Kamis, 26 Mei 2011

How to Replace the Grips on a Harley Sportster

How to Replace the Grips on a Harley Sportster

Replacing the stock hand grips on your Harley-Davidson motorcycle can be intimidating at first. After all, you just paid thousands of dollars for this shiny machine and want to add value to it with a professional-looking upgrade. However, this is a fairly easy job and can be done by just about anybody who knows how to use a screwdriver. For many, this is the first in a long line of customizations that will be done on their motorcycle.

Difficulty:
Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need

  • Screwdriver
  • Torx or Allen wrench
  • String
  • Ruler or tape measure
  • Shop towels
  • Needle nose pliers
    • 1

      Move your motorcycle to a level surface. With the motorcycle off, place the transmission in gear to prevent movement.

    • 2

      Identify the type of bolt or screw used on your switch housing. This is the knobby structure just outside of your brake or clutch handle housing. On newer models this is likely a Torx wrench (looks like a star). On older models this may be an Allen wrench (hexagonal) or an ordinary screw. There may be as few as one or as many as three.

    • 3

      Remove the bolt(s) from the left side (clutch) housing using the correct wrench. Separate the two halves of the housing and wrap them with shop towels to prevent damage to the parts and motorcycle finish.

    • 4

      Remove the bolt(s) from the right side (brake) housing again using the wrench. Separate the two halves of the housing. At this point you will notice two wires coming out of the housing that wrap around the grip. These are the throttle control wires. Take notes or digital pictures of the placement of these wires to refer to for reattachment later. Then use the needle nose pliers to unseat them from the grip. The right grip should slide off. Then wrap the housing with shop towels.

    • 5

      Remove the left grip. Depending on the handlebars, you may have to unscrew the left grip, but on stock models these usually slide off with a gentle back-and-forth motion. Once the grip is off, wrap the string around your handlebars and use a ruler to find the diameter of your handlebars. They will typically be 1 inch but may be as large as 2 inches if you have aftermarket handlebars.

    • 6

      Purchase the correct size grips to match your style. Replace the grip on the left side, replace the housing then bolt down.

    • 7

      Slide the right grip on. Reattach the throttle cables, being careful to attach the wires in the same position as they were detached then bolt down the housing.

Tips & Warnings

  • Some motorcycle handlebars taper at the ends. Because of this, measuring anywhere but the end of the handlebars may result in incorrect sizing.

  • Not correctly attaching your grips may cause them to come off during riding. Ensure they are properly installed and secure before attempting to ride your motorcycle.

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