Grips, you know, the squishy bit on the end of your handlebars, are possibly the most important part of your Surron. After all, it’s your grips that are stopping you from flying off your e-moto and ungracefully finding the dirt.
Grips make riding your Surron possible. Did you know that upgrading your grips is the most common first upgrade riders do? So, what makes the best grips? And how on earth are you supposed to get those things off the handlebars when it comes time to replace them? And consequently, how do you get the new ones on?!
If you haven’t modded your e-moto yet, this is the part you need. If you’ve modded everything else, but left your poor old stock grips on, then also… read on!
Common Grip Problems
Before we dive into the different types of grips, let’s go over some of the common grip issues we see. That way, you’ll already know how to spot a problem and fix it before it becomes an actual problem. No one wants to lose their ‘grip!’ lol… anyway….
The grip is turning on your handlebar
The common issue is due to not having enough glue, or the glue is old, or wasn’t properly applied. If you use lock wires, these could also become loose.
The grip is worn through
This one is simple. Just replace it! Some people swear you need to change them routinely every year. While I see this as not bad advice, what I do is change them when I find they’re no longer ‘springy’. Like an old pair of sneakers, or if the grippy surface is beginning to get less grippy.
I’ll also change them if I feel like a change, want to try a new color scheme or a different pattern. They’re a relatively inexpensive part, so I find you can change them more often.
Obviously, the other fact is if you’ve dropped your bike and your grips have taken the hit. Especially if the end has cracked, I highly suggest replacing your grip as it does leave your hands at risk of injury, and possibly also jamming the throttle tube.
The wrong type of grip
We’ll go into this one in more detail shortly, but just be aware that there are different types of grips for different riding conditions. Street, MX, enduro – they all have different needs.
What makes the grips different?
As I just mentioned, there are different types of grips for different riding conditions. It all comes back to what riding you prefer to do. If you have the perfect grips for the street, you might not have the perfect grip for a muddy, slippery moto track.
The design type you’ll want to look for is the grip pattern. Different patterns allow grip even if your gloves are muddy.
E-motos like Surrons can be modded for some awesome off-road riding, but are also fully capable of staying on the street for commuting, or even stunt riding. Choose the grips that best suit your terrain!
Different texture
Depending on the brand of grips, you’ll have many different types of grip patterns to choose from.
For example, grips from Pro Taper have either a full waffle or ⅓ waffle. (Think: the pattern that appears on your waffles!) Pro Taper also does the nice pillowtop – one of my favorites! Scott creates diamond shaped patterns and their mellow grips. Basically, it’s the choice of how ‘grippy’, and how ‘squishy’ you want your grips to be. The squishy part comes from the grips being designed of different compounds. The grip comes from the pattern.
Different colors
This doesn’t need explaining, but if you’re going for an overall color scheme, now is the time to consider what color you would like your grips!
Different attachment styles
Most grips use some type of glue to stick them to your handlebars. We’ll discuss all those options shortly, however, you’ll also notice ‘lock-on’ grips if you purchase grips from a dirtbike shop.
Lock-on grips don’t work on e-moto. Due to the design of the Surron LBX throttle, for example, lock-on grips won’t lock-on. Just note, you will hear reference to lock wire or wire tie to keep your grips in place. This is different from lock-on grips. When a rider wire ties their grips on, they are the standard grips, sometimes with glue, then a wire around the grips to keep them in place. This will work on e-moto like the LBX but lock-on grips won’t.
Why bother changing grips?
For starters, anything is better than damaged or tattered old grips! If your hand sticks or slips at the wrong time, or if you’ve adapted to holding your grips in a funny way to counteract movement or damage, you could end up with fatigue or a crash caused by unexpected movement of your hands, or a grip coming off the bike entirely if it’s no longer holding on like it should.
The more protruded the grip pattern, the better you can grip through the mud and dirt on your gloves. But what’s best for mud might be uncomfortable on the street, where long miles holding the throttle in one place can add up to discomfort in your hands and wrists.
The rest – color, firmness, and everything else – is all about personal preference. I like some squishiness, I find I get less fatigued and less arm-pump while riding. Others like it firmer as they feel they have more control. Either way, do what works best for you. They aren’t expensive, so it’s handy to experiment.
Different grip removing methods
If you’re riding something like a Surron or a Talaria, the stock grips are glued on. Usually, firmly glued on! You won’t be able to get those off without a few tricks! If your grips have been wired on, then you’ll need to cut the wires before trying to peel off the grips.
Here are the usual methods you can try:
- Cut them off with a sharp knife, and carefully cut down the length of the grip (away from your body). Lift off the grip, then discard.
- If you have any leverage in peeling off your grip, give it a go. You can carefully insert a screwdriver to help pry the grip off, but this only works if the grip wasn’t properly glued down in the first place. Take care not to scratch your bars.
- Peel back the grip as much as possible, then use something like WD40 by inserting the nozzle into the grip and twist and pull. I have heard of dishwashing soap being used, but I haven’t tried this. Let me know if it works for you!
- If you can, use an air compressor. Start by prying back a section of the grip, and using an air compressor, blow air into the grip at the same time as twisting and pulling it off.
The first method to get the grip off works the easiest but will result in not being able to use the grip again. Not a big deal if you’re planning on replacing the grip anyway.
A tip from Rusty, Gritshift’s head R&D guy: “On some bikes like the Ultra Bee, the throttle tubes are a pain in the butt because of how vulcanized the grips are to the tube from stock, so I would advise just picking up new throttle tubes for the Ultra Bee.”
Different grip installation methods
Once you have your grips removed, the next step is fitting the new ones. Choose the method that suits you, or give something new a go!
Before you try any of the methods below:
1. Make sure you clean off all lubricants if you’ve used any to remove the grip and clean the handlebars of all dirt and grime.
2. Fit the correct grip to the correct side. One has a larger internal diameter (throttle side) and one has a smaller internal diameter, so you usually can’t go wrong.
3. If your grip needs to be facing a particular way (such as ⅓ waffle grip), think about how it needs to look before randomly starting to install it.
To get the grips onto the end of the handlebars, here are a few methods:
Preferred method:
- Use the glue that is recommended by the grip manufacturer, this way you’ll be certain the grip isn’t going to adversely react to the glue. Put the glue inside the grip, and flatten the grip to disperse the glue evenly. Then push and twist the grip onto the handlebar. Make sure you remove any air that may get trapped in the grip.
- Let the glue dry before riding.
Other methods:
- Use hairspray inside the grip and on the handlebar. This will allow you to slide the grip on, and it dries pretty quickly.
- Insert 4 zip-ties into the grip, and use them to help guide the grip onto the bar. I would then suggest using lock wire to make sure your grips are in the right place.
- Using an air compressor, blow air into the grip as you push it on. This allows the grip to slide on. Again, I would suggest locking the grip on also.
- Pour some gas into the grip, let it sit for a few moments, tip it out, then put the grip on. It melts the inside of the grip slightly, creating a glue effect. Use caution here!
- Rubbing alcohol can accomplish the same thing as gas.
Caution: When installing grips on the throttle side, always check the throttle has free movement and doesn’t stick. Be careful not to get any glue into the throttle tube.
When do you need to change your grips?
You need to change your grips if they have obvious signs of wear, or damage, or if you simply feel like a change in grip pattern or color scheme.
Where do you buy grips?
Head to www.gritshift.com to find everything you need for your e-moto, including a large range of grips.
While most moto grips fit e-motos like Surron and Talaria, if you purchase your grips from a dirtbike shop, double check they will fit your bike. Remember any lock-on grips will NOT fit your e-moto. You will also need to ensure they are the set for twist throttle dirtbikes – that is, you’ll have a set of grips with different size internal diameters.
FYI: ATV grips and thumb throttle grips have a different internal size.
Random facts to make you look cool with your mates
Did you know?
The internal diameters of your grips are different for the left and right? This is due to your twist throttle being a larger diameter than your other handlebar. When you order a pack of 2, you’ll get the correct set. That is, one with a smaller internal diameter and one with a larger internal diameter.
Scott Sports, the brand that brings you awesome grips and goggles, started as a ski pole inventor. Scott, well Ed Scott, back in 1958 revolutionized the boring old bamboo ski pole by creating a tapered aluminium ski pole. It wasn’t until 1970 that Scott entered the moto market.
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