Dirt Bike Grips Slipping? Grip Glue and Alternatives

Nothing kills your confidence on a dirt bike like a grip that twists in your hand. Pull on the bars in a rut or land a little short, and suddenly the rubber is turning while the bar isn’t. It usually starts as a little creep on the clutch side and gets worse every ride. So how do you keep your dirt bike grips from slipping?

To keep dirt bike grips from slipping, glue them to the bar with grip glue and back it up with safety wire. Hairspray is the quick home alternative, and lock-on grips clamp in place. Risk Racing FUSION 2.0 grips skip the glue and wire with a built-in bonding system.

Keep reading for everything you need to know about keeping your dirt bike grips from slipping, including the best ways to apply glue, the best cost-effective hacks, how to safety wire, and a one-stop-shop type of product: the FUSION 2.0 Moto Grip.

Choose the Right Grips (Fusion 2.0)

A big step to making sure your dirt bike grips don't slip on you is to make sure you have the right grips. When it comes down to choosing your grips, personal preference will influence your decision. Many riders note, however, that some grips are easier to keep in place than others.

Here at Risk Racing, for example, we sell our own FUSION 2.0 Grips. Each pair comes with two Fusion Bonding Strips and a bottle of Fusion Catalyst Spray, so there is no glue or safety wire to mess with. The bonding strips are easy to apply and go on like a sticker.

First, clean the bar. Then remove each bonding strip's backing and stick it to the bar, leaving a small amount at the end to press into the bar opening. Next, spray the bonding strips with the Fusion Catalyst. The spray acts as a lubricant, so you can easily slide on the grip. Give it 10 to 15 minutes for the bond to set, and you're ready to ride! Watch the FUSION 2.0 demo below for the install, and go by the 10 to 15 minute set time above.

Grip Glue Alternatives: Cost-Effective Ways to Keep your Dirt Bike Grips Secure

While many riders use glue to keep their grips on tight, some have found at-home remedies that get them through. If you need a grip glue alternative in a pinch, the go-to at-home remedy is hairspray, yes, the same hair spray in your bathroom cabinet.

Some riders swear by using hairspray as an adhesive. It acts as a lubricant while it is wet and turns tacky once it dries. Spray a thin layer of aerosol hairspray inside the grip and onto your handlebars, and slide the grips on right away. Dry time varies with how much you use, so give it a few hours or overnight before you ride.

While this option won't last as long as glue or wire, it is a cost-effective method that can get you back on the bike. Treat it as a stopgap, not a long term fix, since it can let go with water, heat, or a trip through the pressure washer. A few riders on forums report using clear spray paint the same way, usually with safety wire as backup, but that is an unproven hack, and overspray can gum up your throttle tube. We’d skip it.

Use Grip Glue

As many riders know, grips will tend to slip and twist on your handlebar while riding. The most popular method to keep your grips from sliding is to use grip glue.

The factory glue on stock grips can break down over time, and most replacement grips come without any glue at all. That is dangerous for the rider; if the grips slip, they can lose control of their bike.

Grip glue holds the grip to the handlebar and will help you ride safely. It is affordable and easy to apply. Each type of glue comes with its own instructions, so follow the label. In general, coat the inside of the grip sparingly, and put a little on the bar on the clutch side. Pull the grip lip up as you slide it on so trapped air can escape, then spin the grip to spread the glue and wipe off any squeeze out.

The one catch is that glue alone can work loose over time, especially in wet riding or with soft compound grips. That is why many riders glue and wire their grips to keep them from slipping.

Watch the Throttle Side

On the right side, the grip bonds to the throttle tube, not the bar, and the tube still has to spin freely. Keep glue from running inside the tube and onto the bar under it. Many stock throttle tubes have a small hole in the end, so cover it with a circle cut from a thick sticker or a piece of electrical tape. After installing, make sure the throttle snaps closed on its own.

What glue should I use for my motorcycle grips?

You can find many types of glue on the market designed specifically for motorcycle grips. The Renthal brand, for example, has its own grip glue and says to use it on Renthal grips, because other glues can react with the rubber and ruin the grip.

Many brands have grip specific glue designed to be used on dirt bikes, motorcycles, and ATVs, and that is what you should use. Grip glue isn’t the same as the regular super glue in your junk drawer, which is brittle and can crack with vibration. Original Gorilla Glue is a different animal altogether, a polyurethane that foams as it cures, so it is not made for sliding a grip onto a bar. Contact adhesives such as Gorilla Clear Grip bond on contact and take at least 24 hours to fully cure, which makes them hard to use when you need to slide and line up a grip.

Some of the most popular grip specific glues that riders use are Three Bond and Renthal. Many riders prefer the Three Bond Grip Glue (1501C), which is made to hold rubber grips.

How Long Does Grip Glue Take to Dry?

It depends on the glue, so follow the label, and when in doubt wait overnight. Renthal says to let its glue dry for at least 8 hours before riding.

Safety Wire Your Grips

Some riders find that glue or DIY hacks work well for them, but many riders find that glue alone can let go over time, eventually causing the grips to slip again. Riders who are sick of constantly regluing recommend safety wiring your grips on top of the glue.

To do this, you will need safety wire pliers, stainless safety wire, and a razor blade.

1. Remove the Grip:Using a razor blade, make a slit down the grip. This will make the grip easy to remove. On the throttle side, cut carefully so you don’t nick the throttle tube. Now you will be ready to attach a fresh grip.
2. Prepare the Handlebars:Residue from a previous adhesive can remain on your handlebars. Scrub it off the bar with a nylon pad, then wipe it with contact cleaner, brake cleaner, or rubbing alcohol until it is clean and grease-free. Clean the throttle tube with solvent only, no abrasives.
3. Prepare the Grips:Now, you can get your new grips ready. You may need to trim the end if there is a bar-end weight or handguard mount. Don’t use oil or soap on the inside of the grip; glue the grip on as described above, then wire it, and let the glue dry for the time on the label before you ride.
4. Install the Wire:If your grips have wire grooves, wrap the wire in them; if not, space the wires evenly and keep them back from the very end. Most riders use three evenly spaced wires, with a double wrap, and add a fourth for mud. Twist the wire tight with the pliers, but don’t over tighten soft rubber or the wire can cut it. Cut off the excess, then bend the twisted end down flat against the grip so it can’t catch your glove or hand.

Use Lock-On Grips

Some grips use clamps instead of glue. ODI Lock-On grips, for example, use a bolt-on clamp that locks the grip to the bar. Follow the maker’s torque spec, and slide the grip all the way to the bar end. If you buy replacement clamps, check that they match your grip; ODI’s Lock Jaw clamp set is made for its older dual clamp grips, not its single clamp V2 grips.

Lock on grips will clamp your grips to your handlebars, and many people like the ease of use. Feel is personal, though: some riders prefer a standard grip, and the clamp adds a little bulk at the inside edge.

Make Sure To Replace Old Grips

Old grips can cause you lots of trouble; they can be worn down, or flimsy. If you have been using the same grips for years, you may want to consider replacing them.

Every rider has their preference when it comes to grips. Some prefer waffle grips, while some swear by diamond grips. But installation is the same no matter what kind of grip you are using.

When installing new grips, make sure your handlebars are completely clean of any residue. Use a nylon scrub pad to tackle any leftover residue, then clean the handlebars with contact cleaner or rubbing alcohol before attaching your new grips. Never use oil, which keeps glue, strips, and grips from holding.

You may want to consider using a combination of these approaches. For example, combining grip glue with wire will help make sure your grips do not budge.

If you don't want to deal with the hassle that all of these different approaches come with, then just take the easy route and buy yourself some FUSION 2.0 grips.

What If Your Hands Are Slipping, Not the Grips?

Sometimes the grip is stuck tight and it is your hands that are sliding around, usually in mud or rain. That is a different problem. Our Mud Grips slide over most MX, ATV, and MTB grips to give your gloves something to hold when everything is wet, and you can wash and reuse them.

Conclusion

That little creep on the clutch side doesn’t fix itself, and a grip that twists in your hand is one bad landing away from trouble. Glue and safety wire is the tried and true fix, hairspray will get you through in a pinch, and lock-on grips clamp in place. If you would rather skip the glue and the wire, FUSION 2.0 Grips bond to the bar with their own strips and catalyst. Sort it out before your next ride, so the only thing turning in your hand is the throttle.

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