ODI AG1 Lock-On Grips - Review
ODI AG1 Lock-On Grips
ODI's new AG1 grip was developed in collaboration with Aaron Gwin (hence the AG in the name), and is billed as being 'designed for racers, by racers.' The AG1 measures just 28mm at its thinnest point, and uses a single sided lock-on design, with a fixed clamp located on the inboard portion of the grip that's tightened down with a 2.5mm hex bolt. Using only one lock-on clamp allows ODI to extend the grip's useable surface, which should appeal to riders who typically ride with their hands at the very outside of their bars. The AG1's surface is comprised of four raised ribs strategically placed amidst the diamond pattern that covers the grip, a feature meant to line up with the articulation points on a rider's hand for extra traction, especially in wet conditions. The end of the grips are made from aluminum that's then covered by plastic to help keep them from hanging up on rocks during a crash, and to decrease the chance of any sharp edges developing. Available in orange, red, blue, and black, the AG1 retails for $35 USD. Made in the USA. www.odigrips.com
The AG1 grips are extremely thin, but were lacking slightly when it came to all day comfort..
Pinkbike's Take:
 | I'm a fan of thin grips, and as the results of a recent poll showed, I'm not alone. Of course, grip diameter is a matter of personal preference, one that's related more to comfort than anything. Due to the shaping of the AG1, it took some time to find the best orientation of the grips' raised ribs against my palm, but after a bit of trial and error I settled on a position and stuck with it for the duration of the test period. Those raised portions do work as advertised, providing more traction in wet conditions than you'd find on a grip with a more uniform surface, and the slightly ramped outboard portion of the grip provides a good perch for the outside of the hand to rest on as well. On the trail, the AG1 had a harsher feel than expected, not providing very much cushion or vibration damping. It's difficult to say whether that's due to the rubber durometer that ODI uses or some other factor, but this was especially noticeable on rides with long, sustained descents - by the end of a run my hands would feel more fatigued than they did when running ODI's tried-and-true Ruffian grip, which is roughly the same diameter but with a simpler profile. ODI markets the AG1 as being for DH racing, and while some racers may not mind giving up comfort in order to have a greater feel for what the bike is doing, in my mind, the less hand fatigue the better. Regarding durability, the grips have held up well, with no signs of excess wear, aside from some scuffs on the end caps caused by a couple of bike vs. ground incidents. While the AG1 falls slightly short of being able to knock the Ruffian off its perch as the king of thin lock-on grips, it could still be a viable option for riders looking for a thin grip with a little extra traction, or for those who prefer the simplicity of a one bolt design. - Mike Kazimer |
Author Info:
Member since Feb 1, 2009
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So how long does the grip surface measure? I wish ODI (and everyone else) would make more models available in 140mm+.
Being the kind of rider who likes to have his hands way out on the grips, I've found the outer clamp on most grips (even the TLD's) to get really uncomfortable after a while but the Sip's, with their single clamp design are nice and flat all the way to the end so my hands are happy. The Ruffianesque diamond/half-waffle combo is killer too. I found that the TLD's could get a bit slippery in the wet or when my gloves got soaked through with sweat.
also, if you are gloveless and get sweaty hands, you will have no traction.
But they are light, and come in 45 colors. I tried to like them.