How to Replace Bicycle Handlebars

There are many kinds of bicycle handlebars. There are upgrades to carbon, different riser and angle configurations, touring, mountain bike or road type handlebars that make your bike more comfortable or faster. With all the cables, shifter and brake levers attached to your handlebars, it can look intimidating, but replacing your handlebars is designed to be simple.

Things You'll Need

  • 5 mm Allen wrench
  • 4 mm Allen wrench
  • Soapy water
  • Razor blade
  • Handlebar tape wrap
  • Handlebar grips
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Instructions

  1. Road Bikes

    • 1

      Pry off the handlebar end cap. Find the end of the handlebar tape wrap. Remove the entire tape wrap from the handlebars by unwinding it from this end. Discard the old tape.

    • 2

      Peel the rubber housing away from the front of the shifter handles on both sides of the handlebars. Start on the top and continue peeling it back until you can see a 5mm Allen set screw on the outside of the combination shifter/brake lever.

    • 3

      Loosen the 5mm set screws and slide the brake/shifter handle off the end of the handlebars on both sides. Gently let them hang to the side of the bike. Do not remove any of the cables from the shifter levers.

    • 4

      Loosen and remove the 4mm pinch bolts on the front of the handlebars. There will be either two or four pinch bolts.

    • 5

      Remove the small retainer plate on the front of the handlebars.

    • 6

      Remove the handlebars by pulling them straight out.

    • 7

      Place the new handlebars into the receiver on the stem where the old handlebars came out. Check to make sure they are centered. Replace the retainer plate and screws on the front, and tighten slightly.

    • 8

      Slide the shifter/brake handles back on the handlebars. Position them approximately where you want them, and tighten slightly. Get on the bike and continue positioning the handles for maximum comfort by getting into riding position. Once you are satisfied with the position, tighten everything down and pull the rubber housing back up over the top of the shifter. Wrap with new tape wrap. Put the plugs in the handlebar ends.

    Mountain Bikes

    • 9

      Pry off the old hand grips, using a screwdriver to work underneath the rubber. If they won’t come off, lubricate the grips with soapy water. If they still won’t come off, cut them off with a razor blade and buy new ones.

    • 10

      Loosen the 5mm Allen set screw on the shifter and brake levers located underneath the levers. There are four levers on mountain bikes--two on each side, one for shifting and one for braking.

    • 11

      Slide all the levers off both sides of the handlebars. Gently let them hang to the side. Do not remove any cables from the shifters or brake handles.

    • 12

      Loosen the pinch bolts on the front of the handlebars. It will be a 5mm Allen set screw. There will be one or two set screws. Take them out and remove the retaining plate.

    • 13

      Set the new handlebars in place. Replace the retaining plate and set screws, tighten slightly.

    • 14

      Slide the brake and shifter levers back on each side and tighten slightly. Get on the bike. Position everything for maximum comfort. Tighten everything down. Slide on the grips.