Shortening bars

secretsam

What's a quick, easy and cheap way of shortening bars (flats)? I know no-one on here uses flat bars, but just in case...

BTW: how do you get the grips off of bars without destroying them? (spot the tight-wad :roll: )

Ta

daniel_b

The only way to shorten flat bars, unless I'm missing something obvious, is to get the hacksaw out.........?

Getting grips off.

Either just twist em with your hand until they come off, or lift a corner and get a bit of hot water with washing up liquid in there, and drag them off.

if the bars are still attached to the bike, get someone to brace it while you try and heave the grips off, or if the bars are loose, stick em in a bike workstand, and drag em off that way.

Someone else also posted a genius idea, which is to loosen the brakelever, and use this to give you something to pull ont to get the grip off.

I've never not managed to get flat bar grips off, just sometimes hurts the hands to get the bleeders off.

Dan

BigJimmyB

Another method to remove grips is to squirt some WD40 (using the straw) under the grip, then wiggle it off.

The only 'DIY' method for shortening bars is hacksaw - remember - 'measure twice, cut once'!

secretsam

I'm sure someone also suggested a plumbers pipe cutter?

http://www.diy.com/diy/jsp/bq/nav/nav.jsp?action=detail&fh_secondid=9285491&fh_view_size=6&fh_location=%2f%2fcatalog01%2fen_GB&fh_search=pipe+cutter&fh_eds=%c3%9f&fh_refview=search&ts=1218717487075&isSearch=true

maddog 2

flat bladed screwdriver and WD40 to get grips off (round and round we go)

24tpi hacksaw to trim. Tape or old bar end as a guide.

ride_whenever

Remember grips come of far easier if you push rather than pull because they work like a chinese fingertrap...

el_presidente

old spoke or knitting needle under the grip will also work. get lock-ons to replace and this problem goes away

Monty Dog

Slip a screwdriver under the grip and get the long nozzle of your WD40 in there for a squirt - try not to get the WD40 on the outside tho' and give-em a good twist. Weara rubber glove for extra grip. For a nice clean, square cut get a pipe-cutter for metal bars - keep the hacksaw for carbon.