Tested: Ergon GE-1 Grips
Ergon GE-1 Grips
Ergon GE-1 Grips
Up until recently, grips were really just grips. By and large, most brands have got by over the years with producing simple round tubes of rubber for the end of your handlebars.
Occasionally there has been some innovation. When ODI first invented the lock-on grip, they created a new benchmark for a secure grip that could withstand mountain biking in all conditions. Everyone else quickly followed suit.
Of course there are now many shapes and sizes of grips out there. There have been favourites over the years that have leagues of devoted fans. Riders who won’t ride anything but Ourys, or those who will never purchase anything other than Ritchey WCS foam grips or ESI silicones.
And given that your grips are the primary point of contact between you and your bikes steering, why mess with something that already works?
Well that’s a question that German brand Ergon set out to answer back in 2004 when they first debuted the GP-1 grip. With its winged profile, the GP-1 became an instant hit due to its ability to spread a riders weight distribution over a broader surface area. Marathon and XC racers rejoiced in the comfort, and the GP-1 has since evolved and spawned multiple variations.
These days the Ergon range has grown to include saddles, gloves, pedals and backpacks, all with over-the-top German design and engineering, and all with a focus on rider ergonomics.
Of course they also produce a comprehensive range of mountain bike grips. How comprehensive? As it stands, they make 6 core grip profiles that are available in some 50 variations in sizing and bar-end integration, not to mention all the colour options too. Grips for commuters, grips for downhillers, and grips for World Cup Marathon racers. Ergon doesn’t just make grips, they engineer them.
The GE-1 grip is the latest offering from Ergon, though compared to the original GP-1, its intentions sit towards the more aggressive end of the riding spectrum. Although the GE-1 appears to take on a more conventional profile, there’s a host of unique design features that Ergon believes makes this the perfect grip for Enduro racing.
Movement Analysis
The GE-1 joins the Ergon lineup as a grip designed specifically for Enduro mountain biking. For this type of riding and racing, Ergon claims that “handlebars are wide, and gripped right at the end, while the riders elbows are kept bent”. With this cockpit setup in mind, Ergon have shaped the GE-1 grip to facilitate an open riding position and to reduce tension on the arms and hands.
That might sound like a bit of a faff, but we reckon Ergon are onto something. As 5-6” travel mountain bikes have evolved in their geometry, bars have gotten wider, and stems have gotten shorter. If you need any proof of that transition, stream a video of a recent Enduro World Series race and watch how Jerome Clementz and Jared Graves ride. Now put on an old New World Disorder video, and have a look at the difference in the riding position. Pretty stark huh?
The GE-1 grip was developed in partnership with Ergon athlete and all-round shredder, Fabian Barel. There were several key goals to be achieved throughout the design process, which included vibration damping and anti-slip control. Ergon undertook motion analysis of its Enduro team riders to determine what hand positions they favoured and how this would change from climbing to descending.
The end result was an asymmetric grip that featured right and left-hand specific grips. The GE-1 features a pointed section at the front of each grip, which is designed to nestle into the curve of your fingers. In terms of dimensions, the GE-1 grip measures at 130mm in length, with an average diameter of 33mm. A pair of grips are claimed to weigh in at 120 grams.
German Rubber
Taking the grip design even further, Ergon have built the GE-1 with two natural rubber compounds. A softer rubber compound sits in immediate contact with the rider’s palm, while a firmer compound makes up the end of the grip for improved durability.
There is a thin plastic sleeve inside the grip, which slides directly over the handlebar. This plastic core features a hollowed out section just underneath the outer palm, which helps to add more rubber to this high-stress area for improved vibration damping.
Ergon have created a textured profile for the GE-1, though if you look really closely, you’ll see that the textured surface features hooked edges that are oriented against the rotation of your hands. Pretty clever!
The GE-1’s are easy to install, with only a 3mm hex key required. There is a single inboard clamp on each grip, which is forged and CNC’d from aircraft grade alloy. The other end of the grip is enclosed rubber, which supports a riding position that sees your hands pushed out as wide as possible.
The only thing you’ll have to watch during installation is that each grip has an “up” position. Once you’ve gotten the grips into approximately the right spot, laser etched gradients on the alloy collars help you to find the right angle for your hand position.
Enduro Specialist
As you would imagine from a brand like Ergon, the GE-1 grips feel quite different from a conventional grip. But in a good way. The subtle shaping of the grip’s profile feels natural for the hand to curve around, with the pointed edge at the front of the grip providing a great reference point for your fingers.
For those that run their hands as wide as possible, the GE-1s will be welcome indeed. The soft rubber and the raised outer edge make these substantially more comfortable than grips that use a metal outer locking collar.
Some testers did complain that the GE-1 grips were too firm for their liking. This was typically the case on XC setups, where firm suspension and skinnier tyres were more likely to pass trail vibration up into the grips. However, the GE-1’s definitely feel skinnier than their claimed 33mm diameter, so riders looking for a big fat and squishy grip would probably be best to stick with Ourys.
Mounted to the long-travel machines that they were designed for, the GE-1’s feel right at home, and it doesn’t take long to see the method to Ergon’s madness for producing an Enduro-specific grip. Test pilots claimed that they were finishing their rides with less wrist fatigue and fewer cramps in their hands. This was particularly noticeable when riding extended descents on rough trails. Best of all, this added comfort came with no perceptible change in control. If anything, riding confidence when up due to the secure and sticky profile of the GE-1s tread pattern.
While it did take most of us a ride or two getting the angle dialled in, in didn’t take long to forget we were using the GE-1, and that is the true sign of a good quality pair of grips.
The GE-1 grips are available in 4 different colours, including ‘Enduro-specific-blue’. Ergon have also announced they’ll be offering a slimmer version of the GE-1, aptly called the GE-1 Slim.
RRP: $40
Hits
- Single clamp design allows for wide hand position
- Textured rubber delivers superb traction
- Really comfortable
Misses
- Can take longer to setup than a conventional grip
- Not as forgiving on a short-travel XC bike
