Grips have to be the simplest and least expensive way to dramatically change both the feel of your bike and improve comfort while riding, and Lizard Skins has been behind countless different grips for long as we can remember, as well as frame protection and other items. Lizard Skins is still producing those chain stay guards but they also offer a massive range of grips to choose from, including the Lock-On North Shore model that we’ve been using for the past while. These relatively thick and textured grips have been designed to be super comfortable with or without gloves, and Lizard Skins also donates a percentage of their sales towards trail building efforts on the North Shore, which is obviously a win-win for your hands and the trails. Other than providing funding for trail efforts, the North Shore grips are Lizard Skin’s thickest, most padded lock-on option, featuring a wide squared texture that measures 33mm in diameter and 130mm in length. Standard colours are black or grey, but they also offer a customization program (for an upcharge) that allows you to choose from nine different lock-on collar colours, nine more plug colours, and text engraving of your specification using twenty different fonts. MSRP: $30.00 USD. www.lizardskins.com
Lizard Skins grips review test
Comfortable but thick, the North Shore grips will be a favourite with riders who have big hands or prefer a soft grip.
Pinkbike’s Take:
bigquotes Whether you ride with gloves or without, grips are almost as personal as seat choice, with one person loving a design that another can’t stand. You’ll know what you’re a fan of after spending countless hours holding onto a variety of grips, and that perfect-for-you pair can make all the difference day-in and day-out. With that in mind, the North Shores provide a nice balance between shock absorption and diameter, with the extra thickness compared to slimmer options making a noticeable difference in regards to vibration damping. This results in all-day comfort while still offering plenty of friction to keep your hands glued to the bars, gloves or no gloves. Pairing the added comfort with a functional lock-on style grip makes the North Shores a great option for riders looking to add some coziness to their bars, but their 33mm diameter won’t be for everyone – if you prefer a minimalist grip, these may not be the best option for you. Wear rate seems to be par for the course, with them not losing material faster than anything else out there, although their extra thickness could mean that they’ll be useable for longer than a set of thinner grips. – Jordan Carr
Article from pinkbike.com