Feature

GROUP TEST: Mountain bike grips

Get a grip! We test 18 different mountain bike grips.

AMB Magazine 16.01.2024

Words and photos: Neville Jemson

As arguably one of the most important contact points on your bike, grips are often overlooked as a crucial touch point that offers comfort and control when riding. An incorrect grip choice can lead to arm pump and hand or forearm fatigue, so this is why it's important to make sure you have a suitable grip once you level up your skills and start riding more advanced and technical trails. You should choose a grip that has the right diameter and length for your hand size, and enough cushion or vibration damping features for the specific terrain you are riding the most. Lastly, you want to choose a grip that has the right amount of texture, grip, or rubber compound that helps you hold on to them with or without gloves.

Grips count for comfort, control and security. Photo: Nick Waygood

Grips are one of the very few cheap components on a bike that can be chopped and changed to find the perfect one for your riding style, the trails you ride or even to match the colour scheme of your pride and joy. We’ve put a range of different grips from multiple brands to the test to give you an idea of some options that are available on the market right now.

Ryfe Rampage: $32.95
Funn Holeshot: $32.95
PRO Lock On Race: $48.00
PRO Lock On Trail: $42.00
AZUR Charge: $24.99
DMR Deathgrip: $34,99
Burgtec Bartender: $39.95
ODI Reflex: $57.95
ODI Rouge: $57.95
Deity Lockjaw: $49.95
SDG Thrice: $34.95
TAG Metals Section: $42.95
TAG Metals Braap: $42.95
Lizard Skins Charger EVO: $60
Lizard Skins Strata: $60
Wolftooth Echo: $50
Wolftooth Razer and Karv: From $38

RYFE Rampage

KWTimports.com.au
Width: 134mm
Diameter: 31mm
Weight: 118g
Colours: 3
$32.95

Ryfe make a few different components such as grips, pedals, frame protection, and even a bike travel case. When first setting my eyes on these grips, they were a grip I was keen to test out. The design consisted of a mostly knurled diamond pattern with a few raised lines on the underside to catch your fingertips. There was also a raised rib section on the inner portion for the inside of your thumb to grip onto.

They are on par for length and thickness but on the heavier side than the average. The setup was simple and the rotation was mostly dictated by the inner thumb ribbed sections position. They included an integrated end cap and are secured by an inner lock-on collar.

One thing to note was that the orientation of the collar meant that when the grip was aligned correctly the bolt for the lock-on clamp was in an awkward spot. The rubber compound initially felt nice and tacky but after some long descents, I did notice some hand fatigue. Other than this, on the trail, these grips were almost forgotten about. In my opinion, when a component blends into the ride like this, it has been designed just right.

FUNN Holeshot

KWTimports.com.au
Width: 132mm
Diameter: 31mm
Weight: 112g
Colours: 10
$32.95

Funn is a component company that has cut its teeth making products for Downhill and World Cup racing and supported superstar riders in their early days like Sam Hill, Greg Minnaar and Brendan Fairclough, just to name a few. Funn makes lots of components ranging from handlebars, stems and grips, pedals, cranks, seatpost and saddles, chainrings, wheels and much more.

The Holeshot pattern is quite different from a traditional grip and it features more of a chevron pattern across the entire grip with some raised chevron lines on the underside for your finger tips. Overall it's a simple pattern that makes setup hassle-free. It features an integrated end cap and single inner lock-on clamps, with the locking bolts in the best position mirrored on each grip. These offered a good feel on the trail with plenty of grip for gloved riding and enough rubber thickness and design to reduce any trail vibration reaching the hands and causing fatigue.

PRO Lock on Race

pro-bikegear.com
Width: 129mm
Diameter: 31mm
Weight: 92g
Colours: 1
$48.00

PRO is a component and accessory brand that is owned by Shimano. For mountain bikes they make components like handlebars, stems, saddles, dropper posts, and of course grips. They also make components for the road and gravel segments as well.

The first of two grips included in this group test from Pro is the Lock-on Race. It features a simple shallow knurled pattern with a few recessed channels that also incorporates some branding. This pattern is straightforward and realistically could be run in any orientation. At first impression, the grip pattern doesn't seem very deep and may not help in preventing vibrations from transferring through to the hands and also could be an issue with those that don't wear gloves and have sweaty hands.

These grips come in only one compound and are one of the lighter grips on the test. These grips were also one of the few that featured separate end caps. They're secured to the bars using an inner lock-on clamp like most but notably, the bolt used was a 2.5mm hex head instead of a 3mm like every other grip on the test and that I have ever used. Also, these were claimed to only need 1.5nm of torque to secure them to the handlebars, but much more was needed to stop them from rotating on the bars. I have to admit, I didn't have much expectation for these grips but they were up there with some of the best performing on the test.

PRO Lock on Trail

pro-bikegear.com
Width: 134mm
Diameter: 32mm
Weight: 105g
Colours: 2
$42.00

Like the Lock-on Race, these grips from Pro are aimed at Trail riding. The grip design has a bit more going on than its sibling the Lock-on Race but these features are aimed at more all-around comfort and grip.

The pattern consists of the same shallow knurled diamond pattern as the Race over half of the grip, but the Trail grip has a thicker raised ribbed section on the inner half on the top side of the grip and a waffle section for fingertips on the underside. These extra features keep your hands and fingers in place for more mixed terrain but still offer the good damping qualities of the Race versions.

These don't have a separate end plug like the Race version, but like the Race grips these are secured by an inner lock-on collar using a 2.5mm hex bolt. This grip comes in another version as well that has an inner flange. Like the Race grip, I was really impressed with the feel and comfort on the trail.

AZUR Charge

Bikecorp.com.au
Width: 129mm
Diameter: 28-33mm
Weight: 84g (110g claimed)
Colours: 4
$24.99

Azur is a local no-frills component and accessory company supplying budget-friendly options in almost every bike shop you can find in Australia.

Their Charge grips are a solid option with no bells and whistles, it just does what it says on the tin, no more, no less. Available in four different colour options, one diameter size, and one compound. They are mounted with one inner lock on the collar and the Charge has an integrated bar end plug.

The rubber feels surprisingly good for a budget grip and as for the grip design, it's a knurled diamond pattern all the way around. There is something to be said about the simplicity of a grip that doesn’t need a particular orientation for ergonomics or grip textures for certain parts of the hand.

DMR Deathgrip

Pushys.com.au
Width: 134mm
Diameter: 29.8mm or 31.3mm
Weight: 100g
Colours: 19
$34.99

Brendan Fairclough’s signature Deathgrip by DMR has become one of the most popular grips on the market. Designed to be used on all types of bikes from Dirt Jumpers to Downhill bikes and everything in between.

The grip is available in two diameter sizes, 29.8mm and 31.3mm. Each grip has three different patterned sections and it's worth noting that the inner ribbed section is thicker than the rest of the grip by 1-2 mm. It also has a knurled diamond pattern on the top side and a waffled section on the bottom. It’s available in a hard and a soft compound, so combining this with the diameter options makes it possible to suit every rider's needs.

The Deathgrip is available with and without an inner flange, which is useful if you grip too far on the inside of your grip and need an indicator that you’re running out of real estate. On installation, this grip might take a bit of gentle persuasion from a soft mallet to fully seat into position but besides that, it's easy to understand why this is such a popular grip.

Burgtec Bartender

Linksports.com.au
Width: 134mm
Diameter: 30mm
Weight: 100g
Colours: 12
$39.95

The Santa Cruz Syndicate and guys from the 50-10 crew have helped launch Burgtec onto the world stage, The GOAT himself, Greg Minnar, helped design this grip. With this sort of pedigree, the Burgtec Bartender grips have a lot of hype to live up to, but I think Burgetc has definitely hit the mark!

They have 12 colours to meet everyone’s needs and they also have a Pro and Pro Soft rubber compound that caters to the gloved and gloveless riders. There is a single inner lock-on clamp using a 3mm hex to secure them to the bar. Installation was as simple as sliding on, giving a tap on the end with your palm and you’re good to go! I will note that for my installation on a set of brand new Oneup carbon handlebars, I needed to add a little amount of friction paste inside the grip as without it, the grip would rotate even when torqued to the recommended amount.

This grip feels good in hand with or without gloves, deals well at dissipating trail vibrations, and is sized perfectly for the “average” sized hand. If you’re someone who uses bar-end stored tools or plugs, you will need to get crafty as these have integrated ends.

ODI Reflex

Lustyindustries.com
Width: 135mm
Diameter: 33.5mm (34.5mm for XL)
Weight: 108g
Colours: 9
$57.95

ODI has a long heritage in manufacturing grips. They’ve been making products for Moto, ATV, BMX, and MTB for over 40 years. The Reflex grip is a brand new design in 2023, the new design incorporates multiple textured patterns with the main aim of grip for different areas of the hand and dampening trail vibrations and thus reducing hand fatigue.

It only comes in one compound option but if you have run ODI grips before, they’re tacky at first use and only get better with age. ODI grips are my usual go-to grip and I’ve had one set of grips outlast a few of my bikes. Maybe this just says more about me changing bikes too quickly, but trust me, the rubber they use is very durable and these grips last!

These were up there with the thickest grips on test and they come in an XL size at 34.5mm. Installation is as simple as sliding on and tightening up the single inner “Lock Jaw” lock-on clamp. I will mention that ODI only manufactures one side lock-on clamp, so when you install the grips you have one bolt on the front of the grip, and on the other grip the bolt will be on the back of the grip. It's a minor thing but if you’re OCD like me it's really annoying.

ODI Rogue

Lustyindustries.com
Width: 135mm
Diameter: 33.5mm
Weight: 123g
Colours: 4
$57.95

Like the ODI Reflex grip mentioned previously, the Rogue is new for 2023, although not entirely new, think more of a facelift for an iconic model.

This grip features large raised padded sections made from ODI’s proprietary rubber compound. It's nice and tacky with the raised sections being thick, so it's great for damping trail vibrations. Those comfort and vibration damping qualities bring extra overall thickness to the grip. It also, in turn makes this our heaviest grip on test at 123 grams, not that this will make it or break it for this grip, but it is worth mentioning.

There is one inner locking collar to secure the grip to the bars and integrated ends just like the Reflex. One downside, being an ODI grip it also has the same locking collar issue mentioned in the Reflex review where the collar is not an reflected design and the clamping bolt ends up being on opposite sides of the handlebars.

Deity Lockjaw

Lustyindustries.com
Width: 132mm
Diameter: 31mm
Weight: 103g
Colours: 12
$49.95

One of the most significant selling features for Deity is their colour choices, allowing riders to fully customise their ride with all things colour-matched by Deity.

The Lockjaw is one of four grips from Deity offers and it's a blend of two other designs. There are 12 different colour options, one for every day of the week and then some. The design is fairly common, however it is quite refined in its transition from the diamond knurled pattern on the top to waffle on the underside, into a smooth flat area where the knuckle of your thumb will rest.

The rubber compound is soft and comfortable, great for those of you who don’t wear gloves, but also great for damping trail vibration in whatever discipline you ride. However being so soft though, it does wear quicker than other grips and won’t resist damage from crashes or if you lean on the ground with the grip touching dirt. The Lockjaw has a single inner lock-on clamp to secure the grips in place, they only come in one rubber compound, and feature an integrated end cap.

SDG Thrice

Lustyindustries.com
Width: 135mm
Diameter: 31mm, 33mm
Weight: 82g
Colours: 7e
$34.95

SDG are probably best known for their saddles but also offer dropper and fixed seat posts, pedals, and of course grips. The Thrice is one of four grips that SDG offer in one rubber compound. The grip features integrated end caps but also integrated lock-on clamps, with no removable or replaceable lock on collar. This is the only grip on test that features a clamp like this.

The grip pattern is comprised of three different textured sections. The underside runs the length of the grip and accounts for one-third of the total grip surface. This pattern is the shape of their logo reflected and repeated. On the top of the grip, the inner section is made up of raised ribs and the outer section is their logo again raised and reflected but this time surrounded in a circle.

Now this sounds quite complex but in reality, it's pretty straightforward. There is a left and right side grip and it's quite distinct which part of the grip should go where once you install it on your bars. The compound feels quite good gloved or gloveless and the differing raised patterns do a good job of damping trail feedback.

TAG Metals Section

echelonsports.com.au
Width: 146mm
Diameter: 31mm
Weight: 90g
Colours: 7
$42.95

A lot of this grip compares to the Braap, also from TAG Metals. The things that compare are the price, colour offerings, length, locking collar, rubber compound and integrated bar end. Where this grip differs is in its grip pattern.

The pattern is an alternating strip of waffle or vertical ribs across the length of the grip. The vertical ribs are quite raised whereas the waffle section is not very thick and lacks vibration damping for rough and rocky trails. This is something to keep in mind for the trails you ride, as you may end up with sore or fatigued hands.

As this grip is a little thinner with the amount of rubber, so it weighs a bit less than the Braap as well.

TAG Metals Braap

echelonsports.com.au
Width: 147mm
Diameter: 29-31mm
Weight: 97g
Colours: 7
$42.95

TAG Metals have a moto heritage and entered the mountain bike world in recent years with a range of cockpit components from grips, handlebars (Carbon and alloy) a stem, along with some pedals and a saddle.

The Braap are secured to your handlebars by one inner locking collar. Again some friction paste was needed to keep the grip from rotating on the bar even when tightened to the correct torque spec. These grips have an integrated end cap and measured the longest on test at 147mm from end to end, so that is something to note as these may be longer than you want or need. These are also the narrowest diameter grips in the test as well, which is something I didn’t think I would notice but once I got them on the trail I definitely did.

This grip has a thicker ribbed section of grip on the inner third which was much thicker than the rest and there was a big feeling difference between the two when riding. Personally, I think it might have been nicer to have the same diameter across the whole grip. It turns out that a couple of millimetres in grip diameter makes a big difference to hand feel. Rubber compound-wise, these feel good “out of the box” gloved or gloveless not too tacky or too firm, and thick enough to help with vibration damping.

Lizard Skins Charger Evo

Bikecorp.com.au
Width: 135mm
Diameter: 31mm
Weight: 98g
Colours: 4
$60.00

Lizard Skins started making mountain bike grips in 1993 and they’ve become an industry leader in hand-to-grip interface of sporting goods. From road cycling bar tape, BMX grips, baseball bat, hockey stick, and lacrosse stick grip tape and even gaming console controllers.

The Charger Evo has a dual-patterned design with two-thirds of the grip covered in a scale-like pattern with lifted corners to add some extra texture and grip. The rest is a ribbed pattern designed for comfort and to reduce vibration under the palm of your hand. The pattern is pretty straightforward, so it's a grip that’s easy to set up and you aren’t left adjusting the rotation trail side.

The rubber compound feels good in the hand and the diameter is the spot-on thickness for most riders. The Charger Evo grips have integrated bar end plugs, and borrow the single lock on clamp “Lock Jaw” designed by ODI.

Lizard Skins Strata

Bikecorp.com.au
Width: 135mm
Diameter: 32mm
Weight: 112g
Colours: 6
$60.00

The Strata is another grip from the guys at Lizard Skins featuring the same rubber compound and same Lock-Jaw clamp lock-on collar design licensed from ODI. They are also the same length but have a slightly thicker diameter of 32mm which only being 1mm surprisingly you can feel the difference.

The main area where this grip differs is in the grip design itself. The pattern is made of raised ribs that are in a more circular and rounded pattern across the entire length of the grip. The repeating pattern design of the grip means that you won’t need to install them in a particular orientation and this means it feels the same in your hand no matter what way you have it.

Wolftooth Echo

SCVimports.com.au
Width: 132mm
Diameter: 32mm
Weight: 107g
Colours: 10
$50.00

Wolf Tooth hails from Minneapolis, Minnesota in the US. They design and manufacture almost every component you could think of for a bike with emphasis fon unction, performance, and reliability.

The Echo grip pattern has raised ribs in alternating directions and cut out sections revealing the company name. The compound of the grip is nice and soft for use with or without gloves and due to the channelled ribbed grip design would do well for those of you with sweaty paws. There is enough height in the ribs that they do well with damping trail vibrations but this design also feels like it has a bit too much side to side movement for some riders.

The setup of these is super simple as you can have it in any orientation and it wouldn’t make a difference. They include a separate end cap design which is convenient as they also make tools that store inside the end of your handlebars. They are secured to the bar using an inner lock-on collar like almost every other grip in the test.

Wolftooth Razer 5mm/Karv 6.5mm

SCVimports.com.au
Width: 135mm
Diameter: 30mm, 32mm
Weight: 50g, 67g
Colours: 3
$38.00

Wolftooth also offer the Razer and Karv silicon grips in two different thicknesses. These grips are aimed at endurance and XC riding sectors. Silicon/foam style grips are designed with vibration damping in mind, they are one thick smooth cylinder that doesn't typically feature grip or texture pattern. XC racers frequently use them to make up for the lack of comfort that short travel and stiff suspension race bikes have.

Installing this style of grips is a little more involved than all the others on test as they are a slip on style and not secured by any clamping mechanism. Wolf Tooth recommends spraying the inside of the grip and handlebar with isopropyl as lubricant to help install the grip to the bar. I used this method and the grips installed a treat and once the isopropyl evaporated the grips were locked in place.

They offer an excellent, damped trail feel but if you're the sweaty type you'll want gloves. These grips also have separate bar end plugs as well.

GROUP TEST: Mountain bike grips

RYFE Rampage

FUNN Holeshot

PRO Lock on Race

PRO Lock on Trail

AZUR Charge

DMR Deathgrip

Burgtec Bartender

ODI Reflex

ODI Rogue

Deity Lockjaw

SDG Thrice

TAG Metals Section

TAG Metals Braap

Lizard Skins Charger Evo

Lizard Skins Strata

Wolftooth Echo

Wolftooth Razer 5mm/Karv 6.5mm

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GROUP TEST: Mountain bike grips

RYFE Rampage

FUNN Holeshot

PRO Lock on Race

PRO Lock on Trail

AZUR Charge

DMR Deathgrip

Burgtec Bartender

ODI Reflex

ODI Rogue

Deity Lockjaw

SDG Thrice

TAG Metals Section

TAG Metals Braap

Lizard Skins Charger Evo

Lizard Skins Strata

Wolftooth Echo

Wolftooth Razer 5mm/Karv 6.5mm

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