3 New Grips From ODI - Interbike 2015

Sep 16, 2015

by Mike Kazimer

ODI's new Flow grip.

Mountain bikers can be an opinionated bunch, ready to debate ad nauseam everything from head angles to grip thickness with minimal provocation, but if there's one thing that everyone should be able to agree on is that tired, sore hands are no fun. Today's trail and all-mountain bikes are making it possible to ride more difficult trails faster than ever, but a long day of riding can still take a toll on even the most calloused paws. To address that issue, ODI have launched their new Elite Series of grips, which includes three different models, the Motion, Flow, and Pro.

ODI's goal was to create grips that weren't much bigger than their current Ruffian and Rogue grips, but had more padding and were made from a softer rubber compound for increased comfort. All of the grips in the line use a single lock-on clamp to keep them securely mounted to the handlebar, the same design that ODI uses for their motorcycle grips. Available in red, black, or grey, and made in the USA, all three versions retail for $28.95 USD.

The Motion grip.

Motion / Flow

The Motion and Flow grips both use an offset design that places more material towards the top of the grip. This design allowed ODI to double the amount of rubber at the top of the grip while only increasing the overall thickness by 1mm when compared to the Ruffian's 30mm diameter. Even the knurling on the grips has been tweaked to provide maximum comfort, with a more open pattern towards the inside of the grip, and a tighter pattern towards the outside. The Flow gets an additional waffle pattern for even more finger traction, but other than that it's identical to the Motion.

The Pro grip.

Pro

The Pro was designed with extensive input from Curtis Keene, who was searching for a grip that would be comfortable over the course of a long enduro race. The result is a grip that measures 31mm, a similar thickness to ODI's Rogue grip, but with significantly more padding. Twelve small raised rubber boxes are meant to sit at the front of the palm, in roughly the same area that callouses typically develop. Like the Flow grip, there's a waffle pattern on the front underside portion to prevent hand slippage.

MENTIONS: @Odigrips

Posted In:
Reviews and Tech First Looks Grips ODI Interbike

Author Info:

mikekazimer
Member since Feb 1, 2009
1,732 articles

Report

Must Read This Week

Kona Bicycles' Parent Company Appoints New CFO, Intends to Sell Brand
64858 views

Downhill Bikes of Sea Otter - Part 1
47480 views

Brian's Randoms from Sea Otter 2024
45381 views

Randoms Round 3: Dario's Treasures
44855 views

Pinkbike's DH Fantasy League: Get Your Team On The Line - Fort William is in 10 DAYS!
40085 views

Randoms Round 1 - Sea Otter 2024
38420 views

[UPDATED] Final Elite XC Results & Overall Standings from the Araxá XC World Cup 2024
38238 views

Spotted: Frameworks Racing DH Bike with Electronic Fox Shock & Unreleased Enve Rims
37469 views

PB Newsletter Signup

76 Comments

77 6

kranked350z (Sep 16, 2015 at 20:09)

This article was quite grippy.

63 3

rockhound187 (Sep 16, 2015 at 20:12)

The author handled the content well

20 30

tetopluz (Sep 16, 2015 at 20:20) (Below Threshold)

The author must be a ruffian

26 2

Jimmy0 FL (Sep 16, 2015 at 20:39)

No he's a pro. Get it together

24 2

GalenS (Sep 16, 2015 at 20:50)

Agreed, a good article. It really held my attention

23 4

ecly13 (Sep 16, 2015 at 21:13)

I found the article a bit tacky.

25 2

Centz9 FL (Sep 16, 2015 at 21:18)

It really made the reader lock-on to what the author was saying.

10 16

gonecoastal (Sep 16, 2015 at 21:20) (Below Threshold)

Gripping article! Editors have a real lock-on of Interbike happenings.

19 2

defineindecline (Sep 16, 2015 at 21:45)

Just in time! My grips are starting to get a little grOdi.

15 2

xignigenax (Sep 16, 2015 at 21:47)

Get a grip you guys, try to keep your focus locked-on to what's at hand.

15 1

loopie (Sep 16, 2015 at 22:25)

Chicken and Waffles

14 3

wikenrider (Sep 16, 2015 at 22:37)

my slippery tongue can't find a better pun other than odi wan knobby

chyu (Sep 16, 2015 at 22:38)

do you think they would hire a person who worked for a condom company ?

17 1

konamat (Sep 17, 2015 at 0:30)

Not sure: condoms aren't supposed to be grippy.

mretard (Sep 17, 2015 at 0:38)

Think this is going a bit Rogue

ethanhagle (Sep 17, 2015 at 1:50) (Below Threshold)

Maybe the condom guy can design a new slip on?

chyu (Sep 17, 2015 at 1:54)

condoms aren't supposed to be frictionless too.

headshot FL (Sep 17, 2015 at 8:21)

Read this over coffee and a half waffle.

Lurch420 (Sep 17, 2015 at 19:16)

Why did the condom fly across the room?
Because it was pissed off.

36 1

dirtmerchantbicycles (Sep 16, 2015 at 20:25)

And no need to cut a notch in your bars! Go away WTB Padlock.

chillrider199 (Sep 17, 2015 at 10:13)

It sounds scary at first. But its not even a big cut. But those grips are so damn comfy. Its like a lazy boy chair for your hands.

16 5

alexsin (Sep 16, 2015 at 20:07)

Not a single manufacturer makes a lock-on grip with a diameter greater than 33mm. One thicker option would be much appreciated.

15 0

scrippsranchDJ (Sep 16, 2015 at 20:14)

Odi rogue is 34mm

Joseph-o (Sep 16, 2015 at 20:15)

The chromag squarewave xl are really big, probably bigger than 33mm

KGAmoto (Sep 16, 2015 at 20:30)

The Ergon GE1 is 34mm in certain sections and the ESI Extra Chunkies are 34mm.

alexsin (Sep 16, 2015 at 20:36)

I didn't realize those Chromags were so big. Definitely worth a try. I prefer something with a bit of a lip at the end, which eliminates the Rogue and the RF Strafe. I do like the Eastons for that. But the Chromags seem thicker and wider, and who doesn't like that.

WayneParsons (Sep 16, 2015 at 20:41)

Just use flangeless bmx grips. Softer and tacky even when wet.

Joseph-o (Sep 16, 2015 at 20:45)

I've Been running them for a while and they're sick

Jhou (Sep 16, 2015 at 21:03)

ESI Extra Chunky. Best foam grip for those Paul Bunyan hand of yours.

hiketobike (Sep 16, 2015 at 22:06)

sensus grips @WayneParsons

trezzanick (Sep 17, 2015 at 0:28)

bontrager rhythm plus and ouri lock ons are both VERY fat

ethanhagle (Sep 17, 2015 at 1:47)

Dang I didn't know we were supposed to be measuring our grips now too.. Wait what the max thickness for my zipties?!

kranked350z (Sep 17, 2015 at 6:07)

Anyone know how to stop grips from twisting i always have that problem and they end up ripping.

dingus (Sep 17, 2015 at 6:41)

WTB can help you there @kranked350z...

khaki (Sep 17, 2015 at 13:55)

Not sure about diameters, but sq-labs makes them in different sizes: www.sq-lab.com/en/sqlab-products-en/sqlab-grips-en.html

Vans4life14 (Sep 16, 2015 at 20:59)

Funny since I just did my first day at the bike park and now I'm on a mission to find the right grips to help with the hand cramping. I might have to try one of these out if the odi Rouge dosent work.

Korea848 (Sep 16, 2015 at 21:20)

Of the grips I've tried the Rogues are the best.

panaphonic (Sep 17, 2015 at 1:49)

The best I've tried are Odi Tld. Been thinking of trying the Rouges.

TheFunkyMonkey (Sep 17, 2015 at 5:36)

Long time ODI user on MTB and MX. I used Rogue's forever but found my hands cramping at the end of long rides. Switched to Ergon GE1 and haven't looked back. I wasn't a believer before but am now. Zero cramping and they fit perfectly in your hand once you have them set-up.

tornateo (Sep 17, 2015 at 5:50)

I've been using Rouges for the last 6 - 7 years or so. I know it is personal preference but I absolutely love them, no arm pump even after a huge day at the park.

WestwardHo (Sep 17, 2015 at 7:19)

The solution to hand fatigue is renthal moto/atv grips, some grip glue or hairspray and a wire.

Bristecom (Sep 17, 2015 at 14:15)

I thought the Rogues were way more comfy than the Ergon GE1. The rubber on the Ergons was hard as a rock. ODI uses the best rubber. I put some ESI Chunky's on recently but I'm not sure that I like them more yet. All I know is that they are nearly impossible to get on or off. The only thing I didn't like about the Rogues was the end was all metal and you can feel the plastic sleeve inside so the dampening is not quite as good as the non lock-ons. I want some kind of hybrid design with the rogue.

Jack-T-Media (Sep 16, 2015 at 20:10)

these look sick. although the sensus grips seem a lot cooler/better. I would still buy these over many other grips (judging by what is on paper but i cant really see any major improvements. im not saying odi does this, but often major ompanies realease something new and everyone loses their minds

slumgullion (Sep 16, 2015 at 20:37)

Sensus grips are made by ODI.

Jack-T-Media (Sep 16, 2015 at 20:38)

i am aware of that. im not talking about the compound im talking about the design

laxguy (Sep 17, 2015 at 8:32)

love my sensus.. use them on my MTB and BMX -- grippy but soft, nice and big, and some nice design

BigTallYeti (Sep 17, 2015 at 9:40)

Superstar excel are great if you like fat grips, and only a tenner

justgivemeanavailableusername (Sep 16, 2015 at 20:45)

I think there might be an error in the article, they all look Ruffian-like in thickness, it's not clear how the last compares to Rogues. Maybe it was "ruffian thickness with rogue comparable padding"?

mikekazimer FL Editor (Sep 16, 2015 at 20:52)

The Pro grips measure 32mm, while the Flow and the Motion are 31mm thick.

justgivemeanavailableusername (Sep 17, 2015 at 0:35)

thank you! much more clear now.

MmmBones (Sep 16, 2015 at 21:17)

anyone else notice the similarities between the classic "Intense" grip and this new "Pro" grip? My first Lock-ons were Intense's, looking forward to trying the Pro's

MikerJ (Sep 17, 2015 at 19:29)

Still riding Ourys after many years. Did pick up a set of Rogues which will be the first new grip I'm trying in over like a dozen years. They are about the same thickness as the Ourys.

estica (Sep 16, 2015 at 20:15)

3 ? only see 2

estica (Sep 17, 2015 at 12:05)

now theres 3 :/ it was only 2 last time i checked

rarrity (Sep 16, 2015 at 21:53)

Why only one lock and a soft looking end? Seems like the older design will last longer to me,my ruffians still work great since the end never split...

ka-brap (Sep 17, 2015 at 5:02)

For riders who ride at the ends of the bars, the outer lock ring can be a bit uncomfortable at times. Personally, I like grips like that and don't notice any slippage compared to a dual locking grip.

tobiusmaximum (Sep 16, 2015 at 23:57)

I have news for pinkbike and the aforementioned community. We are not the only group with opinions and debates. Faaaaaar from it. The end.

gabriel-mission9 (Sep 17, 2015 at 7:53)

I beg to differ. Actually no. No I don't.

Sshredder (Sep 17, 2015 at 8:13)

How about lil skulls? I want grips with skulls.

jrocksdh (Sep 17, 2015 at 8:42)

Ebay-propalm skulls, I'd c&p the link but its too long.

Sshredder (Sep 17, 2015 at 11:00)

I will Google pro palm skulls. Thanks

jrocksdh (Sep 17, 2015 at 13:18)

These are badass too but wld need to be wired on for mtb use, I'm assuming.
easternbikes.com/parts/grips/skull-grip

AllenB (Sep 19, 2015 at 23:04)

I got to try the new ODI Flow on a Kona Demo bike and I was quite impressed by the grips. Super comfortable with or without gloves

greencowman FL (Sep 16, 2015 at 20:12)

I'm still happy with classic ODI longnecks, most comfy grips ever.

theminsta (Sep 16, 2015 at 20:40)

Oh my lord. The ODI Flow grip looks soooo good how they kept the metal lock-on part really stealthy. Love the detail!

dropoffsticks (Sep 16, 2015 at 23:00)

I love ODI, especially SENSUS

dizastical (Sep 16, 2015 at 23:34)

I hope they've upgraded to a 3mm Allen bolt for that little lock on clamp.

mcozzy (Sep 16, 2015 at 23:42)

Lizardskin northshore, all the grip anybody who was manly hands will ever need. None of this singlelockring nonsense thanks.

lurch710 (Sep 17, 2015 at 0:38)

Are they enduro specific?

robjames (Sep 17, 2015 at 6:15)

Have a great pair of odi yeti grips. Fairly thick. I hope I can still replace them some day

keithrad (Sep 17, 2015 at 7:36)

I can see it now, female specific grips; ribbed for her pleasure!

check please...

onemanarmy FL (Sep 17, 2015 at 9:27)

I like the looks of that pro grip. Think I might have to get a set of those.

cmcrawfo (Sep 17, 2015 at 12:40)

Give me more bulk any day!!!.... my giant meat paw hands go numb with pinner grips.

spencerbrawn (Sep 17, 2015 at 7:14)

Why not take a pick of the pattern?

Meyercord (Sep 16, 2015 at 21:27)

Gimme dat flow!

PhattyMatt (Sep 16, 2015 at 21:44)

Grips huh?