Mountain Biking - Need advice.. Slip on grips or lock on???

Need the help of some of you more experienced riders. The question is I need to replace my handle grips (which are currently slip on) but with no experience in using the lock on type was wondering what the public at large has to say on the issue??? I ride the hardest trails I can find in Houston i.e Memorial, Hershy park and others like them so I need some thing that will hold up. Thanks in advance!!! Keep the rubber side down!!

ESIs are the best grips I have used...

I long eschewed lock-ons as an unnecessary expense . . . against the raves of many on this forum. I was wrong.

I prefer lock-ons because they make it much easier to remove the shifters (and brake levers if they don't have a split clamp). Sometimes those parts break or you want to swap out handlebars... If you stay with regular grips, cheap hairspray works really well as a lube to get the grips on and then dries sticky to keep them from slipping.

I prefer either Oury lock on grips or ODI Rogues, both of which are fairly fat and cushy. Not recommended if you have smaller hands though.

The main advantage I see to lock-ons is that they are easy-on/easy-off. Lock-ons are great if you're the sort of person who likes to tinker around w/components.

I've read that lock-ons are less likely to slip. If you're the sort of person to really wrench on the bars when climbing and such, then lock-ons are worth a look.

The above are the two advantages that I'm aware of. Disadvantages include weight (more of it) and cost.

Jeefnut22 mentioned ESI grips. I like those too. They are tough to remove though, which is an advantage because they won't slip when riding, but a disadvantage when you just want to remove parts to build a different frame.

Parts removal is a valid point. Not all brake and shifter clamps force you to slide them onto the bars. I run X-0 twist shifters, so I would have to remove the grips to take them off, but haven't had to in the last year +. My Saint brakes have a 2-bolt clamp that allows them be removed w/o having to slide them off the bars.

Take a look at the parts you are running to see if parts removal would even be an issue. Otherwise slippage and grip style would be the predominant factors. My ESIs haven't slipped at all and have taken the abuse of crashes without issue.

Parts removal is a valid point.

I do like to tinker a lot, so it's possible that I give more weight to parts-removal than most other riders would give.


My ESIs haven't slipped at all and have taken the abuse of crashes without issue.

Yeah, ESI grips won't slip. That's sort of the only downside to them, if you can call it that---I can hardly get the things off when I want to change parts :D. They grip, and they feel good to the hand. They actually are one of my favorite brands of grips.

Lock-on > Slip-on

Lock-ons kick ass.

Tried ESI grips for a bit on two of the bikes. Very comfy, didn't slip, but get the crap chewed out of them in any decent wreck, I found. Using the little plastic end plugs didn't really make much difference. As well, eventually, dirt and junk eventually gets worked up under the outer edges, which can lead to them slipping, and more junk getting in.

I'm back to lock-ons. A nice cushy silocone grip like those with on outer lock-on aluminum edge to prevent those problems would kick ass. Same grip and comfort with the longer durability of the lock-ons.

Lock-ons for the win. Ruffian or Ruffian MX. Put the padding in your glove, not in the grip.

Put the padding in your glove, not in the grip.With a properly-sized grip for your hand in a good compound, padding is not necessary.

ok sorry about not getting back sooner but I went ahead and bought some ESI chunkys and they should be here in a few days. Ill reserve judgment until then!!! Ill post back and either thank or cuss yall then!!!!!lol Nah really though thanks for all the help I think Im just gonna keep it OG and stick with the slip on's. Keep the rubber side down!:twitchy: