Types of bike grips

How you remove your bike grips will depend on the type of grips your bike has, and there are two main types. Simple slide-on grips rely on friction and a tight fit to stay in place, and they can be the trickiest to remove. Lock-on grips, on the other hand, feature a collar at one or both ends of the grip and are tightened to the bars using a clamp and bolt.

Removing slide-on grips

If you’re having a hard time removing a grip from your handlebar, first make sure the end caps have been removed. These are usually hard plastic caps that plug your bars and cover any sharp edges. If the caps/plugs are stuck, use a flat head screwdriver to pop them out.

We’ll start with the two easiest and least destructive methods and leave the most desperate solution for last.

Break out the alcohol

Grips can become stuck due to residue, and rubbing alcohol will help remove any sticky stuff. You can use a syringe to get a little alcohol between the grip and bars, or you can use a skinny screwdriver or pick to pry up the ends of the grip enough to dab some alcohol on the bars.

Now, start twisting and pulling! Twisting will help spread the alcohol around and hopefully clean off any residue that’s causing the grips to stick.

Products like Goo Gone are designed specifically for removing sticky and gummy residues, and have been known to work. Just don’t apply too much, and definitely keep it off the gripping surface. You’ll need a firm grip to twist and turn the grips; in fact, I recommend wearing a pair of gloves to maximize your grip on the, er, grips. Once they’re off, be sure to thoroughly clean and dry the bars so the replacement grips don’t slip.

A blast of fresh air

This is the method shop mechanics generally use, though you’ll need to have access to an air compressor or canned air, like the stuff used to clean computer equipment. Wedge the air nozzle underneath the inside edge of the grip, and let the air rip. In what feels like a magic trick, the grip will slide right off like it was never stuck in the first place. Woosh!

As a last resort, cut it off

Assuming you’re changing the stuck grips with new ones anyway, slicing sticky buggers with a utility knife is a quick and easy solution. This is what I ended up doing with my dad’s grips, and I have to say it was very satisfying. A lengthwise cut allows you to peel the grips off like you’re opening a banana.

Just don’t cut too deep. You don’t want to scratch your handlebars, especially if they’re carbon. Make a shallow cut to start, and only go deeper if you must. In making the video for this article I cut too deep on my first attempt, leaving a visible scratch on my bar. Don’t be like me! On the second try I slowed down and made multiple passes until the grip was cut all the way through.

Removing lock-on grips

Lock-on grips are designed to be removed using a simple hex wrench, and you can pick up a set for as little as $7. They’re certainly a worthy upgrade if you’re replacing a set of slide-on grips!

Depending on the grip, there could be a clamp with a hex bolt on one or both ends of the grip. This style of bike grip features a hard plastic sleeve inside, and since the grip’s tacky rubber doesn’t actually contact the handlebar, the tricks above don’t really apply.

It’s not unusual for a lock-on grip clamp bolt to become stuck, either due to corrosion from sweat or the elements, or because the bolt head is stripped or cross-threaded. In any case, you can try to remove the bolt using a hex bolt extractor. Alternatively, you might be able to pry the clamp apart using a flat head screwdriver. This will likely ruin the clamp, though replacement clamps are generally available. Worst case: you may need to replace the grips with a new set.

Stuck bike grips are annoying, but with these tricks you should be able to remove them fairly quickly and easily. What tips do you have for removing bike grips that are stuck? Tell us in the comments below!