how to remove hand grip

The Seca I bought in the Spring had been laid down and the right handlebar is bent in slightly. I have been riding it like this for the past several months but I would like to straighten it out. How can I get the hand grip off without damaging it?
Thanks,
Joe

 

http://www.xjbikes.com/Forums/viewtopic ... moval.html

 

elbow grease and a good grip

 

Bill,
Thanks - that's awesome!
Joe

 

Tried the compressed air and it didn't work. I was able to get off the left side no problem - but the right side is stubborn. Do I have to worry about the throttle assembly? I guess the next question would be where can I find grips in the event that I have to ruin this one to get it off?
Joe

 

Any bike shop should have em. I used PB blaster and squirted it down thru the hole on the end, between the bar and the grip, then worked it around a bit. Grab tight and pull!

 

If you open up the RH Switch cluster and disconnect the throttle cable, the throttle tube will slide right off with the grip still in place.

 

I don't fool around removing an old Grip from the Throttle Handle.
I use a Razor Blade and slice right through the foam down to the Plactic Barrel of the Throttle.

Once I have a clean incision I peel the Throttle Grip Barrel right out of the old Grip.

Putting ON the New Grip will be really easy if you use Dish Washing Liquid to lube the Barrel and the Inside Diameter of the New Grip.
Slide the New Grip on and position it before the Dish Soap starts to dry.

Once the Dish Soap dries it acts as an adhesive and will keep the New Grip in Place.

 

Rick,
Is it easy to tell when you have sliced down to the plastic barrel? Will I feel some kind of significant resistance when I hit it?
Thanks
Joe

 

You'll see it emerge when you've cut through the old grip far enough.

It's made of white plastic!

 

I actually made a special tool for this! I took an old hypodermic syringe body (no needle-40c at the chemist shop-incredibly handy for measuring fibreglass hardener!) and inserted a piece of thin brass tube, about 2" long. Silastic will hold it in place.
You fill the syringe body with dilute dishwashing liquid, use a small screwdriver to prise up the edge of the rubber, slide the brass tube in, then squeeze the plunger.
The rubber grip then (usually) slides off with very little further effort-although if it is very tight you may have to repeat the "prise'n'squirt" manoeuvre on the other side.

 

The right is being difficult because the throttle barrel has ribs on it and there are grooves molded into the inside of the grip. Like Richard said, if you break down the RH switch cluster (you're gonna be anyway since you're changing bars) the throttle barrel with grip will slide right off. If you wish to keep the stock grips, there's no need to remove it from the throttle barrel. If you plan to CHANGE grips (I always do, it's a matter of personal preference) virtually any set marketed for "standard" 7/8" handlebars will work. You actually have a vast array of choices.

 

If you just want to straighten the bar you can just remove the throttle assembly as mentioned above.

 

I used a hair dryer and elbow grease to remove the original throttle grip on my Maxim.
I managed to remove it without any damage but it wasn't easy.
I put on some JC Whitney foamies.

 

Bill,
Yes I am just going to straighten the bar - not replace it. I will try what you suggested about removing the throttle assembly.
Thanks everyone. I sure have lots of info and options.
Joe

 

This group is never lacking in opinions :lol:

 

If you end up damaging the stock grip I may have one from either an '81 or '83 550 Seca you can have. What Seca, you don't specify?

 

I removed the throttle assembly and I have the bar straightened. It seems much more comfortable. With the bar bent my hand was bent in about five or ten degrees and it would get rather uncomfortable during long rides - especially because I have some carpal tunnel issues in the right wrist. I will put everything back together and give her a try this afternoon - supposed to be in the upper 70's here in northern Ohio today. So far it looks like a beautiful morning. Thanks again for the help.
Joe

 

Oops, sorry big fitz I missed your post. It's a 750. I think the grip is ok but thank you for the offer. BTW, what's the differernce between RKs and RHs?
Joe

 

The Year.

 

For anyone who is interested, once I removed the hand grip I tried to find a bar that would fit over the end of the handlebar but I didn't have anything that fit closely enough. Then I happened to come across a construction pin on my work bench (the ones they use for forming concrete). It fit nearly perfect in the inside of the bar. I turned the handlebars all the way to the left, put my left foot in front of the foot peg on the right side of the bike and pushed on the construction pin in the direction I needed to straighten the bar. It took me three tries and it came out perfect. It is so close to being in line with the other grip that even I can't see a difference even though I know it has been straightened. It's a pleasure to ride it like this. I didn't realize how much it affected the handling of the bike.