First Ride: Deity Knuckleduster Grips
Vital Review
Grips are often an overlooked component, likely due to the fact that generally, they're pretty inexpensive and something that can be replaced easily. They're also one of three contact points between you and your bike, and despite the fact that they're often overlooked, they make a huge impact on how your bike rides and how quickly your hands get fatigued. Deity, who launched their 2017 line today, definitely took that into consideration with the design of their all-new Knuckleduster grips, which feature three different grip patterns packed into one grip. With an eye for details such as a single-clamp design with forward-facing bolts, as well as a tapered inner sleeve which is said to ensure perfect contact with the bar, Deity sent us over a set of the new grips ahead of time to check them out and share with you, our thoughts.
Deity Knuckleduster Features
- Kevlar-infused rubber compound
- Tapered inner sleeve
- Single-clamp design with forward-facing bolts
- Laser-etched black ano 6061 T6 aluminum clamps
- Three grip patterns in one - Recessed half waffle, chevron, and short and wide ribs
- 132mm length // 32mm outer diameter
- Replacement grip bodies and clamps can be bought separately
- Intended use: Downhill, freeride, dirt jump, enduro, and all-mountain
- 101 grams per pair
- MSRP: $22.00 USD
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The Deity Knuckledusters feature three distinct grip patterns; a half-waffle underside for fingers, a chevron design for a comfortable palm feel, and short-but-wide ribs where the thumb rests to help eliminate any side-to-side movement. After mounting the new grips, the narrow (but not-too-narrow) 32mm diameter of the grips was pretty spot on to our preferences. With a width of 132mm and only a single clamp on the inside edge of the grip, finding your preferred hand placement isn’t a problem even if you prefer to rest your palm slightly hanging over the outside edge of the grip.
Deity Knuckleduster First Ride Impressions
After spending half a day on our old grips, we swapped them out for the new Knuckledusters for some back-to-back comparison. The first thing we noticed was that the placement of the three different grip patterns was spot-on, with our natural hand position falling into place exactly where Deity planned.
The grips provide a nice amount of cushion. And, that cushion was welcomed on trails that were particularly rocky, reminding us of the days when we rode thicker grips, but without all the excess bulk.
Over the years we've come to prefer the hand-feel of a thinner grip, but the sacrifice was typically a harsher ride. Deity has found a solid balance of forgiveness and security with the Knuckleduster, offering a grip we can firmly hold on to that still provides comfort which helps with hand fatigue. And while they were comfortable, we didn’t feel any excess squirm or movement from the material of the grips.
Thanks to the single-clamp design, whether you rest your hand in the middle of the grip or prefer to hang your palm a bit over the edge, hot-spots should be minimized. Aside from durability, which we can't yet comment on having only run these grips a short period, we're not sure there's much else to say.
Despite all the gimmicks out there, Deity has brought to the table a well-thought-out grip that flat-out works, no gimmicks necessary.
Despite being an often overlooked component when it comes to bike spec (likely due to their relatively inexpensive cost and frequent replacement), grips are a crucial ingredient when it comes to a properly set-up bike. It doesn't matter how dialed your suspension is if your hands don't agree with your grips, and your paws will soon be aching if you don't find the grip right for you.
We've seen grips that mold to your hands, grips that are so sticky they leave residue on your hands, and even suspension grips. Despite all the gimmicks out there, Deity has brought to the table a well-thought-out grip that flat-out works, no gimmicks necessary.
For more information, visit www.deitycomponents.com
