Bicycle Handlebar Grips – Are all Bicycle Grips the Same Size?

The good old bike handle – just about every cyclist had a pair of plastic grips on their first bike, if not still on their current trekking or touring bike. At most, the very oldest old-timers among us were more familiar with wooden bicycle grips in childhood. But the good old bike handle just about every cyclist had a pair of plastic grips on their first bike, if not still on their current trekking or touring bike.

At most, the very oldest old-timers among us were more familiar with wooden bicycle grips in childhood. But the transition to plastic compounds is far from the only recent innovation in the handle market. Especially with the resurgence of bike fitting and the increased focus on ergonomics and seating position, a wide variety of grip shapes are now on the market. Manufacturers of ergonomic bike parts such as SQ Lab are currently fully on-trend.

What you should know about the bike grip – in terms of material, shape, ergonomics, and more – you can find out here. e transition to plastic compounds is far from the only recent innovation in the handle market. Especially with the resurgence of bike fitting and the increased focus on ergonomics and seating position, a wide variety of grip shapes are now on the market. Manufacturers of ergonomic bike parts such as Sab are currently fully on-trend.

Why Change Your Bike Grips?

Damaged bicycle grips are often an inconvenience for the cyclist. In fact, if your bike grips are really smooth, then your hands can quickly hurt when riding and create areas of irritation. In addition, we minimize their contribution but they remain a protection in the event of a fall and if your handlebars should fall on you. It is therefore essential that their condition does not encroach on your safety. Finally there are reasons for the look because it is a very easily customizable element on a bike.

How to Install New Bike Grips

Don’t worry, it’s much easier to install new bike grips. To do this, just follow these steps:

1. Spray the new handle with a non-oily liquid such as hairspray or window cleaner, but above all no glue.
2. Turn the handle to evenly distribute the liquid.
3. Slide the handle quickly before the liquid dries.
4. Push the grip all the way down.
5. Replace and tighten the brake handles and the gear lever.

What you should know about the bike grip – in terms of material, shape, ergonomics, and more – you can find out here.

Size And Shape Of The Bike Handle

Depending on your individual hand position and size, you have a choice of differently shaped bike grips. Thus, the bike grips offer an ergonomic alternative to the sportier handlebar tape. The idea behind ergonomic grips is to increase the contact area. In the classic bicycle grip, a large proportion of the body weight rests on a few square centimeters of the palm. Thus, new grips rely on a widened “relief wing” – a platform-like expansion of the grip on which the heel of the rider’s hand rests.

Bicycle Grips In S, M, and L

Various manufacturers now offer their bicycle grips in two or three different sizes. This is a different size circumference or grip width, as some manufacturers tend to call it. The grip width should fit the individual size of the hand. Mostly you can find conventional size designations like S, M, and L. But there is no standard between manufacturers here.

So we have compiled the grip sizes of different manufacturers in a table and compared them to the appropriate glove size. If you prefer to trust your own measurements, you can also measure the circumference of your hand yourself – measure the circumference at the widest part of your hand. We have taken over the recommendations of the manufacturers, which grip sizes should be taken to which glove size. Finally, the shape always differs between manufacturers – so Ergon recommends even riders with glove size L to take the S grips. This is because the Ergon grips have particularly oversized relief wings.

Tip: If a bicycle grip is provided without such a size designation, you can easily calculate the grip width based on the diameter. Use our calculator with glove size recommendations for this.

Grip Circumference Calculator

Here you can enter the diameter of a bicycle grip to get the grip circumference calculated and a glove size recommendation.

Once you know your grip diameter, you can calculate your grip size by multiplying your grip diameter by 3.14

Bicycle Handles – Overview

The bicycle grips in this table fit bicycle handlebars with a diameter of 22cm as standard. Some of these bicycle grips (such as those from Ergon) are also available in “Twist Shift” form – this means that the grips are slightly shorter to leave enough space for a twist grip.

Bicycle Grips With Or Without Bar Ends?

Another important factor is whether you ride with or without so-called bar ends. Bar ends are additional attachments on the handlebars, also known as bar ends. These provide the rider with additional grip options and riding postures. Gripping the outside, forward-facing Bar Ends puts you in a lower, more athletic posture on the bike. This can be compared to the forward-leaning road bike handlebars.

Bar End Compatible Bike Grips

Some bike grips come with Bar Ends already mounted. Other bike grips offer the option of additional Bar Ends that you can mount yourself. In this case, the bar ends are not mounted on the bicycle grips, but directly on the handlebar. For this, the bicycle grips must be open to the outside – such BarEnd-compatible bicycle grips have an openable cap to let the handlebar rod through. However, many bicycle grips are closed on the outside. So before you buy, you should consider whether you might want to give bar ends a try.

Handlebar Ends Are Especially Advisable For Touring Bikes

For a while, the bar ends were fully in vogue and can be found on all bikes. This trend has probably died out again at the moment – at least that’s the impression. But the bar ends offer advantages:

• Similar to the bent-over position on a road bike, you get into a more athletic and aerodynamic posture by holding onto the BarEnds. This puts less weight on the lower back and more weight on the arms.
• Additional options and more freedom in posture. Especially on longer tours, this is very advantageous, because you can relieve the hand and back posture so during the ride. Because by varying the grip position, you shift the center of gravity of the body. This counteracts cramping.

On the other hand, there are the disadvantages:

• The bar ends can take some getting used to and be annoying in certain riding positions.
• However, the look of the bike with bar ends takes even more getting used to. If you never reach for them after all, they just seem useless.

How to Remove Bicycle Handlebar Grips?

There are different methods to remove bicycle handlebar grips.

Even if it is a very simple element of the bike that does not require real mechanical knowledge, beware because removing the bike handles can quickly become a real ordeal. Discover the different methods to use to remove the grips from a bicycle. Before you start, you have to loosen the locking screw of the shifter of your bike handles, then you will create a little space. This space will be essential to push the lever as much as possible towards the inside of the handlebars. Loosen the locking screws of the brake lever and also push the lever as far as possible towards the center of the handlebar. Once these steps have been completed, you will be able to start removing the handles from your bike.

Cutting your grips: This is probably the most logical solution for removing the grips from your bike, but it is not always possible or practical to cut bike grips.

With water: Using a syringe that you will fill with water, you will prick the bike handle in several areas. Squirting water inside the handle will release some movement and slide it out.

With dishwashing liquid: Similar to the previous method, you will try to use dishwashing liquid to degrease and facilitate the sliding of the handle. To do this, we recommend taking a screwdriver and levering the handle to inject the dishwashing liquid. Once this is done, you can then knead the handle and this should allow you to remove it without difficulty.

Alcoholic Solution: This is yet another product that can work very effectively on your bike grips to effectively remove them. Use a screwdriver or tire iron to lift each end of your grip enough to pour an amount of modified alcohol into it. As before, a few rotational movements should suffice. The advantage of alcohol is that at the same time it allows you to clean the grip and handlebars of the bicycle.

Compressed air: This is the pro’s solution for removing bicycle grips. Use a compressor or pump with a mouthpiece, then blow a jet of air into the end of your grip. Once your grip begins to inflate, modulate the air while pulling on the grip to remove it completely from the handlebar.

Bicycle Handle Grip Material

The different materials of the bicycle grip can be compared with the handlebar tape. The most common material for bicycle grips is plastic. Here, the manufacturers differ in their different rubber compounds and in the surface of the grips. Bicycle grips made of rubber always feel quite similar at the first grip, but after a long time differences are noticeable. Harder grip surfaces with a rough profile offer more safety and grip but can wear down the palms on longer tours.

Alternatively, you can now find fashionable bicycle grips made of leather or with bio-cork content in the rubber compound. These grips not only offer a special look but also the grip feeling differs drastically from the classic rubber grips. Above all, those who find the profiled rubber surface too rough may find the smoother but still tactile surface of a leather or cork grip appealing.

FAQs – Bicycle Grips

Which Handlebar Grips On The Bike?

You are looking for new handlebar grips for your bike? Here you have the choice between different materials, different shapes, and sizes. You can find out more in our heading Bicycle Handlebar Material. Maybe you are also interested in the handlebar tape? You can learn more about handlebar tape in our article: Handlebar tape test and overview.

Which Handlebar Grips On Mountain Bikes?

In principle, all common handlebar grips are also suitable for mountain biking. However, a pair of plastic grips with a profiled, grippy surface is recommended. Some MTB riders find bar ends useful in certain disciplines, while other MTB riders find them annoying. Everyone must make their own judgment on this. Handlebars with the ergonomic wing shape are currently in vogue, but even here not everyone is convinced. Conclusion: Try it out for yourself.

How To Mount Bicycle Grips?

To mount a new pair of handlebar grips on your bike, see our posts: Dismantle Handlebar Grips and Mount Handlebar Grips.

How to Clean Bicycle Handlebar Grips?

To keep your bicycle grips clean, use a mild soap like dish or castile. If you want to deep-clean them then scrub with toothbrush and wash off after foamy enough where its not affecting the bicycle grip anymore!

How to Replace Bicycle Handlebar Grips Without Cutting Them

If you’re looking for an even more common method but don’t want to leave any residue, using water and liquid (dish) soap is a great way to disassemble your bike grips without damaging them.

Unlike lubricant, there is no risk of oily residue or chemical damage.

How to proceed ? Just like the previous methods, you just need to loosen the grip slightly using a tire iron or a screwdriver. The space thus created allows you to add the diluted solution (soap and water). Use as in the previous method a syringe (20 ml or 50 ml).

Once the soapy solution has been introduced, start twisting and kneading the handle. Continue in this way by pulling towards the end of the handlebar until it finally comes off. As this is a relatively risk-free method, feel free to use as much soap solution as needed.

Are all Bicycle Grips the Same Size?

How Do I Know What Size Bike Grips To Get?