Bar ends ... so hot right now

6/24/2026 9:57am

peeled back the rubber on my meaty paws and slightly recessed the inner sleeve.  Just punching out a hole and there was kind of a gap between the end of the grip and the bar end with that grip.


First impressions is they work pretty much as advertised.  Agreed about some very minor discomfort but I think that’s just a matter of getting used to it.  Definitely going on the dh bike and going to keep em on the trail bike for now and come to a decision later.

i ain’t very stylish but i can see how they’d impede  riders who like to take their hands off the bars.
 

2
comatosegi
Posts
92
Joined
8/28/2025
Location
Portland, OR, USA
6/27/2026 12:06pm
Anyone got any knowledge about foam and recommendations on what might hold up the longest on the inside of the bar ends.  I'm assuming it's not...

Anyone got any knowledge about foam and recommendations on what might hold up the longest on the inside of the bar ends.  I'm assuming it's not what I can buy at Michael's.  I've decided to give them go, but definitely want to have something to pad them on hand when testing them out.

Ck out Amuary's setup, his mechanic just used some felt.  I don't think foam would be a good application, probably get ripped off very fast.

I use gloves, rubbing friction issues haven't been an issue for me.

 

4
AndehM
Posts
806
Joined
5/7/2018
Location
El Granada, CA, USA
Fantasy
6/27/2026 12:21pm

The discomfort I was getting was the side of the bone between knuckle and wrist, more pronounced by the wrist.  I run my bars narrow-ish (760) and felt like it was kinda blocking how much I can rotate my hands outward.  I'll give them another once my knuckle doesn't hurt - I'm sure it's not helping matters.

1
mfoga
Posts
776
Joined
9/21/2015
Location
Moreno Valley, CA, USA
Fantasy
6/28/2026 7:25pm
Anyone got any knowledge about foam and recommendations on what might hold up the longest on the inside of the bar ends.  I'm assuming it's not...

Anyone got any knowledge about foam and recommendations on what might hold up the longest on the inside of the bar ends.  I'm assuming it's not what I can buy at Michael's.  I've decided to give them go, but definitely want to have something to pad them on hand when testing them out.

Grip donuts? 

2
6/29/2026 4:45pm
Anyone got any knowledge about foam and recommendations on what might hold up the longest on the inside of the bar ends.  I'm assuming it's not...

Anyone got any knowledge about foam and recommendations on what might hold up the longest on the inside of the bar ends.  I'm assuming it's not what I can buy at Michael's.  I've decided to give them go, but definitely want to have something to pad them on hand when testing them out.

comatosegi wrote:
Ck out Amuary's setup, his mechanic just used some felt.  I don't think foam would be a good application, probably get ripped off very fast.I use...

Ck out Amuary's setup, his mechanic just used some felt.  I don't think foam would be a good application, probably get ripped off very fast.

I use gloves, rubbing friction issues haven't been an issue for me.

 

I hear you on normal foams, but there are some very durable "foams" out there.  https://billiebars.com/pages/landing-page-tailgate?variant=48612368384298  I was hoping someone had some intel on specs or terminology to help me order a 1/16 sheet of something like this stuff.  If I can find some time get serious about some research (prob when I can actually get a set a bar ends on order), I'll report back.

1
pejzaż
Posts
37
Joined
1/22/2026
Location
Phoenix, AZ, USA
Fantasy
6/29/2026 8:11pm
I hear you on normal foams, but there are some very durable "foams" out there.  https://billiebars.com/pages/landing-page-tailgate?variant=48612368384298  I was hoping someone had some intel on specs...

I hear you on normal foams, but there are some very durable "foams" out there.  https://billiebars.com/pages/landing-page-tailgate?variant=48612368384298  I was hoping someone had some intel on specs or terminology to help me order a 1/16 sheet of something like this stuff.  If I can find some time get serious about some research (prob when I can actually get a set a bar ends on order), I'll report back.

I would just try them first before worrying too much. I was just using them for a week, had terrible palm blisters halfway in but never felt anything approaching discomfort where the bar ends contact. If you do need something I'd probably just grab a roll of adhesive open cell foam and replace it often. A more dense foam like neoprene or whatever won't really be much softer than the rubbery bar end material

4
comatosegi
Posts
92
Joined
8/28/2025
Location
Portland, OR, USA
7/1/2026 10:43am
Anyone got any knowledge about foam and recommendations on what might hold up the longest on the inside of the bar ends.  I'm assuming it's not...

Anyone got any knowledge about foam and recommendations on what might hold up the longest on the inside of the bar ends.  I'm assuming it's not what I can buy at Michael's.  I've decided to give them go, but definitely want to have something to pad them on hand when testing them out.

comatosegi wrote:
Ck out Amuary's setup, his mechanic just used some felt.  I don't think foam would be a good application, probably get ripped off very fast.I use...

Ck out Amuary's setup, his mechanic just used some felt.  I don't think foam would be a good application, probably get ripped off very fast.

I use gloves, rubbing friction issues haven't been an issue for me.

 

I hear you on normal foams, but there are some very durable "foams" out there.  https://billiebars.com/pages/landing-page-tailgate?variant=48612368384298  I was hoping someone had some intel on specs...

I hear you on normal foams, but there are some very durable "foams" out there.  https://billiebars.com/pages/landing-page-tailgate?variant=48612368384298  I was hoping someone had some intel on specs or terminology to help me order a 1/16 sheet of something like this stuff.  If I can find some time get serious about some research (prob when I can actually get a set a bar ends on order), I'll report back.

Another factor is bar width.  You are already losing 10mm with WT Bar Ends, add some thicker foam would take more away.

2
7/3/2026 5:52am
Anyone got any knowledge about foam and recommendations on what might hold up the longest on the inside of the bar ends.  I'm assuming it's not...

Anyone got any knowledge about foam and recommendations on what might hold up the longest on the inside of the bar ends.  I'm assuming it's not what I can buy at Michael's.  I've decided to give them go, but definitely want to have something to pad them on hand when testing them out.

mfoga wrote:

Grip donuts? 

Not a moto guy, so I didn't know wtf you were talking about!  Saw "ODI Donuts" suggested somewhere else and finally did some googling.  For the other non-moto peeps: https://www.odigrips.com/products/grip-donuts-2360.  Looks like a cheap and easy something to have on hand! (I'm here all week . . .)

Definitely going to just give the plain ole bar ends a go first, but I want to have a plan.  I don't live all that close to the type of riding I'm getting them for, so I want to be prepared the first time I head to the big mountains.  Will test them locally, of course, but I'm not sure I'm going to be able to tell whether the pressure will bother me on our local trails.

Anyone using the bar ends with Goldstone grips?  I'm thinking I'll use a very fine-tooth hacksaw and/or dremel to get rid of the small area of support at the end of the grips.  That way, my hand rest against the bar ends?  

2
thresh
Posts
145
Joined
10/18/2023
Location
San Jose, CA, USA
Fantasy
7/3/2026 9:58am
Not a moto guy, so I didn't know wtf you were talking about!  Saw "ODI Donuts" suggested somewhere else and finally did some googling.  For the...

Not a moto guy, so I didn't know wtf you were talking about!  Saw "ODI Donuts" suggested somewhere else and finally did some googling.  For the other non-moto peeps: https://www.odigrips.com/products/grip-donuts-2360.  Looks like a cheap and easy something to have on hand! (I'm here all week . . .)

Definitely going to just give the plain ole bar ends a go first, but I want to have a plan.  I don't live all that close to the type of riding I'm getting them for, so I want to be prepared the first time I head to the big mountains.  Will test them locally, of course, but I'm not sure I'm going to be able to tell whether the pressure will bother me on our local trails.

Anyone using the bar ends with Goldstone grips?  I'm thinking I'll use a very fine-tooth hacksaw and/or dremel to get rid of the small area of support at the end of the grips.  That way, my hand rest against the bar ends?  

Yes, pretty much. I sawed it off (and made a mess) but it seems to work fine: IMG 0260.jpeg?VersionId=a9v9qrVbxYO3EPTyCA1jhj

2
7/3/2026 11:48am

I have LoamLab Counterpunch on my Sentinel trail bike and I love them. They've already saved my pinky knuckles numerous times. I'd be keen to try the Wolftooth ones if I didn't already have these. I might miss the actual pinky protection too.

1
7/3/2026 12:48pm
Anyone got any knowledge about foam and recommendations on what might hold up the longest on the inside of the bar ends.  I'm assuming it's not...

Anyone got any knowledge about foam and recommendations on what might hold up the longest on the inside of the bar ends.  I'm assuming it's not what I can buy at Michael's.  I've decided to give them go, but definitely want to have something to pad them on hand when testing them out.

mfoga wrote:

Grip donuts? 

Not a moto guy, so I didn't know wtf you were talking about!  Saw "ODI Donuts" suggested somewhere else and finally did some googling.  For the...

Not a moto guy, so I didn't know wtf you were talking about!  Saw "ODI Donuts" suggested somewhere else and finally did some googling.  For the other non-moto peeps: https://www.odigrips.com/products/grip-donuts-2360.  Looks like a cheap and easy something to have on hand! (I'm here all week . . .)

Definitely going to just give the plain ole bar ends a go first, but I want to have a plan.  I don't live all that close to the type of riding I'm getting them for, so I want to be prepared the first time I head to the big mountains.  Will test them locally, of course, but I'm not sure I'm going to be able to tell whether the pressure will bother me on our local trails.

Anyone using the bar ends with Goldstone grips?  I'm thinking I'll use a very fine-tooth hacksaw and/or dremel to get rid of the small area of support at the end of the grips.  That way, my hand rest against the bar ends?  

If you use a dremel or even just a sharp pocket or prefabbly a exacto-knife you can get it nice and clean.  With a bit of a recess you can make the grip kind of meld into the bar end.

2
AndehM
Posts
806
Joined
5/7/2018
Location
El Granada, CA, USA
Fantasy
7/3/2026 2:24pm
Not a moto guy, so I didn't know wtf you were talking about!  Saw "ODI Donuts" suggested somewhere else and finally did some googling.  For the...

Not a moto guy, so I didn't know wtf you were talking about!  Saw "ODI Donuts" suggested somewhere else and finally did some googling.  For the other non-moto peeps: https://www.odigrips.com/products/grip-donuts-2360.  Looks like a cheap and easy something to have on hand! (I'm here all week . . .)

Definitely going to just give the plain ole bar ends a go first, but I want to have a plan.  I don't live all that close to the type of riding I'm getting them for, so I want to be prepared the first time I head to the big mountains.  Will test them locally, of course, but I'm not sure I'm going to be able to tell whether the pressure will bother me on our local trails.

Anyone using the bar ends with Goldstone grips?  I'm thinking I'll use a very fine-tooth hacksaw and/or dremel to get rid of the small area of support at the end of the grips.  That way, my hand rest against the bar ends?  

thresh wrote:
Yes, pretty much. I sawed it off (and made a mess) but it seems to work fine:

Yes, pretty much. I sawed it off (and made a mess) but it seems to work fine: IMG 0260.jpeg?VersionId=a9v9qrVbxYO3EPTyCA1jhj

Not to nitpick but you've either got the grip on the wrong side or the clamps swapped (judging by the bolt).

Transition angle from the Goldstone flange to Bar End looks nice.

2
thresh
Posts
145
Joined
10/18/2023
Location
San Jose, CA, USA
Fantasy
7/6/2026 9:52am
Not a moto guy, so I didn't know wtf you were talking about!  Saw "ODI Donuts" suggested somewhere else and finally did some googling.  For the...

Not a moto guy, so I didn't know wtf you were talking about!  Saw "ODI Donuts" suggested somewhere else and finally did some googling.  For the other non-moto peeps: https://www.odigrips.com/products/grip-donuts-2360.  Looks like a cheap and easy something to have on hand! (I'm here all week . . .)

Definitely going to just give the plain ole bar ends a go first, but I want to have a plan.  I don't live all that close to the type of riding I'm getting them for, so I want to be prepared the first time I head to the big mountains.  Will test them locally, of course, but I'm not sure I'm going to be able to tell whether the pressure will bother me on our local trails.

Anyone using the bar ends with Goldstone grips?  I'm thinking I'll use a very fine-tooth hacksaw and/or dremel to get rid of the small area of support at the end of the grips.  That way, my hand rest against the bar ends?  

thresh wrote:
Yes, pretty much. I sawed it off (and made a mess) but it seems to work fine:

Yes, pretty much. I sawed it off (and made a mess) but it seems to work fine: IMG 0260.jpeg?VersionId=a9v9qrVbxYO3EPTyCA1jhj

AndehM wrote:
Not to nitpick but you've either got the grip on the wrong side or the clamps swapped (judging by the bolt).Transition angle from the Goldstone flange...

Not to nitpick but you've either got the grip on the wrong side or the clamps swapped (judging by the bolt).

Transition angle from the Goldstone flange to Bar End looks nice.

Good eye!  The grips are in a correct side, I've just flipped the clamps the other way round so I dont see that horrible in-your-face ONEUP print those grips have.

To add some useful (well, maybe) data to the discussion:  I've ran Wolf Tooth locked-in barends for a few rides, I don't really have issues with arm pump, and the biggest upsides I've noticed is that I maybe can be a little bit more relaxed bombing through the brake bumps, and maaaaaybe push the bike a bit easier on twisty steep trails.  No bikepark action yet though, where I suspect I'll see more benefits.

I'm going to get another pair of Goldstone grips (current are well worn anyway) and try them without WT first - will be interesting to see what I didnt notice.

1
ebruner
Posts
435
Joined
3/29/2018
Location
Tustin, CA, USA
7/13/2026 8:17am

I've only got 2 rides on these so far, both of which were very easy, bordering on xc rides with very mellow descending.  Not much to comment on with how they feel performance wise yet, but I do notice that I feel more secure with a looser grip.  

Two side by side photos of how they fit with two different grips.  I would say that these work best with a 31-34mm grip.  33-35mm outside raised section is optimum so that it blends into the ramp of the bar end.  I used a gen 1 reverb ifp setting tool to punch out the end of the hells gate grips... the ergons install seamlessly with their end cap design.  

Medium Thick grips, Trail One hells gate.  32mm with 33.5mm outside raised area.  

PXL 20260712 180602717.MP

 

Ergon GDH which is 31.5 with a 32.5 raised section on the end.  

PXL 20260712 180607129.MP
2
vermontana
Posts
5
Joined
4/22/2024
Location
Leadville, CO, USA
1 day ago

Anyone running these gloveless? Wondering if friction up against the plastic on edge of hand would be an issue

1
1 day ago
vermontana wrote:

Anyone running these gloveless? Wondering if friction up against the plastic on edge of hand would be an issue

I normally wear gloves but when I ride gloveless they don't feel super comfortable and I tend to not push up against them as hard as with gloves on. Not too bad though, because they are more of a hard rubber/soft plastic. 

1
1 day ago Edited Date/Time 1 day ago
vermontana wrote:

Anyone running these gloveless? Wondering if friction up against the plastic on edge of hand would be an issue

My son did. He got pretty nasty blisters outside on 1 hand. 

1
21 hours ago
vermontana wrote:

Anyone running these gloveless? Wondering if friction up against the plastic on edge of hand would be an issue

yeah, idk a little rough but still better than wearing gloves. I would say that the small crack is more annoying than the flange.

1
Simmo
Posts
13
Joined
6/1/2011
Location
GB
14 hours ago

I've been doodling around with my own design for a few months now...

I quite like the surface to be harder*, flatter, smoother so it has less friction and doesn't grip the glove/hand, as long as the flange is at the same angle as the edge of the hand... I can then push my hand against it without pinching or friction 

All selfishly optimised around my hand, my bars, my grips (sensus EMJ). It's a work in progress, but thought I'd share the variant currently on my bike if anyone else wants a try/meddle:

https://makerworld.com/models/3232426

 

*that in turn leads to problems with hard/brittle materials, but don't want to thread derail into 3d printing nerdery... (Although I would thoroughly enjoy it!)

3
Primoz
Posts
4708
Joined
8/1/2009
Location
SI
14 hours ago

Print it in a way that's best for strength (lay it flat or rotate it by 90 degrees so you're not bending it across layers) and then put some smooth foil, tape, etc. on the inside to prevent gripping.

2
Simmo
Posts
13
Joined
6/1/2011
Location
GB
13 hours ago Edited Date/Time 13 hours ago
Primoz wrote:
Print it in a way that's best for strength (lay it flat or rotate it by 90 degrees so you're not bending it across layers) and...

Print it in a way that's best for strength (lay it flat or rotate it by 90 degrees so you're not bending it across layers) and then put some smooth foil, tape, etc. on the inside to prevent gripping.

Yeah I pondered a few orientations, this is strongest since:

- weakest point is flange to bar insert joint and there's not much you can do about the stress concentration there... So don't want layers coinciding with it if you lay it flat. The flange will just pop off.

- failure mode for me was bending moment on rear edge, probably because my angled flange now means it's the main point of impact. This orientation keeps main bending moment in xy plane

 

I like the foil tape idea though, thanks! I might revisit TPU 

2
Primoz
Posts
4708
Joined
8/1/2009
Location
SI
13 hours ago

TPU as a print material? TPU will probably be even gripper than straight plastic... 

Good point on the flange to insert becoming the weak point. If you still went that route a big spacer on the outside might help things to take the load or at least compress things a bit. 

1
Gobstopper
Posts
25
Joined
3/27/2018
Location
Denver, CO, USA
5 hours ago

I tried the WT ones for a couple of weeks and ended up taking them off for a few reasons.

They made my existing bars feel too narrow.  I’ve run this width for a while but the bar end changed arm angle and felt awkward / super tight.  Might be my hand position.

I really disliked them when climbing my enduro bike.  I’ve never noticed how much I move my hands, rest on ends of the bar, flare at an angle, etc.  These made me feel constrained on climbs to a certain position and made my hands tired.  


 

3

Post a reply to: Bar ends ... so hot right now

The Latest