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Why aren't push on grips more popular?

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Mr_Orange

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Discussion starter · #1 ·
I was watching this bike build video and noticed he's using push on grips on a downhill bike:

This sort of surprised me because i thought it was standard to use lock on grips in mountainbiking.

I'm new to mountainbiking but i rode a bit of bmx and so was always use to the feel of push on grips. I tested putting lock on grips on my bmx bike because i was curious and noticed it changes the feel of bunnyhopping.

I feel like push on grips almost have this natural rebound effect to them making your hops feel snappy. The lock on's are stiffer and it feels like there's no give between your hand and the grip. Almost like the grippiness is limiting your range of motion a bit.

Is there are reason why push on grips aren't more popular in mountainbiking?

I tried looking up more examples of push on grips on mountain bikes and found this: https://www.redbull.com/ie-en/bike-check-danny-hart-2016-mondraker-summum

They said those grips are glue and wired on. I wonder if that gets rid of that natural give that push on grips have though. Or maybe that puts it somewhere between lock ons and push ons.
 
#3 ·
I don’t care for lock on grips myself...they tend to be too firm. I’ve also tried ESI chunky grips, they were like riding with no grips at all. They felt worse than the lock on grips. All of this is personal preference, of course. Currently I’m running some Lizard Skins Danny Mac grips
 
#4 ·
Because they can push-off when you ride hard, unless you do things like glue them, which gets messy and nasty when it comes time to change them. Not all lock-ons are the same and feel like hard grips.
 
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#5 ·
Jayem said:
Because they can push-off when you ride hard, unless you do things like glue them, which gets messy and nasty when it comes time to change them. Not all lock-ons are the same and feel like hard grips.
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I can't speak for every brand but ime ESI's will not move once they're properly installed, no glue or wires required.

As for the question "Why aren't push on grips more popular?" ...duh. Lock on grips are at least 10x easier to install and remove.
 
#7 ·
Standard grips were the only thing you had years ago.
As a result, I HATED working on the cockpit.
Either trying to blow compressed air under the grip and sliding it off, or spraying Windex under them and twisting off.
Then, you need to do the same to put them on. If using something like Windex, it needed to dry before riding.
Then, your riding, they get wet underneath and spin.

Non lock on can work just fine, but they are more b difficult to service, albeit only mildly.

I would not use lock on grips on my MX bike, glued on only, but mountain bike, the ease of lock on is superior in my mind.


Next question - why don't more people run tubular tires?!
 
#8 ·
I don't care much for the quirks of push-on grips, but I like a lot the feel. So, to me, is a fair trade. I've been riding Wolf Tooth Fat Paws for quite a while, and have been pretty happy. Not planning to go back to lock-ons any time soon.
 
#9 ·
I used to use hairspray sprayed inside the grip when installing; slide on pretty easily and helped hold in place. I'm looking for some new grips but I want ones that only lock on the inside as I tend to bash the every end of my bars into trees and I've busted off the lock ring and the plastic part of the grip that it connects to. On my SC, the grips are inside ring only and the grip wraps around the end; they get hit but the rubber holds up well. It seems all the one lock grips I'm finding are open ended with a push in plastic plug.
 
#12 ·
chazpat said:
That's gotta be horrible for your hair! I guess it does smell manly, though.

Does WD40 dry sticky? Seem like it would just evaporate.
Click to expand...
Not sure about the science behind it, somehow it bonds well with the rubber. Trick I learned years ago racing bmx….slippery grips is the last thing you want when snapping out of the gate.
 
#13 ·
The only push-on grips I’ve used that didn’t rotate were ESI Chunkys. They’re easy on with alcohol, but kind of a PITA to get off and move to other bars.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
 
#14 ·
J.B. Weld said:
I can't speak for every brand but ime ESI's will not move once they're properly installed, no glue or wires required.
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Curious as to whether you use them often in wet and nasty conditions.
I've never had any luck keeping non-lock-on grips from eventually (usually sooner rather than later) spinning when subjected to a lot of sweat/water/mud.
 
#15 ·
lock grips stay put in all conditions

non-lock have to be fussed with to stay put in rain usually

except silicone grips, these stay put but have their own issues,
[one issue being super fragile to tree strikes ]

lock-on provides a great selection of grip style and type, but will never let you down in the crud
 
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#17 ·
The push ons with no end caps aren't that durable. One good crash and they'll rip...or like me and have them rip by catching on a chain link fence. I remember the BMX days of the 80's where all my grips (Mushroom and Oakley O Wing) were push ons. The Mushrooms came with glue. The ends would be torn up just after a few rides.

I've been using the ESI grips for some time now. I don't think I've found a grip that I like more.
 
Discussion starter · #19 ·
I guess i get the convenience factor of lock-ons.

Push ons are standard in BMX though and i'm pretty sure bmx riders are less tech savy than mountain bikers considering all the other multitude of components you need to maintain. Thick bar ends are also standard in bmx too.

I think i was more curious about the performance difference.

If you've used Push-on grips before (without glue) you'll notice that certain portions of it tend to move/twist over time. I always wondered if that gives it this sort of slingshot rebound effect. And the more you use it, the more you sort of pre-tension it.

I found another example of push ons used on a mtb and here you can see that the grip isn't glued in place and is twisting a bit: https://www.vitalmtb.com/photos/fea...k-Session-Park,6501/Semenuk-is-Running-Chromag-Grips-at-Rampage,65104/sspomer,2

I've been researching grips a bit yesterday and i actually found the perfectly analogy for what i'm trying to point out. I'm sure you've probably heard about these new RevGrips that are supposed to reduce arm pump. In this video it shows that they actually have some rotation play build into them:

I'm wondering if push ons just naturally have some of that rotational play. Maybe glueing/wiring gets rid of some of that effect. It could be interesting to only wire/glue just the 2 ends of a push on grip to allow the center to move freely.
 
#20 ·
slapheadmofo said:
Curious as to whether you use them often in wet and nasty conditions.
Click to expand...
No, I live in the SW desert :p

I have been caught out a time or 2 though and have finished rides soaked to the bone and covered in mud. Even them you're not getting those things off without a knife.

I can't attest to day in, day out wet weather riding though.
 
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