Freestyle scooter grips and bar ends: how to choose, when to replace them, and how to install them

⚡ In short: grips are universal and are installed using hairspray or alcohol, never glue.

The grips fit all freestyle handlebars and BMX handlebars. They are selected according to the hand (length, thickness, shape), not according to the scooter. Replace them when they are torn, crumbling, or rotating on the handlebars.

Bar ends are important: they cover the sharp edge of the handlebar and protect the rider’s hands and others.

They are selected based on the handlebar material (aluminum or steel); if they don't fit, they can be trimmed or wrapped with tape.

✋ How to choose grips for a freestyle scooter?

Grips are rubber handles at the ends of the handlebars. Are a rider’s hands “glued” to the handlebars (people often misspell it as “handle bars”): it’s hard to jump with worn or rotating grips, and the child is afraid to let go. Good news: the grips are universal. They all have the same inner diameter, so they fit all freestyle handlebars regardless of brand, material, or tube diameter. The same grips are also used on BMX bikes. You don’t have to worry about any compatibility.

The material is essentially rubber in all cases (various compounds, sometimes softer and stickier, sometimes harder and more durable). It is selected according to the rider’s hand, not the scooter:

• Length. Standard grips are approximately 12–17 cm, depending on the manufacturer. Small children's hands need a shorter reach; wide handlebars and an adult's larger hands can accommodate a longer one. The grip should be slightly longer than the width of the palm, so the child can hold it with their whole hand.
• Thickness. A thinner grip gives you a better feel for the handlebars, while a thicker one absorbs impacts better and fits a large hand more comfortably. For children, rather thinner to medium.
• Shape and pattern. Smooth, ridged, with protrusions. It’s a matter of taste; no pattern is objectively better.
• Rubber hardness. Soft grips stay firmly in place and provide cushioning, but they wear down more quickly and are harder to install. A harder one lasts longer.

The color is entirely up to you; grips are the cheapest way to match your scooter’s look. More expensive grips tend to have a higher-quality compound and last longer, but even the cheapest ones from a scooter brand will do the job. The package always includes two grips and usually end caps as well; we specify this for each product.

🔁 When should you replace your grips?

Grips are a consumable part and, together with grip tape, the first thing you replace on a scooter. How long it lasts depends on the quality of the rubber, how often the child rides, and, above all, on falls: every time the scooter is laid on the ground, the end of the grip gets scraped. Don’t buy according to the calendar, but based on condition:

• Torn or worn ends. Most often from the scooter falling onto its side. A worn-through grip exposes the edge of the tube or end cap.
• They crumble, stick, or harden. Old rubber loses its properties, your hands slip or get dirty.
• It spins on the handlebars. Either they were applied while wet, without being allowed to dry, or the rubber has stretched. It can be tried again with adhesive; for stretched ones, only replacement will help.
• They press against your hands or cause blisters. The wrong shape or thickness for the hand; replace it with a different type.

At the beginning of the season, inspect the entire scooter and replace the grips if they are in any of these conditions. It's just a few minutes' work.

🔧 How to install grips on handlebars?

It’s simple. You need hairspray, technical alcohol, or an alcohol-based spray deodorant. The principle is always the same: the liquid makes the grip slippery for a moment, then it evaporates or dries, and the grip holds. No glue: otherwise, the grip can’t be removed without damaging the handlebars, and you’ll spend hours scraping off the residue when replacing it. Water or soap won’t work either: they won’t evaporate, and the grips will spin.

How to remove old grips:

1. Remove the end caps (pull them off, or loosen the screw if they are screw-on).
2. The quickest way is to cut the old grip lengthwise with a utility knife and peel it off. Cut away from yourself and the handlebars to avoid scratching the tube.
3. To preserve the grip, insert a thin screwdriver under its edge, spray rubbing alcohol inside, and twist the grip to remove it.
4. Wipe the tube clean of residue and dust.

How to install new grips:

1. Spray hairspray or alcohol onto the end of the handlebars and a little inside the grip as well.
2. Slide the grip on immediately using a twisting motion until it stops. You have to be quick; the alcohol evaporates within a few seconds, while the varnish gives you a little more time.
3. Align the pattern (if the grip has a pattern or logo) while the grip is still sliding.
4. Let it dry, ideally for 10–20 minutes; allow longer for paint. Do not ride while the grip is spinning.
5. Fit the end caps (see below).

🔘 Handlebar End Caps (Bar Ends): Why Are They Important and How Do You Choose?

A bar end is a plastic or aluminum plug at the end of a handlebar tube. It has two functions:

• Safety. The open end of the metal tube has a sharp edge. In a fall onto the handlebars or a collision at the skatepark, they can cause deep cuts to both the rider and anyone they collide with. With the end cap, the handlebar end is blunt.
• Maintains grip. The end cap prevents the grip from slipping off the end if the bike is dropped and protects it from scuffing.

Bar ends are not universal like grips. They fit inside the handlebar tube, which is why they are available in two versions depending on the handlebar material: for aluminum handlebars and for steel handlebars. When choosing, check what material your handlebars are made of, and check which material the bar ends are designed for. Most grips come with end plugs; you only buy them separately if they get lost or crack.

📋 Overview: grips and bar ends

⚠️ Most common mistakes

• Grips on glue. They can’t be removed and will ruin the handlebars. Hairspray or rubbing alcohol will do.
• Deploy using water or soap. It won't evaporate; the grips will spin.
• Ride immediately after fitting. The grip is still spinning; let it dry.
• Riding without end caps. An open pipe cuts. Fit the end caps immediately, even if the grip is new and the end is covered: the rubber can wear through in the first fall.
• End cap “for aluminum” for steel handlebars and vice versa. Either it cannot be inserted, or it keeps falling out. If you already have it, trim it or wrap it with tape.
• Cutting old grips toward the tube. You may scratch the handlebars and easily injure your hand, too. Cut apart.

❓ FAQ