How to remove heated grip without destroying grip and element...??

[ninjawarrior1400]

Have a 2012 C-14 .,..changing over to ISO grips...no need to have heated grips here in Florida..

Want to save them and not damage them since they are like new...have the right one off, took it off the throttle shaft, still stuck there at the factory.

But.....the left one is glued on the aluminum left handlebar.......so.....want to get it off there without wrecking it, cause may need them one day in the future..

Am open for all suggestions...

Ninja

[Stasch]

Since yours are factory, can't speak to how they are attached, but I've taken off aftermarket grip heaters by pealing them off carefully. 

[Son of Pappy]

NW, are you planning on never riding outside of Florida?  You would at least get SOME use out of the sidewalls

Not being of the upper class all I have is my plain jane '08 and I'm not sure how much stiffer (carefull, carefull, this is a family forum gents) your grip rubber is but I do believe an air compressor should expand the grip enough to break them free.  May need to insert the nozzle (almost said tip) in a few areas, but it SHOULD work.

[Rhino]

I made a tool by straitening the visor clip on an old garage door opener. Then putting a rod (large phillips head screwdriver) over it length wise on top of a block of wood and hitting with a hammer to give it a concave shape. Then slipping it in carefully between the rubber and the throttle tube at different point around. If I had it to do over I would first try the compressor method mentioned by SOP. Maybe a little of both.

[RBX QB]

...If I had it to do over I would first try the compressor method mentioned by SOP...

The compressor method doesn't always work. I'm pushing 120 psi out of mine, and the grip didn't budge, except for the outermost inch or so. I was thinking of a curved tool like you did, but will wait until the bike is back together so I can combine heat, air and a tool.

Damn grip. All I want to do is get my throttle tamer installed. Luckily there's some rain in my forecast, and I have a backup bike in the mean time.

[ninjawarrior1400]

Air compressor normally will work...but NOT on these grips...Kawasaki really is using some powerful cement to make sure they never come off.

The comfort of the ISO grips far outweighs having the heated grips..have cold winter riding gloves if it gets that bad.

But these grips are unbelievably tight on the riser, am  getting real frustrated and ready to put a razor knife to it and be done....I have the right one off as a unit and it is fine...

But my left side is firmly entrenched....using some small bladed screwdrivers in tandem to try to work my way around with a slightly bent blade to not penetrate the element or rubber grip....

Keep your ideas coming......

Rhino so far has the best methodology and he has a pic which is very helpful....

thanks,

Ninja

[gPink]

A variation on Rhino's idea. Can you feed a wire(piano wire, guitar string) through and work it around with a back and forth sawing motion?

[rtarp1]

All this for a throttle tamer?  Really? 

[RBX QB]

Well, I'm installing a tamer, but Ninja is changing grips. Either way, we're both trying to NOT destroy the grips in the process.

[Slvrvalk1]

I installed the Heli adjustable bars, so I needed to remove the heated grips without damaging them.  Pry the edge of the grip up with a small screwdriver and shoot rubbing alcohol under the grip and the glue will dissolve.  I had the barrel of a syringe without a needle, and I used it to shoot the alcohol under the grip.  They came off without any damage.  You do have to be patient.

Dave

[Rhino]

You do have to be patient.

+1

[MAN OF BLUES]

OR stick the red tube that comes with the can of Gumout in there, and spray it....it will dislove stuff also, it's all I ever use for removing and installing grips.