I don't, (keep mine full most of the time).
I use the alcohol method and I use perhaps one of the most useful tools I have ever come across. It is one of the utensils from a fondue kit. Just a long, thin, pointed piece of steel with a nice handle. Slides under grips fine, spray a little alcohol in the gap and twist off.
Alcohol on the bar and handle to get it in on where you want it then I use some canned air to evaporate the alcohol and the grip usually sets like you glued it.
The fondue stick is the perfect tool for this. Takes a minute or two to do a grip. Great for lots of other little tasks as well.

This is similar to what i do, except I use car detailer instead of alcohol. I use automotive adhesive to install and secure the grips.

 

I'm curious why people still use regular grips instead of lock ons?

 

God hates Lock-On grips



Cause 'Lock-On' type grips are usually thinner.

For example. My favorite grip is the Yeti logo grip. Nice and squishy with lots of grip. I bought a pair of Yeti Lock-Ons and they SUCKED compared to the good 'ol regular ones. The regulars felt much beefier and squishier (is that a word?!?! ).

And from the dawn of time (When I worked as a bike mech in the late '90's) 4 simple steps to perfect grips.

1. Clean bars with paper towels and rubbing alcohol (I use 90%)
2. Wash grips inside & out with dish-soap to remove mold release agent (oils)
3. Spritz the Aqua-Net™ cheap-ass hair spray onto the bars
4. Slide grips into position; rotate a couple times around bars and leave OVERNIGHT, if not for a whole day.

Perfect non-slipping regular grips.

To remove, air compressor with needle, OR Find pump bottle with thin needle-like extension and inject plain water between the grip/bar.

The Trick in all this is NO OILS! Everything, even the inside of the grips must be super clean and dry before installation.

 

I love how everyone is clarifying that they use an allen wrench to remove their lock-ons. So..smashing them with my hammer is not the correct way to remove lock-ons?

Poke poke jab jab...

 

use a compressed electronic air (like the ones for electronics) if you don't have a compressor. The easiest, won't cause slipping.

I used 70% rubbing alcohol to remove and install grips - got slipping. I bet 99% would have worked better. Mine were slipping. I read it will get better with time but I didn't want to wait. I used the air can and it dried out the grips and improved them within 10 seconds. Really the only thing you should use imho.

Do not use a lubricant, cuz then you have thoroughly clean before you reuse grips.

 

back in my bmx days always used air to get them off and yup aqua net for the new ones.

 

I'll pick up a can of aquanet and try that.

 

Well the OP posted this thread a year ago so hopefully he's got it sorted out by now.
And hopefully he changed over to Lock On grips. A simple Allen wrench to put on and off and on and...well you get my point.

 

Yeah I don't know why I didn't try lock-on grips earlier. Much to my delight, my beloved Ourys come in lock-on flavor and I haven't looked back

 

Flathead first between bar and grip, then phillips head in as far as it will go.
Remove Flathead.
Spit into gap around screwdriver.
Roll screwdriver all the way around the bar.
Pull off.

 

Depends on how you put them on.

When I do foam grips, I usually use Elmer's spray adhesive to put them on. With that an air compressor does not work. With most types of light adhesive, Remington RemOil works really nice. Like most folks on here, I have lock-ons on all except for one bike.

Your hardware store will carry hard plastic scrapers that are about the width of a large screwdriver. Buy a few, they come in handy for all kinds of things including grip removal.

One large can of RemOil goes a long way and I highly recommend it as a light lube or cleaning fluid. It's not just for your firearms.

 

I use the Force!

 

Sawzall. It's worked every single time.

 

compressed air is easiest... but if u dont own compressor try a flat screw driver inbetween grip and bar and a few drops of dishwashing liquid they slide right off

 

I always use compressed air, but the last ones i put on - WTB Wierwolfs - developed what I can only call a hemorrhoid. I don't know if there is a thin spot or something but I went to put them on with air and a 1"x1" balloon popped out of one. Can't really tell now that they are mounted though.

 

Air compressor + cheap hairspray for everything but lock-ons.