How to Replace Kids Slide On Grips
Grips that perform well are important for your childs biking safety.
Supporting you and your family to SMILE when you ride.
Welcome to our guide on how to replace kids slide on grips. Handlebar grips attach onto the ends of your handlebars to provide comfort, control and protection. Grips can attach in 2 different ways
Slide on – as the name suggests by sliding the grip over the ends of your handlebars. Common with kids handlebar grips
Lock on – a clamping mechanism that is tightened around your handlebars. Very secure attachment. Can be one end of the grips or both
For more information see Features of a Handlebar Grip
The key to the best performance of a grip is secure fit onto the handlebar. It must not slide or rotate from the force of a human hand. A slide on grip is sufficient to get this level of performance for young kids. As your child gets older and stronger, and they are riding regularly in more challenging environments then you should be making sure they are biking with the more secure, harder to move, lock on grips.
Why do you need to replace Kids Slide On Grips? Â
Grips can be become worn and lose the surface contours needed for safe non sliding hand placement. The ends can also get ripped & torn when a bike is dropped onto the ground. You may also just want an update of colour or style.
What will you receive and what tools do you need?
Grips are sold in pairs so you will have one for each side. Slide on grips can be placed on either the left or right handlebar. To help with the removal of the old grips you may need to use scissors to cut the grips off. You may also need a lubricant to help get the new grips onto the handlebars. They are meant to be tight fitting for safety so please be patient.
Lubricant Options: Dampen a cloth with rubbing alcohol or hand sanitiser and wipe it over the area where the grip will go. The rubbing alcohol/sanitiser acts as a temporary lubricant that makes it easier to slide the grip onto the handlebar but evaporates quickly to leave a secure fit. Hairspray also works in the same way. Spray a small amount inside your slide on grip and a little onto the handlebar, while still wet slide your grip on. Wait overnight for the hairspray to dry. Hairspray is a great option because it will also help keep a slide on grip from rotating once it has dried on the handlebar.
How to replace Kids Slide On Grips. Â
Remove your old grips. Remove the grips that are currently on your childs handlebars…
As slide on grips are supposed to be secure and not move around it should be difficult to remove the grips by just sliding them off the handlebars and therefore you will need to cut the grips off. Please watch out for any cables as you cut the grip. If the integrity of the grip has been badly compromised you may find that you can simply remove the grip by hand. Please note for future grip replacement that you should not be able to remove a grip by hand.
It is also a good idea at this point to wash and dry the handlebar surface with some soapy water & a cloth to remove any remaining bits of the old grips or built up dirt/grime that has made its way inside the grip.
Attach the slide on grips. Apply lubricant if you are using some (see Lubricant Options above). Stretch the open end of your rubber grip over the end of the handlebar and then slide along the handlebars twisting and turning it until the grip is fully on the handlebar. If you are not using a lubricant it may be a fiddly and slow process to work the grips along the handlebar into place.
Pay attention to the surface of the grip. If there are differences in the texture/pattern around the circumference of the grip it is likely to have an area of cushioning for the palm of the hand and an area that is better suited to the fingers. Rotate the grip until it is in the correct position to match your hand. This degree of functionality is unlikely to be present in a simple kids slide on grip.
Testing:
- Your grips should not move or rotate once they have been secured.
- Check that the diameter of the grips is not too big for your child’s hand. Can they hold the handlebar safely?
Things to watch out for Â
- If the grips are too long for the handlebars of the kids bike you are attaching them too. Kids slide on grips come in different lengths 100mm, 125mm and 135mm. Do you need a different length?
We’re here to help. If installing your Kids Slide on Grips has raised some questions for you. Please call us on 021 025 15576 or 0800 44 33 77 or CONTACT us via email
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