Ergon GE1 Evo Slim grips and SM Enduro Comp Men tested: Ergonomics for enduro bikers

Ergon saddles and grips claim to be ideally tailored to the needs of mountain bikers. The Koblenz-based label already bears the company's core expertise in its name. With the SM Enduro Comp Men saddle and the GE1 Evo Slim grips Ergon covers the contact points between enduro riders and their sports equipment. The parts were developed in collaboration with professional athletes from the Enduro World Series (EWS) and are designed to offer full control on demanding trails. We put the ergonomics experts' bestsellers through their paces.

Ergon GE1 Evo Slim grips in detail

• Application: Enduro / All Mountain / Trail
• System: Screw handles
• Grip surface material: Gravity-Control Rubber
• Clamping material: extruded aluminium
• Weight: 95 g (pair, manufacturer's specification)
• Price: 34,95 Euro >> available here at a reduced price
• Special features: Rubber grip made in Germany

>> Looking for comfort? We have compared 6 ergonomic MTB grips.

Ergon SM Enduro Comp Men saddle in detail

• Area of application: Enduro
• Seat shell material: nylon composite
• Upper material: Microfibre
• Frame material: CroMo
• Weight: 245 g (manufacturer's specification)
• Weight limit: 120 kg
• Price: 99,95 Euro >> available here at a reduced price
• Special features: men's specific, edge protection

>> Ergon also recently introduced a new saddle for gravel and all-road riding

Tailored to anatomy and trail

The name gives it away: the Ergon GE1 Evo Slim replace the popular GE1 handles and come with a narrow diameter. The "Standard" version is available for larger hands. By orientating the grip surface towards the rider, the parts are designed to actively support an optimal posture on the bike by lifting the elbows outwards. This is done automatically by rotating the surface by eight degrees to the handlebar axis. Cross slats and anti-slip rubber studs promise comfort and grip. The wall thickness of the grip core is not the same everywhere, but has been adapted so that the grips filter out vibrations from the trail through their own damping. Ergon wants to protect the pressure-sensitive ulnar nerve with a low grip zone and eliminate numbness by optimising pressure distribution.

>> Leatt also has a new MTB grip in its programme - with gel damping.

The Ergon SM Enduro Comp Men saddle also has its target group in its name: male enduro riders. Based on the company's own research into men's health, the German company has developed an anatomically adapted relief channel and a pre-shaped seat area to prevent discomfort in the sensitive perineal area. The CNC-milled, closed-cell AirCell seat foam is designed to ensure comfortable pressure distribution. The rear saddle area has been designed with a sliding surface and plenty of freedom of movement to minimise friction and allow you to change your riding position at any time. Ergon offers a choice of two saddle widths for different sit bone distances. To increase the longevity of the saddle and prevent injuries, the Ergon SM Enduro Comp Men has reinforced side flanks.

>> We show what has changed in almost 150 years of bicycle saddles. A lot!

Ergon grips and saddle off-road

The Ergon G11 Evo grips can be attached in a flash with just one screw. The first impression: high-quality and well thought-out. Neither the grips nor the saddle are particularly light. In enduro use with a focus on downhill riding, however, this is negligible and Ergon also offers a slightly lighter but, e.g. due to the use of titanium, also significantly more expensive version. The grip of the GE1 Evo is high. The lamellae effectively prevent the hand from slipping even in tricky situations. The contact surface with the handlebars is also impressive during manoeuvres such as bunny hops and manuals. On flat pedalling sections, we liked the rounded end towards the inside. Here, the hands rest comfortably in an ergonomic position for many kilometres. In general, the ergonomic alignment is impressive. In the slim version, the damping of the Ergon grips is okay, but does not reach the best values. Overall, the material is rather hard and seems to be designed for durability. Grips with softer rubber offer noticeably more comfort.

>> We also tested the comfort grips from SQlab. You can find out how they fared here.

Saddles are a very individual choice of component. In the test, we got on well with the Ergon SM Enduro Comp Men straight away. The upper material is smooth so that the bum can be positioned well to shift weight on technical climbs. Nevertheless, the sit bones find a secure hold. When things get very steep, the rounded nose helps to put pressure on the front wheel. The central relief channel seems to work, as we had no problems with numbness during the test. The soft padding material absorbs small bumps well. Very sporty riders might wish for an even more defined support for direct power transmission - but here too, the saddle has to fit the rider.

>> More comfort thanks to 3D printing? Introducing the Prologo Scratch M5 PAS.

Conclusion

It's impressive how much development work Ergon puts into grips and saddles. If you want, you can spend hours reading up on ergonomics on the bike on the website. Both the GE1 Evo Slim and the SM Enduro Comp Men are perfectly adapted to the anatomy of bikers and impeccably manufactured. Personally, I would have liked slightly softer grips and a slightly firmer saddle. - Jan Timmermann, BIKE editor