Eazi Grip shows you in 4 steps how to remove tank grips from your bike without risking damage to your bike. Tank grips are designed for permanent application and if you need to remove them, you need to be aware of one major problem: the sun has probably discoloured the surface around the grip more than under it. While it's unlikely that removing a tank protector will permanently damage your bike's paintwork, it's also important to understand that if the quality of the bike's paintwork is poor to begin with, or if you're dealing with an older model, or if the bike has been repainted or retouched, this will have an impact on removal.
It's also important to know that while most original graphics and logos should have a protective laminate or lacquer finish, this should be checked before attempting to remove the tank grips. The difficulty of removing adhesive tank protectors varies according to the size and shape of the grip. Age can also greatly influence the difficulty of removal.
If removal is necessary, follow these steps.
1/ Clean your grip with soapy water
Dirt and debris on and around the grip can scratch your bike's paintwork, so you need to clean it first. Take a rag or sponge and some soapy water and clean the grip and the surrounding area.
2/ Heat your tank protector
The next step is to heat the grip to weaken and loosen the adhesive. The best tool for the job is a hairdryer, as a heat gun is too powerful and could damage your paintwork. Distribute the heat evenly over the grip and make sure you heat the edges. Leave to heat for a good two minutes before stopping.
3/ Gently peel off the grip
This step should be carried out immediately after heating the tank protection. Have a plastic card handy, like a loyalty card or an old credit card. Whatever card you use should be plastic, as knives and razor blades can easily scratch the paintwork. A plastic card is strong enough to lift the grip off the paint tank if you've heated it enough. Go around all the edges of the grip with the card to try and get it off the bike.
Once you've used the card to loosen the edges, you should be able to peel it off by hand. A useful tip is to use dental floss where the bond between the grip and the tank is a little more stubborn, gently sliding the floss between the two surfaces in a sawing motion. Remember to work in sections. You can start in a corner and work across. Remove the grip at an angle, which will also help to break the adhesive bond.
4/ Use a glue remover or vinegar
It's highly likely that once the tank protection has been removed, some glue residue will remain on your tank. This is perfectly normal. There are a number of products available that can get rid of it without damaging your paintwork. If you have distilled white vinegar in your kitchen, take it and apply it to a cloth to remove the glue residue. You can also use an adhesive remover that's a little stronger. Apply the product to a cloth and rub it into the affected area, or follow the instructions on the product label. WD40 is also effective as an adhesive remover.
And there you have it, you can now replace your tank grip from our selection of protectors on Moto Vision !
