Motorcycle riding can be an extremely intense and challenging outdoor sport. Riders are often challenged by rough terrain, steep climbs and death defying jumps, so well-maintained equipment is a must for safety and functionality. One piece of equipment that many riders barely think of, but use every time they mount the bike, is the handlebar grips. If a grip is damaged or loose, it could spell disaster down the trail or road. Luckily, repairing/replacing old grips is simple (even for novice mechanics) and can be accomplished in as little as 10 minutes.      

Choosing the right motorcycle grips is important to avoid blisters, cramping, and stiff joints. Cheap motorcycle grips can be made from simple plastic that transfers vibration straight into the rider's hand. After a long ride, cheap motorcycle grips can be your worst enemy. With modern motorcycle grips rider's can loosen their death clenches and ride comfortably.

The hard part is giving motorcycle grips a test run. Unless you have the bike available for a long ride, its hard to know whether the grips are going to work with you or against you. Exceptionally bad motorcycle grips transfer acoustic vibration readily into your arms. After a short time you'll feel muscle fatigue and discomfort.

Heated motorcycle grips are a great invention hands down. You won't have to worry about cold mountain passes or soaked gloves. Even if you have heated gloves you might lose them whereas heated motorcycle grips stay put. Some versions of heated motorcycle grips completely replace your old ones; or merely cover them in a thin layer of heated cables. Settings will let the rider determine how warm they want their heated motorcycle grips to get.

Lucky for us, motorcycle grips are easy to replace. The replacement process only involves 5 simple steps:

1). Prepare your new motorcycle grips, rubbing alcohol, hammer, socket and WD-40.

2). Remove the handlebar at the end. Being careful with the bar's head and threads. If those motorcycle parts are damaged, better replace them also.

3.) Evenly pull at the ends of the old motorcycle grips. Spray WD-40 as they start to give way; this will loosen them even further. Twist, wriggle, pinch and fold the inner edges to help loosen the grip of the old grips. Memorize the location of the inner edge.

4). After the old motorcycle grips have been pulled off, clean the handlebars with rubbing alcohol. Get all the glue off the handlebars. Slide the new motorcycle grips on with a slight twisting motion. Try to slide them on while the rubbing alcohol has not yet evaporated. Or instead of rubbing alcohol you can use oil to get those new grips on.

5). Using the hammer and socket, tap the new motorcycle grips into place. Test their placement by letting the throttle snap back at full power.