[mtber3737]

Thanks Ray for advising me to get the ESI Silicone grips. I replaced my Odi grips with the ESI grips on the Mary bars of my single speed... and they absolutely work!!! It really dampens the harshness... and my old bones really appreciate the feel.

Again...THANKS!

OMR...
SoCal

 

[cocheese]

Ditto. I got a couple of pairs on Rainman's suggestion. Great grips! Thanks!!!

Any more suggestions?

 

[Rainman]

These are the things that I currently believe to be very very good products and worthy of your consideration when purchasing parts.

Jones H-Bars.

ESI Silicone grips.

Kenda Nevegal tires.

Selle An-Atomica Titanico saddles.

Niner Bikes SIR 9 frame.

Shimano XT crankset.

Reba Fork.

Moots Ti seatpost.

Thomson Stem.

These products are currently, in my opinion, some of the best available.

R.

[ ps: Thank you for the feedback. It's nice to know that someone is listening and taking notice of what I suggest.]

 

[cocheese]

Well, let me go through the checklist:

Jones H-Bars.---CHECK

ESI Silicone grips.---CHECK

Kenda Nevegal tires.

Selle An-Atomica Titanico saddles.

Niner Bikes SIR 9 frame.

Shimano XT crankset.---CHECK

Reba Fork.---CHECK

All I need are the SIR9 frame (I almost bought one before my last bike), the tires (might get some of those for my current ride), the Selle Titanico saddle, if it cushions my taint better than the WTB Laser saddle I now own...well, I'll buy one of those too.

Rainman, you might be 7 for 7 before too long! HA!

 

[Rainman]

If I had to choose the top two products I would go with:

Selle An-Atomica Titanico saddles.

ESI Silicone grips.

Both of these are outstandingly good products, and both of them are 'contact points' on a bike, which makes it very important to get them right.

Whilst not every rider will agree with my choices, I really believe that these two products are genuine "breakthrough" type components that can and will benefit the majority of riders everywhere.

As always, I have no affiliation with either company, and I get no "freebies" for recommending them.

R.

 

[the Inbred]

i'll give my ESI's another chance. if they don't work out this next ride, they're gone.

 

[Francis Cebedo]

I'll try the ESI grips on the Niner. Red please.

It's soo cool to have more suspension for the rigid fork. I tried the rigid fork on my 26er and gave up after a year. On the 29er it's way cushier. Here's why:
- 29er wheel 1/2 inch of cush
- big tire (weirwolf LT) running Stans at 22 psi 1/2 inch of cush
- Pace carbon fork 1/4 inch of cush
- Salsa 26 inch Pro Moto carbon bar 1/4 inch of cush
- ESI grips 1/8 inch... maybe.

So there, it's like cheating. You get rigid climbing ability and rigid steering. Yet there's cush to be had. Mind you, the only weakness is high speed rocks. Going 20+ mph into a sea of rocks is no good on rigid no matter what.

fc

 

[Rainman]

I'll try the ESI grips on the Niner. Red please.

It's soo cool to have more suspension for the rigid fork. I tried the rigid fork on my 26er and gave up after a year. On the 29er it's way cushier. Here's why:
- 29er wheel 1/2 inch of cush
- big tire (weirwolf LT) running Stans at 22 psi 1/2 inch of cush
- Pace carbon fork 1/4 inch of cush
- Salsa 26 inch Pro Moto carbon bar 1/4 inch of cush
- ESI grips 1/8 inch... maybe.

So there, it's like cheating. You get rigid climbing ability and rigid steering. Yet there's cush to be had. Mind you, the only weakness is high speed rocks. Going 20+ mph into a sea of rocks is no good on rigid no matter what.

fc

Not only is it no good, but hitting rocks at high speed with 20psi in your tubed tires is a genuine no-no :nono: at 20+ mph ! :eekster:

I very recently tested that theory, and came off a battered and bruised second best.

R.

 

[Chris130]

The H-bars on my soon-ariving Sir9 are coming Jones-wrapped, but I'm definitely interested in going with the ESI grips sooner or later...

Rainman, in your experience, is it possible to install the ESIs somehow without an air compresser? I don't have such an animal avbailable to use. I wouldn't guess a CO2 cartridge is going to do the trick!

I *thought* I've seen a discussion somewhere on MTBR about this, but search is fruitless.

Also, do just "standard" bar end caps work in the Jones H-bars?

Thanks in advance; your advice/recommendations are very helpful!

Cheers, Chris

 

[Rainman]

Chris..

I installed my first [test] set of ESI grips with plain old tap water..

I wet the ends of the H-bars, and ran the tap on the inside of the grips, then just worked them onto the ends of the bars after first installing the supplied bar-ends.

It takes a little push / pull and shove to do, but once on there, I left them to dry out overnight and they were fine.

Of course it is easier with a compressor and air-gun, but it's not too hard with plain water.

R.

 

[pacman]

Any more suggestions?

When you use sunscreen clean your hands with a solvent (alcohol). The ESI's become slick when mixed with sunscreen and sweat.

 

[Enel]

Just as a contrary voice, I never liked my ESI grips.

They were slick, fragile, and spun on the bars quite a bit. Very easy to cut/chunk pieces out of. YMMV

FWIW, I am an Oury fanatic.

 

[YuriB]

These are the things that I currently believe to be very very good products and worthy of your consideration when purchasing parts.

Jones H-Bars.

ESI Silicone grips.

Kenda Nevegal tires.

Selle An-Atomica Titanico saddles.

Niner Bikes SIR 9 frame.

Shimano XT crankset.

Reba Fork.

Moots Ti seatpost.

Thomson Stem.

These products are currently, in my opinion, some of the best available.

well i'm 6 for 9 on your list and my grips on the h-bars are about toast (ok, they're burnt toast) so i guess i'll try a pair of the ESIs (and the price is right)

 

[Santa Clauz]

I just placed an order with ESI for one pair. Somehow the screen came up white and I resubmitted my order and was contacted first thing today about two orders. I told them what happened and that I only wanted one pair. They apologized (which it may not of even been their fault) and said shipping was free on this order! Class Acts all the way.

 

[cbchess]

grips

I was always an OURY grip user. This Christmas I got a pair of the ESI chunky grips (after Rainman's suggestion) and a pair of the Ergon grips.
I like them both very much.

I installed my ESI grips like the told me to on the package - use Windex just spray a bit on the bar slide it on and let it dry for 24 hours.

they are like lock on grips now . I am running them on my Fleegle bars and they work great. My hands and wrists feel much better after a long ride. They really dampen the trail chatter out.:thumbsup:

I must say the Selle An-Atomic saddle is GREAT too.
I've got three other bike with Brooks saddles.

 

[GlowBoy]

ESI grips went on both of my Mary bars pretty easily with rubbing alcohol. I did have to use a bit more than with conventional rubber grips though.

 

[MikeDee]

Thanks Ray for advising me to get the ESI Silicone grips. I replaced my Odi grips with the ESI grips on the Mary bars of my single speed... and they absolutely work!!! It really dampens the harshness... and my old bones really appreciate the feel.

Again...THANKS!

OMR...
SoCal

Get a good pair of gloves too; ones with padded palms. Even though I use the ESI grips, my left hand is hurting because I was using a glove that did not have padding in the palm- only in the heel area of the hand.

 

[azjonboy]

I had the same experience as Santa Clauz... my order got placed twice for the same product. Maria at ESi emailed me to make sure it was correct and then advised me they would ship it FREE. Great company.
PS - the grips are comfy, too.

 

[29Colossus]

Got my ESI grips due to his suggestion... probably my Marys as well.

Now I need a new seat for a bike... thinking about that Selle he is down with.

 

[rafdog]

Rainman, you should get a cut since I, too, ordered after your suggestion....my 6 y.o. thinks red is the coolest