Great hold performance condensed into a simple push-on style grip with a strategically placed pattern design and a screw-in end plug for better-staying power. But to get the desired fit, you will need to get your hands on some grip glue which adds an element of faff and a greater spend.

Renthal is a classic brand with years of experience. From design to the choice of compound, their products are top quality, with the added prestige of having many riders on the World Cup podium.

These are push-on grips that don’t feature any form of interior casing that I'm used to with the bolt-on type. They are very pliable to the touch and feature a knurled grip section paired with a block pattern outer edge.

The grips have a thin profile and a medium-sized mushroom collar on one end. They claim to be super tacky, and when I give them a squidge, they are precisely that. According to Renthal, if the grips start to lose tackiness, you can simply wash them with water to reactivate the rubber. Included in the pack are a pair of end caps that expand when screwed in with a 4mm bolt which gives the end of the grips a buffer, boosting security. They are 135mm which is a little longer than others, although 130-135mm seems to be the average.

At £16.45, they are high quality and offer great performance; but you can buy a much more durable lock-on grip for the same value. It's worth noting that you'll also need to purchase some grip glue to install these. 

The super tacky compound is highly sticky. A satisfying grip feeling immediately gave me confidence. The soft, tacky feeling made me contemplate going gloveless during an enduro race. Though, pairing them with gloves gave me an extremely sturdy and reliable grip.

Rushing to put these on before the race; I popped them on surprisingly fast with the help of a tiny spray of lubricant. It was a gamble as to whether I should even use lubricant as in the past, the thing to do was use hairspray as it dries ultra fast and helps the grips stick to the bars.

It wasn’t until after installing and using them that I read the packaging stating to use a special glue to help fix them onto the bars. I used my trusty GT85 spray as I do on most things and wondered why the grips were turning slightly and not gripping onto the section I had sprayed. I then wiped the GT85 off with a cloth. I found keeping a little on the bars helped push them on, but I recommend only a tiny squirt.

The screw-in end cap wasn’t a feature I expected to see with a ‘Push-On’ style grip. I could feel something happening after a few turns on the small bolts with the hex key. By magic, or so it seemed, the end tightened due to its expanding powers. This is a helpful little sidekick to keep the grips secured. Watch out, though, overtighten and the screw will spin continuously. 

The end plugs act as a stopper and work well. When riding I had more confidence in them staying put while putting force onto them. After using them for a full day’s racing, I found that the plastic end plug stayed in position, but the rubber surrounding it started to overlap slightly. This could be due to settling in for the first time, but it does suggest they had moved during use.

Their thin profile feels comfortable. I felt as if I had more control at all times, significantly more notable on fast technical descents where my grip tightened. I noticed that my forearms don’t ache as much due to the slim profile. I can wrap my hands around the bar fully, and it is easier for my index finger to pull on the brake lever allowing the rest of my digits to hold on with more might.

I found that the mushroom design with a collar crammed up against my brake. This didn’t affect riding performance at all but is a result of where I position my brake clamp on my bars because of my smaller hands. My brakes are closer to the end, leaving less room for the 135mm grip. Something I’ve never had an issue with using lock-on grips I typically use.

A nifty bonus is the end screw that helps secure the grip onto the bars and is something you rarely find with ‘push-on’ grips. Similar in design are the DMR Sect Dirt Jump Grips with a lower cost featuring a bar plug for additional hold, and the ODI Ruffian MTB Single Ply Grips with a funky 3/4 flange that provides access to thumb throttle/shifters, which is an issue I had with the Renthal’s.

The Renthal Push-On grips belong on the world stage. The grip performance is at a high level whether wearing gloves or not. There is a definite magnetic character evident. The slim shaft is so easy to pop onto the bars with little effort, and they suit smaller hands or anyone that wants a solid hold that gives better control at both high speeds and on techy terrain.

Found exploring new gravel routes around the Welsh border, with weekend trips to a bike park shredding the trails and trying all the cake. Still keen to race after 29 years, mainly having fun on a 4x bike with some enduro in the mix. I rock my ukulele in a folk band when not on two wheels.

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