How do I replace grips on my VLX?

You can get grips that fit over the throttle tube. There seems to be a lot of fitment issues when the grips come with their own throttle tube. Stick with universal grips that use the original throttle tube.

when you buy the new grips you can ask the shop to supply a throttle sleeve to fit your bike.. WD40 and a flat blade screwdriver will remove the old grips and gripglue or some equivelent brand will do a better job than hairspray, the grip supplier will also provide that..most throttle sleeves will fit your bike you just need to have two measurements.. the nipple size and the bar diameter..new throttle sleeves are cheap..

But why not fit heated grips instead..

John.

Blowing compressed air in the grip will just about float it right off.No damage to the grip will occur.

I just took a box knife to the stock grips and peeled them back. I used weatherstrip adhesive (very little) to attach the new one's. You don't want any to get in between the handlebar and the throttle tube! I didn't have unhook the throttle cables only open the switch housing to get the chrome lip on the stock grip out from inside it.

The throttle tube has a short threaded stub sticking out the end, it's what the stock grip cap screws on to. I had to file most of it off to allow the new grip to fit up to the switch housing. Even then I ended up with a slight gap between them.

I need to go measure but I assume the VLX has 1" bars?


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tbfoto said:

I need to go measure but I assume the VLX has 1" bars?


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Click to expand...

Yes it does.

I've always used aerosol carburetor to install grips. Makes the inside somewhat slick and tacky. Dries quickly. Stuck solidly but can still be removed.

Carefully cut off the old ones. Not worth breaking a throttle tube over.

I'm looking at something like these.
1'' Chrome Rubber Motorcycle Handlebar Hand Grips Fire Style for Harley GG | eBay

What I'm confused about is some of the grips that I've looked at say the left grip is 7/8' and the right grip is 1'. Then some ads like this one say they are just 1".

tbfoto said:

I'm looking at something like these.
1'' Chrome Rubber Motorcycle Handlebar Hand Grips Fire Style for Harley GG | eBay

What I'm confused about is some of the grips that I've looked at say the left grip is 7/8' and the right grip is 1'. Then some ads like this one say they are just 1".

Click to expand...

Don't buy grips that say left is 7/8". Those are for 7/8" bars. Yoiur lfet grip is 1" and right grip should be about 1 1/4".

tbfoto said:

I'm looking at something like these.
1'' Chrome Rubber Motorcycle Handlebar Hand Grips Fire Style for Harley GG | eBay

What I'm confused about is some of the grips that I've looked at say the left grip is 7/8' and the right grip is 1'. Then some ads like this one say they are just 1".

Click to expand...

You can't use those grips that you listed. They have a Harley throttle tube already installed. You either have to buy model specific grips or you have to get 1" universal grips that don't come with the throttle tube. Throttle tubes are NOT universal fit.

jpr1968 said:

You can't use those grips that you listed. They have a Harley throttle tube already installed. You either have to buy model specific grips or you have to get 1" universal grips that don't come with the throttle tube. Throttle tubes are NOT universal fit.

Click to expand...

That link says UNIVERSAL FOR 1" bars. This is what is so confusing.



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The second link in your post doesn't work so I couldn't look at them. The first link says they are for a Harley.

1'' Chrome Rubber Motorcycle Handlebar Hand Grips Fire Style for Harley GG | eBay
Ah the Kury knock offs. Did you you happen to see the location of the grips? (fine print)

Yes I know some of these parts come from overseas but I have 4 more months of cold weather ahead of me before I can think about riding again.
BTW.... The link I used was just from a quick search. I'll probably order from some dealer in US unless I find a great deal on eBay.


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