Installing lever & grip covers

Read these directions all the way through before you start. The installation is about as hard as lacing up a shoe for the first time — ok, maybe a little harder, but not much.

Before you lace

Place the cover over the lever (or grip) before installation to see how snugly it fits. If it looks like the sides won't meet on the inside, gently stretch the sides of each cover before you install. Some leather hides give when you stretch them, so it's possible to over-stretch — only stretch as much as needed to achieve that custom-fitted look. They may not even need to be stretched.

Adhere the cover

Apply a moderate bead of contact cement (or double-sided tape) to the lever or grip — on the side opposite where you'll lace. If using contact cement, also apply a thin bead to the cover itself. Let them dry for 5–7 minutes until tacky, then press the leather cover against the lever, position it, and hold for a moment.

Lacing

For lever covers, begin at the upper (thickest) end and work your way down toward the ball. For grip covers, begin at the inside end of the grip (closest to the center of the bike) and work outward.

Pull the lace through the first hole on each side of the cover and cross over to the next holes — just like lacing a shoe. Make each crossover snug as you go rather than loose-lacing and cinching at the end. Don't over-stress the holes! You should get a pretty snug fit, but if you over-tighten you may tear a hole. Go ahead and tighten them up, but just be careful.

We've shaped the ends of the lace to make it easier to fit through the holes. If you get frustrated, use needle-nose pliers or tweezers — or, even better, ask your significant other to do it.

Tying off

Some folks tie a single or double overhand knot and let the excess hang. Some cut the excess. Another method is to cross-wrap the lacing around to the front of the lever and tie it off there. Up to you.

If there's a small gap between the cover edges after lacing, don't be alarmed — that helps ensure a tight fit. If the edges meet perfectly or slightly overlap, the contact cement keeps them in place.

Care & cleaning

Avoid harsh cleaners and chemicals. Clean and condition the leather with Chilhowee Buffalo Butter or another quality cleaner/conditioner, following the package directions. To avoid fading from UV, use 303 Aerospace Protectant on a regular basis. If the leather fades, restore the color with a quality black dye or boot crème.