Your hands are your body’s first connection with your dirt bike, through your grips. Your dirt bike grips should give you protection from vibration, prevent arm pump, and give you a good feel and control of your bike even when riding in wet and muddy conditions.
Luckily dirt bike grips aren’t expensive, so you can experiment to find what suits you best.
There are just a few things to keep in mind when looking for the best dirt bike grips to suit you.
Quick Summary
Here’s a quick look at my top picks for 10 of the best dirt bike grips available today:
- Scott Sports Radial Half Waffle Grips
- Renthal Natural Diamond/Waffle Kevlar Grip – Best dirt bike grips for durability
- Pro Taper Pillow Top Grips – Best dirt bike grips for vibration
- Pro Taper Pillow Top Lite Grips
- Renthal Full Diamond Grips
- Scott Sports Diamond Grips
- ODI Rogue Lock-On Grips
- ODI EMIG V2 Lock-On Grips – Best Lock-On dirt bike grips
- KTM Dual Compound Enduro Grips
- Scott Sports MX2 Grips
How To Choose The Best Dirt Bike Grips For You
Top 3 things to consider:
- Comfort and Feel: If you are using the right grips you shouldn’t even be conscious of your grips. If you are getting blisters and arm pump after even short rides, you know you’ve got the wrong grips. The type of riding you do will have a lot to do with the type of grips you should be using.
- Durability: You want your grips to last more than a couple of weekends, whether they are a soft or hard compound. It’s best to go with name brand grips, they’re a pretty cheap item when compared to other parts on your bike.
- Value for money: With the difference in price between a quality grip that you’re comfortable with, and an inferior grip being only a few bucks, it’s better to go with the one you’re most comfortable with. Typically, grips with a soft compound will wear out quicker, and a harder compound will last longer. If you like a softer grip, you can afford to replace them a couple of times a year.
Key Things To Be Aware Of:
The Compound
Soft, Medium, Hard or Multi-Density
There are three different compounds available for dirt bike grips, plus a mixture of the three. It’s largely a matter of personal preference. There are pros and cons to each.
Soft:
- Has the best grip overall – great for wet days and mud riding
- Best at reducing handlebar vibrations
- The Downside: Less Durability. Most likely to cause blisters and wear out your gloves
Medium:
- Less grippy than the soft – Not quite as good in the wet
- Will absorb vibrations, but not as well as soft grips
- Last longer than soft grips, not so hard on your gloves, less likely to cause blisters
- The Upside: A good all-rounder, gives you the best of both worlds
Hard:
- Less grip than medium or soft, not so good in the wet or mud
- You’ll feel more vibration through the handlebars
- The Upside: Better durability. They last longer than the soft or medium grips
Try different compounds out and over time you will get a feel for which suits you best.
If you’re not sure, first try the medium compound, and from there decide whether you want to go harder or softer.
Multi-Density grips:
These are a combination of the three, with the harder compound on the higher wearing areas.
- Dual Density: Soft on the outside surface for your hands, Harder density on the tip.
- Triple Density: Soft on the outside surface for your hands, medium density on the donut. Hard density on the tip for added durability if you drop the bike
The Pattern
The pattern comes in three basic designs: Waffle, Diamond or Pillow Pattern
The Waffle – comes in 3 types:
- Full waffle: Elevated pattern all the way around the grip
- Half waffle: Smooth at palm, elevated waffle grip at fingers. The half waffle is popular with a lot of MX riders
- Third Waffle: waffle pattern only one-third of the way around. Good for riders with smaller hands.
It’s important to get the orientation that is comfortable for you when installing them.
Diamond Pattern:
The Diamond Pattern is the smoothest of the designs, and they do feel the thinnest of all the designs, so it’s a good option if you have small hands. They’re a favorite for a lot of riders who like the feel and control they give you. Lots of Trials riders use them.
The Downside: Not so good grip when it gets wet and muddy.
Pillow Pattern:
The Pillow Pattern is designed for riders looking to reduce vibration. If you suffer from arm pump, these may be worth a try.
The Downside: They do feel larger in diameter, so again, if you have smaller hands, they may not be suitable
10 Of The Best Dirt Bike Grips Available Today:
1. Scott Sports Radial Half Waffle Grips
The Scott Sports Radial Half Waffle Grips are an old favorite that has been around for years and are still preferred by a lot of riders today.
The half-waffle design gives your fingers some additional grip on the waffles, while your palms rest on the smooth surface.
The safety wire channels in this grip make it popular with MX racers who like to safety wire their grips.
While this grip is labeled as a soft compound, some would consider it to be closer to a medium compound grip.
Features
- Half Waffle grip with the waffle pattern on one half, and a low profile pattern on the other half
- Soft Compound which reduces vibration and arm pump
- Designed for 7/8″ handlebars
- Large flange (donut)
- Integrated safety wire channels
Pros
- Good middle of the range grip
- Suitable for MX or trail
Cons
- Only one color – Black
The Scott Sports Radial also comes in the Full Waffle version.
2. Renthal Natural Diamond/Waffle Kevlar Grips
The Renthal Natural Diamond/Waffle Kevlar grips are quite possibly the most advanced grip available.
They offer the best of both worlds, the feel of a soft grip with the durability of a hard compound grip.
This is achieved through the use of Kevlar.
Kevlar is well known to be a very durable material, so Renthal has utilized it in the grip compound.
It gives the grip good durability but also has a soft feel to it.
The base material contains millions of Kevlar fibers.
As the grip wears the Kevlar fibers make their way to the surface, so it gets grippier with use.
It is a half-waffle design with the waffle pattern to half the grip, and the elevated diamond pattern to the other half.
It comes in two versions, the standard, and the tapered version
On the tapered version (pictured above), the elevated diamond pattern reduces in size and tapers down towards the tip. It is a matter of personal preference, some riders use both.
Features
- Renthal Dual Compound half waffle with DuPont Kevlar resin particles which give 3 times the durability of other soft compounds
- Available in tapered and standard dual compound patterns
- Used by many of the top professional racers around the world
- Covered by patent GB2441015, GB2395174, US7044020
Pros
- Durable and soft compound combined
- Good for riders with smaller hands
Cons
- Only one color
3. Pro Taper Pillow Top Grips – Black/Grey/Red
The Pro Taper Pillow Top grips would have to be the best dirt bike grips for vibration. If you suffer from arm pump, these would be the best on the market for reducing vibration.
They are made from ‘Vibrasonix’ pillow which is specifically designed for absorbing vibration and cushioning against impact.
The gel-like surface compound means that even in wet conditions, you still have a good grip on your bike.
In muddy conditions, the pillow pattern is designed to self-clean, and shed mud away from the outer surface.
They are a triple density grip. The outside is a soft compound, the donut is the medium density, and the tip is the hard compound.
A great feature is the ANTI-rip Tip which increases the life of your grips. The tip is the most vulnerable part of the grip if you drop the bike, so it makes sense to make this a harder compound.
If you are prone to arm pump, these are the ideal grips for you but be aware they are a larger diameter, so suit riders with larger hands. If you have small hands, the Pillow Top Lite (below) may be more suitable.
They also have safety wiring channels for those who like to wire their grips on.
Features
- ‘Vibrasonix’ pillow top design to help eliminate vibration and cushion against impact
- Tacky gel-like surface which is good for wet conditions
- Inner core compound is harder to improve the bonding with the bars
- ANTI-Rip Tip which is a harder compound to increase durability
- Self-cleaning design to help shed mud away from the surface
Pros
- Good for anti-vibration
- Dual compound
- Lots of colors available
Cons
- Larger diameter more suited to larger hands
4. Pro Taper Pillow Top Lite Grips
The Pillow Top Lites are the same grip as the Pillow Top version above, but they just have a lower profile design.
This means that the little nodes (pillows) are slightly shallower giving an easier grip on the handlebars. This is ideal for riders with smaller hands because the grip diameter is smaller.
The lower profile doesn’t reduce the vibration resistance and cushioning by much, so they still have all the advantages of the self-cleaning effect in muddy conditions and excellent grip in wet conditions.
Features
- Low profile pillow top design for better feel and hand control
- Kraton Rubber compound gives a tacky surface feel which is good for wet conditions
- Inner core compound is harder to improve the bonding with the bars
- ANTI-Rip Tip which is a harder compound to increase durability
- Self-cleaning design to help shed mud away from the surface
Pros
- Good for anti-vibration
- Dual compound
- Lots of colors available
Cons
- Slightly less cushioning than the full pillow top
5. Renthal Full Diamond Grips
Renthal grips have been developed and tested with assistance from top factory racing teams from Europe and the USA.
The Renthal Full Diamond Grips are a classic grip that has been a firm favorite for years among riders who like a thin grip.
They are popular with trials riders who prefer the thinner diameter for more precise control. The thin grip gives you a lot of feedback through the handlebars and gives you a better understanding of how to control your bike.
These are also a popular choice if you have small hands.
You can choose between firm, medium and soft compounds so you can match them to your riding style and personal preference.
Features
- Choice of three synthetic rubber compounds: Firm (Black), Medium (Dark Grey), and Soft (Grey)
- An optimum combination of strength, tackiness, and shock absorption to suit every riding style
- Good resistance to tearing and Abrasion
- The Raised Diamond surface gives an excellent feel, shock absorption, low mud retention and allows the lowest possible grip diameter
Pros
- Smaller diameter suited to riders with small hands
- Durable
- Good sensitivity
Cons
- Very little anti-vibration
- Only two colors – Black & Gray
6. Scott Sports Diamond Grips
The Scott Sports Diamond Grip is a new grip design derived from the classic waffle grip.
It is a triple density grip with the crisscrossed raised diamond pattern being the soft compound, and the base material being the medium compound covered with the regular diamond pattern.
The firmer density is in the core and end cap, where you need it when you drop the bike.
The grips are available in five different color combinations:
Black/White, Blue/White, Gray/Black, Green/Black, and Red/White. The design is very loud and so riders will either love them or hate them.
One drawback with them is safety wiring. There is one safety wire channel near the flange, but none at the outer end, so if you like to wire your grips, it can be a bit awkward, but still be done.
Features
- Triple Density grip that helps reduce arm pump without sacrificing control
- Firm compound core and end cap, which is tear-resistant, a great feature for extending the grip life
- Medium Density diamond pattern to the base of the grip
- Soft Density raised diamond pattern area to help reduce arm pump and fatigue
- Large flange grip designed to fit 7/8″ handlebars
Pros
- Triple density compound for durability
- Good anti-vibration
- Good color choice
Cons
- Safety wiring tricky
7. ODI Rogue Lock-On Grips
With Lock-on dirt bike grips, you will never have to worry about grip glue or safety wiring the grips again.
The big advantage in lock-on grips is how easy it is to install and remove the grips, it can be done in a few minutes.
If you don’t like gluing your grips and having to wait for the glue to dry, and then when you remove the grips having to cut them off and clean the bars, then lock-on grips may be for you.
Lock-on grips are slightly more expensive, but you are getting the throttle tube, and have the convenience of being able to change grips effortlessly.
The ODI Rogue grips are very popular with ATV riders. They have the screw fixing on both ends of the grip and come with a new throttle tube also.
The large raised pad design almost looks like a car tire, and is great for vibration reduction, but does mean that they suit riders with larger hands.
Features
- Feature the largest diameter grip suited to riders with big hands and riders seeking the most amount of vibration dampening
- Large raised pads with a textured surface pattern for better grip and longer grip life
- 3/4 Flange for protection from handlebar components, these grips are suitable for dirt bike and ATV riders
- Available in 120mm and 130mm lengths
Pros
- No gluing or wiring required
- Good anti-vibration
- Quick installation & removal
Cons
- Larger diameter more suited to larger hands
- Only one color – Black
8. ODI EMIG V2 Lock-On Grips – 2 & 4 Stroke
The ODI EMIG V2 grips were developed in a collaboration with multi-time AMA Champion Jeff Emig.
Jeff wanted to develop the best grip for MX racers and saw the benefits of ODI’s new Lock-on technology and added his own custom design to the V2 grips.
The great thing about these grips is they come with the throttle side grip already attached to a fresh throttle tube and cam. This means you can keep your existing tube as spare.
Installation: Both the four-stroke and two-stroke grip kits come with a choice of two different sized Cams that lock onto the throttle tube. It is simply a matter of looking at the application chart and selecting the right Cam for your bike and locking it into place on the new throttle tube provided.
From there you remove your old throttle tube and hook your throttle cables to the Cam on the new ODI tube and adjust the throttle play to suit your liking.
Replacing your grips can be done in a few minutes – no glue or safety wire needed.
Features
- 100% Slip-free performance guaranteed
- Simple Installation – no waiting for glue to dry
- The Throttle tube is included with Snap-On Cam to match most models
- Knockout ends to easily accommodate full brace handguard fixing
- No safety wire required means a longer grip life
- Medium Diameter knurled pattern EMIG Design includes a half waffle pattern with thumb relief
- The kit provides Cams for both 2 & 4 stroke applications
- Cams that are included: A, B, J, C & D – check the application chart for your own bike fitment
Pros
- No gluing or wiring required
- Comes with throttle tube and cams
- Good color choice
Cons
- Very little anti-vibration
9. KTM Dual Compound Enduro Grips
Here’s a great grip for KTM riders. These are KTM Genuine grips which will fit handlebars 7/8″ 22-28mm in diameter.
As a KTM rider myself, I have used these grips and they have lasted several years of trail riding use.
Being dual compound they are both durable and comfortable. They don’t have any raised pattern like the half-waffle or pillow top, so they are a nice thin grip for riders who have smaller hands, or just like thinner grips.
If your main concern is protection against vibration and arm pump, then these are probably not your best choice, but if you are looking for a durable thin grip, they are worth considering.
They have safety wiring channels for those who like to wire their grips on.
Features
- Dual Density grip that is durable and comfortable
- Firm compound flange and end cap, which is tear-resistant, a great feature for extending the grip life
- Soft Density diamond pattern area to help reduce arm pump and fatigue
- Large flange grip designed to fit 7/8″ handlebars
- Integrated safety wire channels
Pros
- Dual Density
- Durable
- Smaller diameter suitable for smaller hands
Cons
- Only suited to KTM riders
10. Scott Sports MX2 Grips
The Scott Sports MX2 Grips are a soft compound and half waffle grip. This means they give excellent grip and feel very comfortable when riding.
The half waffle design gives your fingers some additional grip on the waffles, while your palms rest on the smooth surface.
The safety wire channels in this grip make it popular with MX racers who like to safety wire their grips.
The slimness of these grips may be a problem for some riders because it makes them harder to fit, but if you use some sort of glue or lubricant it makes fitting easier.
If you are looking for a soft compound grip and like a thinner diameter, then these may be for you.
Features
- Half Waffle grip with a waffle pattern on one side, and a low profile pattern on the other half
- Soft Compound which reduces vibration and arm pump
- Designed for 7/8″ handlebars
- Large flange (donut)
- Integrated safety wire channels
Pros
- Smaller diameter suitable for smaller hands
- Soft compound for comfort
Cons
- Thin & soft compound so not best for durability
Final Thoughts
There is no clear winner for the Best Dirt Bike Grips. It is such a personal preference thing that what is right for one person is wrong for another.
I’ve given you a broad overview of each of the types available: Firm, Medium, Soft, Multi-Density – Waffle, Diamond, Pillow Top.
It all depends on the type of riding you do: MX, Enduro, Trials, Trail – and your own personal comfort requirements.
If you’re buying your first set of grips and have no idea where to start, the Scott Sports Radial Half Waffle grips are a popular middle of the range choice, then refine your choice from there.
If you like a soft compound grip that has the durability of a hard grip and is suited to smaller hands, the Renthal Natural Diamond/Waffle Kevlar grips are your best choice.
If you suffer arm pump and minimizing vibration is a major factor, the Pro Taper Pillow Top grips would be your top choice, or the Pillow Top Lite if you have smaller hands.
If you don’t want to bother with gluing or wiring on grips, and quick grip changes are a factor, the ODI EMIG V2 lock-on grips are your best choice.
You know you have the right grips for you when you aren’t even conscious of your grips when riding – it means they’re doing their job well.
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What are your favorite grips? Are there any that should be on this list? Please feel free to share your experiences below.
This info is so in-depth, thank you! You clearly know a lot about dirt bike grips, and the fact that you even have the installation tips helps so much. What grips do you personally have?
Hi Kely. I personally ride a KTM so I am using the grips that came on the bike. They are a dual compound grip and have lasted years, so I am due for a replacement. I am considering a set of Lock-on grips next so I don’t have to bother with glue and safety wire. Thanks for your comments.
Greg
Cheers for this information. Me and my brother are looking for some new dirt bike grips but couldn’t find exactly what we were looking for. The one that came close to what we wanted was the ODI Rogue Lock-On Grips. However, is the quality good and how does it stack up to the more pricier ones? Because I want something like that but with awesome quality and don’t mind paying a little more money. Thanks for all your help
Hi Brandon. I haven’t used the ODI Rogue Lock-on grips personally, but ODI are the best brand if you want Lock-on grips and from over 100 reviews on Amazon, mostly 5 star, they are very popular. The large surface pattern is very durable and good for vibration resistance, but is suited to riders with large hands. It also depends on the type of riding you’ll be doing. If I can be of any more help, please let me know.
Thanks for your comments.
Greg
Nice post, Almost all the grips has amazing qualities, like you stated,selection of grips is all about choice and preference .For a begginer how can a biker manage vibrations that comes with some grips while on motion? And is it advisable to change grips often and often or there should be reasonable interval in between?
Hi Clement. The best grips for reducing vibration are the Pro Taper Pillow Tops (No. 3) or use a soft compound grip if they are too thick for you. How long they last depends on your riding type. Motocross riders will be lucky to get a season out of them. Dual Sport or trail riders may get a few years. If they are rotating on the bars, or worn down and losing grip, its time to replace them.
Thanks for your comments.
Greg