What does the GRiTT product range include?
According to Leatt, the range includes bike cleaners, care and protection products, chain lubricants, degreasers and tubeless sealants. GRiTT is positioned as an independent brand under the Leatt umbrella. Leatt lists cleaners, care products, chain lubricants, degreasers and sealants as its core categories. You can find out more about cleaning products here.
For mountain bikers, the range therefore covers several routine tasks: cleaning the frame and drivetrain, lubricating the chain after washing it, and, when setting up a tubeless system, the Check or replace the sealant. Our guide to … explains how these steps are linked. How to clean and look after your bike properly.
What technologies does Leatt promote?
Leatt lists several additives and formulations, each of which is intended to fulfil a different function:
- Corrosion-inhibiting additives are designed to protect metal parts from rust.
- Ceramic technology and hexagonal boron nitride (h-BN) are designed to reduce friction and wear in the drive system of products for which they are intended.
- According to the manufacturer, ‘ViscoClean’ refers to the higher viscosity of the cleaning agents. This is intended to ensure that they adhere to surfaces for longer, rather than running off straight away.
- ‘Shake To Activate’ is designed to create a gel-like consistency in certain products when shaken.
- Polymers are designed to form a protective layer on treated surfaces, from which water and dirt roll off more easily.
These are, for the time being, the manufacturer’s specifications, not the results of an independent GRiTT test. In particular, claims regarding chain wear, friction and durability can only be properly assessed through comparable measurements and extended real-world testing. Our comprehensive Comparison of 20 chain lubricants. When it comes to chain lubricants, factors to consider include not only wear protection but also dirt adhesion, noise levels and performance in wet conditions.
Leatt also states that it has tested the formulations in the laboratory and under real-world riding conditions. According to the company, the products are suitable for surfaces such as chrome, carbon fibre, anodised metal and plastic.
How sustainable is the new range of bike care products?
For products labelled ‘TrueBIO’, Leatt promises biodegradable ingredients. The bottles are said to be made from recyclable rPET. Both are relevant details, but they do not constitute a complete environmental assessment: the fact that packaging is recyclable does not mean that it is actually recycled. Nor does the biodegradability of individual ingredients replace an assessment of the product as a whole and its use. Our guide shows which other criteria are important when it comes to cleaning products: Test of 13 organic bike cleaners.
Anyone wishing to look after their bike in an environmentally friendly way should use cleaning products and lubricants sparingly and dispose of any residues properly. Practical benefits are also important: a cleaner that removes dirt without being used up too quickly, and a lubricant that lasts long enough under your own riding conditions, can only be properly assessed in use.
Classification: Wide choice, no test rating yet
With GRiTT, Leatt is now expanding its range from rider gear to include bike care. The range, which spans from cleaners to sealant, is of interest to mountain bikers as it covers several maintenance steps. The key factors will be how effectively the products remove mud and grease, how the lubricants perform in wet and dusty conditions, and whether the tubeless sealant provides long-lasting protection inside the tyre. Prices, pack sizes and specific availability in German shops are not specified in this announcement.
Marc Strucken
Editor