A traditional 'How-To' video on changing the Handlebar Grips on a Harley Davidson. If you want to help support what we do here at the channel, you can become a Patron, Link here:- www.patreon.co...
I have been watching hundreds of you tube videos about HD maintenance. Yours are LOADED with so much valuable info. Saved me time with a few items already! i.e. lubing the front master cylinder plunger! Saved me from buying another brake switch and ending up with the same issue! The 27 torx vs the 25is spot on too.
I always refer to your videos first, Del. As I watch, I ask the screen questions.....then you answer them---as if you heard me. Removing glued grips-----thank you. Keep up the great work. Nello from Canada
Thanx for the video. Watched it a couple times then screwed up the courage to do my own. Went very well, better than I would have guessed. Have also replaced all the fluids based on your videos and recommendations. You've saved me hundreds of dollars (so far!). Many thanx.
Mate, I have only just discovered your page. I have a Harley Sporty 48, that has been sitting idle for about 5 years due to medical reasons. You have provided me with detailed info on getting my bike back on the road. ( I've pretty much just spent a whole afternoon watching your post about services etc). To say you have inspired me in an understatement. Keep up the good work !!
Hi Pete, good to hear from you mate, and sorry to hear about your enforced lay off, I hope you're well and back to fitness now mate. It's good to hear the videos can inspire you to get busy, pretty much everything your bike might need is going to be simple 'housekeeping', after all it's a Harley and they're made out of tree trunks, so there won't be much wrong with it! You're just waking it back up again, and it will thrive on the fresh use and some new miles... enjoy the videos, and feel free to drop us a line here, or private, if you need any secondary tips that the videos don't cover, it'll be a pleasure to help you get back on the road bruv, good luck, Del
Hey Del, I realise this is a old video: but it just happened to come up when I watched your latest release. I used to use hairspray to stick my grips on. Most of us would’ve followed this procedure for years. Many years. I did too on my FLSTN. In December 2020 I moved the bike out of my garage ( gotta move the car first- bikes are all lined up on my side of the garage) and went to park it across the slope of my downhill driveway. Sidestand on downhill side. My normal practice - in gear and front wheel blocked against my brick mailbox. This is my procedure with whatever bike I take for a ride. The bike cannot move. Forward motion denied by mailbox and first gear. Tipping downhill prevented by sidestand. The left hand grip slid off in my hand as I turned the bars to the right and I couldn’t hold the bike up- went down on the LHS. No damage due to the footboards. Ever tried to lift a Harley Me either. But I did. Hurt my back severely- had an operation on it 12 months ago and have slowly re-learned to walk and not limp. Haven’t ridden since- but very close now. The Hairspray worked for a few years, but gave way instantaneously. I only use adhesive now.
Blimey Nick, long story mate, but i get what you're saying, the grip from the glue isn't only to blame though, after all, 350kg bike, and hauling it about by that grip.. i use Renthal grip glue adhesive these days since i found the same as you.. after a while it would break loose and move about... but on pretty much any other bike with normal weight, its still fine.. Get well soon mate, hope you're back to full fitness soon.. Del.
Love your videos! Love how articulate and informative you are on each and every one. You go above and beyond and describe every little detail on what could happen if you do this or that! Got new grips for my FatBoy Lo, now I know how to do it! Thanks
I am going to be changing my handlebars on my RK Classic and was concerned about the throttle cables but now that I have seen this I am a little more confident in my ability to save the labor cost and do it myself. Thank you so much!
Hi John, see the message below from Yve , buddy, she did it all herself, it's just a straight forward process, take one step at a time, and before you know it, your'e done ! Give us a shout if you get stuck !
Just had you on in my garage today. New grips on and chrome garbage ones in the bin. Cheers mate! Only thing I wasn't sure of was the the back cable adjustment on the throttle. I just left it half way.
11/12/2018 watched this video 3 times before changing my 2008 883L factory grips for a set of AVON grips. You mentioned everything I needed to change my grips without problems. Excellent. Thanks.
Great video guy, super informative. Thanks! We use the same fitment spec for most mechanical applications. Hook everything up loose and then tighten things as they line up. Nice video guy, putting some new grips on my 92 softtail. This video is the method.
Hi mate, just swapped the grips on my 2017 883 Iron this evening. Watched the video many times and you removed all my concerns and made the job soooo easy. Thanks a lot
Great to hear it Mark.. nothing feels better then conquering that fear and just getting it done aye mate... congratulations.. it aint hard once you get into it aye.:-)
Moonfleet41 Cheers mate, saved me time and money at the dealer. Best advice was the LHS grip removal tip. Got both safely off and therefore have them intact as you say should I sell the bike
Thanks Dellboy's Garage, just installed pair of grips on 2003 100yr Anniversary Roadking, someone glued clutch side grip with so much glue it was a nightmare to get off had to cut the metal housing and the rubber underneath but got it in the end. Videos are great mate keep up the good work. Thank you from Downunder Australia. Louis
Most welcome Louis, your comments did make me smile, I've seen some horrors when it comes to people gluing grips on, next time you find yourself there, get all the rubber out the way with a blade, and when left with glue on metal, just heat it gently with a blow torch and it wipes off!
Thanks to Your video it took me 15 min to change it on my 2017 iron, the difference is that they got rid of the grove between the two parts, it was easy thanks 🙏 and ride safe
+Meryl Fabian Hi buddy, it's 27 for the bar clamps that hold the levers and 25 for the switch blocks... like I said, just keep fitting bigger ones till they don't fit any more, they should always fit dead snug!
You make the BEST videos. So detailed and informative and I REALLY appreciate you for sharing your knowledge. I just happened to need new grips and now I’m going to do it. Thank you!!!
I am curious what your credentials are Del. I watch you vids every week, and you really seem to know all there is to know about bikes. You are an excellent teacher in the way that you explain things...Clear and precise.
+Mike Perry Hey buddy, I get this question quite often, I don't have any fancy degrees, I'm not a 'technician', I'm just an old school mechanic with a broad and wide reaching experience over 35yrs of riding... 15 of that working in the bike trade, coupled with a lifelong passion for bikes... that passion leads you to learn and absorb knowledge when you see it, also an inquisitive nature, I don't like not understanding things, so I find out... that's about it really, glad you enjoy the videos and appreciate your kind comments, all the best, Del
I really like this video it's very helpful and to the point I have a 2007 FLSTC and can't find any instructional videos on it this is the closest. Thank you..
VERY nice video! Thanks for the help. Good to see stained, calloused hands doing the work. The accent and descriptions of the components is very entertaining. ( not many people would know what a "gaiter" is...lol ) Thanks again from Mississippi.
Your videos are addictive and extremely helpful. As an avid cyclist (as in bicycles) for over 60 years I have a couple tips for removing and installing rubber grips onto metal. First, for removing a rubber grip I agree with using WD-40 and cleaning the residue off the metal. If you have glue residue that is still there, brake cleaner is fantastic. I clean oil and other fluids off my garage floor with brake cleaner. Second, for installing a rubber grip, I've been using rubbing alcohol for decades with success on hundreds of grips and handlebars. It's wet, slippery and evaporates fast. This means you have to work fast or keep on applying the alcohol. If the rubber is tight (this may won't help if you have the permanent metal band) I also suggest using a hand held hair dryer -- nothing hotter! For applying the rubbing alcohol, I just use a small pump spray bottle that I bought for less than a dollar. If the newly installed rubber grip has no residue there should be no need for glue. By the way, out of curiosity, I recently removed the decelerator cable from my Honda Shadow throttle and rode several miles without it. It increased the spring pressure against my hand which caused it to cramp, so I reinstalled it. I think the second decelerator/push/idle cable is mandated by the government for safety. Really old motorcycles didn't have the second cable. Anyway, it gave the opportunity to clean the dust and dirt out of my throttle housing and lube both cables. My Shadow is 30 years old and runs great.
Hi Stephen, thank you for your kind comments Sir, and for taking the time to pass on all those great tips and tricks... I think the main reason for a return cable was always based in safety, early carburetors weren't as reliable as today's fuel injection, if the return spring snapped, you were stuck wide open... good to hear your bike's still on the road after 30yrs! Take care, and ride safe, Del
Really helpful video. Simple to follow, informative and at a good pace. Nice that it covers everything, even what some might think is obvious. Thanks guys!
After watching your video I felt confident in doing the new grips on my 02 heritage softail classic. Thank you sir you are very good at this . Keep up the good work. I'm a subscriber now.
YES! You beautiful, beautiful man! Ordered myself some new grips for my XL1200 last week and hoping to get em on before I have to head back to work. Thank you for a perfectly timed video!
+Adam Kukuzumusu Thanks Adam, we aim to please lol ... Harley emailed us and said 'get it done' as we've just sent out Adam's grips to him' - lol ! Glad it was timed well - good luck and shout if you need any help!
Love your video's. They are 100% accurate and very understandable. It has also made my service and repair bills lower! Thanks for all the great videos you do. Please keep them coming.
Great explanation on all your videos. Blown away with your video on a full engine service, I feel like I’ve been deceived by Harley Davidson service agents when running old dirty oil or not through my new clean filter.
Dude thank you! Been wondering about how to do this with out cutting into the grip. A very well done video. From the difference in torque bits too using break cleaner or hair spray.
Just been given a set of new grips and this video is so well done its going to make the job a piece of cake. Great tip on the T27 not got that size so going to sort it. Thank you👍
Nice on e buddy... glad to hear it.. .and you may not realise, but you just saved yourself at least £100 .. if you'd taken it to the HD dealer, they would charge at least one hour's labour, and here that is between £85 and £95 a hour PLUS VAT... not only does that make it a pretty expensive pair of grips, but you also learned a little about your 48, and that has to be a bonus too aye.? Thanks for watching, and ride safe Del.
Well, here I go again. Need to replace my very worn away stock HD grips. Bought stock grips last weekend. Hairspray and torque bits in hand. Stay tuned for before and after shots. Thank you again for an excellent step by step.
Smiling here - Once again, your step by step video has helped me do it on my own. I don't know how to upload photos so my word is going to have to suffice. Done, and Done! Thank you soooooooo much!
Hi Yve... congratulations on a job well done! Eat three raisin pies and pat yourself on the back ... there is nothing more satisfying than conquering the fear of the unknown, for that is all it is! We worry about making a mistake and damaging our bike, and more importantly, we worry about making a fool of ourselves and having to go tail between legs to the shop for the inevitable smirks and wise ass remarks, but when you do it yourself, you realise how easy it can be! The biggest thing you've learned is confidence in yourself... just remember, next time you come across something you're not sure of, remember the words of He-Man 'I have the power!' and the words of Delboy 'how hard can it be?' ......... would love a photo, you can send it to our email: moonfleet10@yahoo.co.uk All the best, D&P!
Now that you've seen the before and after photos, you understand how long I've put this off. Your video made all the difference. A great big thanks to the both of you for what you do for the biker community. EveHD
Great video again, Del and Penny. Don't have a Harley but some very useful tips there about general strip down and re-assembly procedures, which I find invaluable when doing anything on the Bonnie. Have a good Easter!
Moonfleet41 hi del....after all of our different thoughts on the handles grips,it turned out to be faulty grips from Harley..go figure!!..new grips went on like butter..thanks for keeping up on this project with me...looking forward to your upcoming videos..ps..I recently added some new iridium I X spark plugs because my 2007 softail deuce wasn't firing up (starting quickly enough)..What do u think of these plugs?.And what else could be doing this starting issue..thanks again..Joe l
Finely produced as always and another job placed on the list. My bike is nearly 25 years old and I believe it has the original grips. I never noticed the controls on your Harley were chrome. I need to get out more lol. Thanks for another excellent episode. Happy Easter
+Iron Slim Thanks Scott....yeah, i wouldn't have chosen those chrome switches, but they are there now i guess, may as well leave them on... Lots of cool grips to choose from now, and all fit straight on... good to hear from you buddy.. Del.
Thanks for a good explanation on how too, with important issues hi-lighted also good camera work which out strips many peoples video's....Happy Easter....R.S. Both.....
+Bristol roy (Bristolroy) Hi Penny here Roy, thank you so much, I just try to film what I would need to see to do the job as a novice, glad it works and makes it easy to understand - I'm no camera expert, but so glad it works, thank you so much, Pennyx
Hey Del...thanks so much for this video. Saved me a bunch of $ at the HD dealer. I'm sure everyone really appreciates all of your efforts helping them do their own wrenching. I'm heading to the UK in September (first time there) and I am looking forward to some chats with some locals at Warr's (I'm from Fort Lauderdale). Thanks again bud. Cheers.
+Joe Thiry Hi Joe, good to hear from you buddy... am glad we could save you a few sheckles... it's important to know abot the oily parts of our bike as well as the chromy shiney parts ! And in my opinion, it broadens the pride of ownership as well.. great to hear you are coming over to the UK, will you just be making a single visit to Warrs, or are you staying for a while? Cheers, Del
+Moonfleet41 Hi Del. Thanks for writing back. Coming over in Sept for a week...couple days in London and the rest in Colechester...for my nieces wedding. Really looking forward to seeing your great country and meeting some good people. You do such a great job on your videos. It's great how you stress that its important to stay organized while wrenching...it keeps one out of trouble. Be sure to thank Penny for all of us. She does a great job filming...that's not easy. Maybe I'll run into you at Warr's when I get over there. I'll drop you a line. Take care bud.
+Joe Thiry You'll have a wonderful time, Joe... we would have said we might make a trip to Warrs, but we have, how odd is this, a couple of good American friends visiting us during September from Michigan.... depends what day you will be there... just keep us in the loop!
+Delboy de Reuck Very nice your friends are coming to visit. Between your Michigan friends and me...it's a Yank invasion! Lol. I'll keep in touch and we'll see about the schedules. You take care of yourself. Ride safe.
A little bit of shinies! The old Intro part with 'whats up dude' is the best, I miss it in Your videos. And of course grindage, weldage, paintage scrimmage!
I did this a year ago but am doing it again with the same exact grips as on this video. I prefer torx bits because their hard to strip out. Use them whenever possible. I believe that with the throttle cable. You only have to listen one. Never mind I see that’s how you did it. I seen you remove both boots and they bought you were going to loosen both
Hey thanks for that video! I was always septic on doing this but you gave me the confidence to change them out myself. And as always... your videos are awesome!
Have watched several videos on this topic and this one is by far and away the best one. You, sir, are a great teacher. One thing I was wondering about is that I read somewhere that the break fluid housing should be kept upright when off the bars so as to avoid introducing air into the break line and having to drain it. Anything to that?
Thanks for your kind words Bernard, With the fluid rez, as long as when you re-install it, you let it sit for a few hours or over night, any air will naturally find it's way to the top and be fine.. ive never had a problem with it myself.