I got the chance to check these Deluxe grips out at Interbike two months back and was into the idea of running some thicker grips. I got an email shortly after the convention from Mark saying he had them in stock and I was lucky enough to get a pair off him. So I’ve been riding the grips for a few weeks now and I think I got a solid idea of how these grips are….
So first off, a lot of people have been talking about how the grips are made out of recycled rubber. I’m not quite sure if that means the grips are made out of old grips, or just anything rubber. I know there are ways to make rubber compounds harder and softer so I feel like it has to have some control over the kind of rubber being mixed together.
After throwing them on my bike, I finally realized they are real thick (34mm diameter to be exact). Mark wasn’t lying when he said they were man sized. I know there are a lot of riders out there who are into real thin grips, and thick grips can make tricks feel weird. I’m usually a middle of the road kind of guy, but I think I’m more leaning towards the thick side of grips now. Grips aren’t just for holding onto, they also absorb a lot of vibration that goes to your wrists, which can make riding more comfortable. I should also mention that they are 150mm long.
The pattern is a little different, similar to the old T-Nez grips from Primo a few years back but not quite the same. I’ve been a fan of the mushroom style grips for a while just because overdone patterns usually end up just getting ripped up anyways. They are a bit breathable too.
As for the rubber compound that I mentioned above, it’s kind of a good weird. It almost feels sticky when you start riding them. It wears a bit, but it still feels grippy after a bit of use. The feel isn’t Animal Edwin soft, but closer to ODI Longneck soft. It’s closer to soft than hard if that makes any sense.
The grips come in black, brown, red, green as you can see above. They come with plastic bar ends that use an allen to tighten instead of the usual screwdriver head. I had an issue with one of them breaking after I crashed. The screw pulled through the plastic hole and ended its life on me. I think I may have just over tightened the screw so that was probably my fault for it breaking. I wish they came with the plugs like Fly and Animal have. I really think those would be beneficial since they are quicker.
Overall, I’d say yeah these grips are pretty good. They are thick, soft, and eco-friendly. If you aren’t into thick grips, soft grips, or saving the environment… well, they aren’t for you.
They are available everywhere now I think. At least I know you can pick them up on Dan’s Comp for $9.99 and I’d imagine all the shops that carry Deluxe will have at least a pair in stock.
