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Why do trekking and mountain bike grips have an inner diameter of 22.2 mm? Like many other measurements on bicycles, this was originally an inch measurement: 7/8 inch times 25.4 mm equals 22.2 mm. This means that all eighteen grips in our field can be attached to city and MTB handlebars with this standard diameter.
In our selection, we have deliberately dispensed with all grips that are only held on the handlebars by being clipped on. All models are modern "lock-on" designs that are held in position by one or two screw clamps. The advantage of such screw-on grips is not only that they are held firmly in place, but they also make mounting and dismounting much easier.
- Brooks Ergon GP1 Leather Grips
- Ergon GA2 grips
- Ergon GP3 BioKork grips
- Ergotec Kyoto cork grips
- Ergotec Multiflex MF1 grips
- Herrmans Adrenalin 3D02 Grips
- Herrmans Line DD36 Grips
- PRO Ergonomic Lock On Sport grips
- Rose Lock On Grip2 grips
- Selle Italia Ergo Grips Epica
- Specialised Enduro XL Locking Grips
- Specialized (Women's) Contour XC Grips
- Spirgrips Spirgrips
- Sportourer grips Jammy Trekking
- SQlab Innerbarends 411
- SQlab grip 711 LE
- Velospring Sen Comfort wooden grips
- Xtreme Gel Comfort BE-1 ergonomic grips
In the past, many screw handles used very small clamping screws with heads designed for a 2.5 mm hexagon socket. Depending on the precision and material hardness, it was easy to damage such screws if they were tightened too tightly. Fortunately, only one model in our current field still has such screws - most manufacturers use screw heads for 3 or 4 mm hexagon sockets. Even better are screws for 5 mm (SQlab), the very best are Torx screws - Velospring is the only one to use T25 screws.
Information on the tightening torque in Newton metres (Nm) with which the bolts should be fastened is usually given on the clamp for screw-on grips. With aluminium handlebars, it is not necessary to buy the appropriate torque spanner. Only with carbon handlebars should you never do without this tool. When mounting grips on aluminium handlebars, it is usually sufficient to tighten the clamps carefully until the grips can no longer slip. If necessary, assembly paste increases the friction.
Handles are available in a wide variety of shapes - be sure to try them out!
In terms of shape, grips could previously be divided into three classes: Round grips, ergonomic grips, and grips with bar ends. Round (cylindrical) grips are the most compact and are favoured by cyclists with smaller hands or by many athletes. Ergonomic grips offer a larger contact surface for the balls of the hands and are designed to counteract carpal tunnel syndrome. Anyone who spends a lot of time in the saddle will appreciate this. Grips with integrated bar ends offer a second, and in the case of long models sometimes even a third grip position on the outside of the handlebars.
A fourth variant has recently come onto the market: Both Spirgrips and SQlab offer additional grips that look like bar ends but are mounted on the inside of the handlebar, i.e. between the brake/shift lever and the normal grip. Some space is lost there and the brake lever has to be moved inwards by 15.5 mm (Spirgrips) or 19.9 mm (SQlab). This gives you a second grip position that is not so far to the outside, and you can even brake in this position.
Last but not least: try out the grips!
It is always an advantage if a model is available in several sizes.
You really need to feel the grips to be able to tell whether the shape suits you.
You can conveniently download the complete handlebar grip comparison test as a PDF below the article. The test costs 1.99 euros.
Why not free of charge? Because quality journalism has a price. In return, we guarantee independence and objectivity. This applies in particular to the tests in MYBIKE. We don't charge for them, but the opposite is the case: we do charge for them - hundreds of thousands of euros every year.
