Having the best pair of dirt bike grips is essential for most riders. Grips can reduce vibrations in the hands, slow down arm pump and give you control of your handlebars when experiencing wet and muddy conditions.
Grips come in a bunch of different compounds, textures, densities and can be confusing for someone who hasn’t had the opportunity to try them all out yet.
Let me break down the different styles of grips to give you some insight before you make the big decision.
Grip Compounds
Most grips on the market are available in different compounds and this can determine the density of the grips as well as the texture.
First thing you will need to decide how dense you want your grips to be. They usually come in 3 densities
- Soft
- Medium
- Hard
After making that difficult decision you will need to decide what texture you want on the grip. The textures can vary a from different manufacturers but ill go over the most popular.
- Full Diamond
- Full Waffle
- 50/50 Waffle/Diamond
- Pillow Top
These variations give you a total of 9 different options to choose from. One of the most popular for motocross riders is the 50/50 compound. 
Having the diamond pattern on the palm and the waffle pattern on your fingers feels like the best combination for grip, comfort and control. (see image)
Diamond:
This is the pattern you will see at the top of the grip in the image above. The texture consists of a bunch of diamond shaped beads that cover the grip.
Waffle:
This is the rectangular shaped boxes you see on the bottom of the grip. They give you tons of grip especially in those wet or muddy conditions.
Pillow Top:
The pillow top texture is the signature of the ProTaper grips.
They have elevated squares (cushions) that are off-set from from each other.
Check out the image.
Grip Density
Soft
- Gives you the most grip – amazing for trail riding or muddy conditions
- Absorbs vibrations the best
- Can wear out gloves faster and cause blisters on hands
Medium
- Little less grip than the soft density
- Will absorb a lot of the vibrations but not as well as the soft
- Will not blister hands or wear gloves out as fast as soft
- Great all around grip
Hard
- You will experience less grip than the soft or mediums
- Less grip in wet or muddy conditions
- You will feel more vibrations than soft or medium
- Last longer than soft or medium and will not wear out gloves or cause blisters as often.
Are all dirt bike grips the same size?
Yes, dirt bike grips are the same size. They are either 7/8″or 22mm in diameter.
Handle bars can vary from 7/8″ to 1 1/8″ or 22.2mm to 28mm in diameter.
When the handle bars are 1 1/8″ they taper down to 7/8″ on the control arm where the grips will be installed.
Dirt bike grips are universal on all full sized bike handlebars and most mini bikes.
The Best Grips
If you want to know the best grips on the market then look no further.
Grips are really a personal choice, different people like the way different grips feel. Don’t be afraid to try different ones until you find the grips you like.
These are the best dirt bike grips in 2019
(All Dirt Bike Grips Can Be Purchased On Amazon)
#1
Renthal G165 Diamond/Waffle Kevlar Resin Motocross Grips
These are the best grips on the market in 2019.
Renthal has really set the bar high when it comes to the quality of products they manufacture.
These G165 grips are made with a kevlar resin that makes them more durable than any other grips out there. They take millions of randomly aligned Kevlar Aramid resin particles and suspend them in the base material.
As the grip is used there is more of the Aramid resin exposed. This will resist wear while at the same time providing a tacky feel to the grips.
These grips are part of Renthal’s “Dual Series”. This means they put a firm compound on the inner section of the grip and the Aramid (soft) compound on the rider contact points.
These grips are very comfortable and give great throttle control.
Check them out on Amazon here.
Renthal has made another great grip in these G091’s. The diamond pattern has an great grip but provides you with that smooth feel when letting the handle bars slip through your hand during adjustments.
These grips are very durable and will last for many hours before beginning to wear out.
These come in 3 different compounds: Firm – Medium – Soft
Typically softer grips wear out faster but provide a tacky feel that many riders prefer. Softer grips can also help prevent blisters from forming while riding.
These are strong grips that don’t tear easily if you lay the bike over.
The G091 come in black and gray colors and can be found here on Amazon.
Pro Taper has done a great job with their pillow top grips. These are the Lites so they have a lower profile than the original pillow tops.
The lower profile gives you a little more control and feel of the handle bars while still providing a great grip.
The surface compound has a tacky, gel-like feel to it that makes the grip feel amazing.
The inner core compound is designed to bond really well with the handlebars so that they wont slip.
Designed to self clean and shed mud away from the outer surface of the grips.
They have Anti-Rip Tips which are essentially a more dense compound on the ends to make it more difficult to cut or tear during a tip over.
One of the best grips out there, you can get them here on Amazon.
Scott Sports is another brand that stands out when discussing the best grips out there.
These grips have a soft single density compound which will reduce vibrations and hopefully that nasty arm pump.
This radial full waffle design has been around for decades. You could definitely say it has stood the test of time.
Don’t think because of the old design that they are inferior, many top riders still use these grips.
These are made to fit 7/8″ handlebars
Innovation, technology and design is a big focus for the engineers and designers at SCOTT.
Gel like palm material is designed for comfort and vibration damping.
The grip has a tacky yet durable material that creates a solid grip that won’t slip.
Every line and every contour was examined in the design and development process to maximize comfort.
The tips are much more dense to prevent them from being cut or ripped easily.
These grips definitely deserve a spot on the list!
Scott has really put some ingenuity into these grips, they are a triple density grip that has a focus on reducing arm fatigue without giving up control.
They have a firm density core and the end cap is very firm as well to prevent the ends from tearing.
The waffle pattern is medium density that provides comfort and durability.
These grips are designed for 7/8″ handlebars.
The grips also come with grip donuts to provide more cushion for the inside of your hands.
Amazing all-around grips that I would recommend to anyone for anything.
KTM has always been some of the best bikes in the woods or rugged terrain.
They didn’t fall short with the expected performance of their enduro grips.
These grips are dual compound to provide strength and comfort when riding on long hard races such as an enduro or hare scramble.
They decided to go with the fail proof diamond grip pattern.
The ends are very durable and will not tear easily if you are constantly bar banging through the rough stuff.
Only flaw is that you have to have a KTM to use these. Well I guess you don’t have to…
These have a Vibrasonix pillow top which eliminates vibration and cushions impact when hitting rough bumps or landing off of jumps.
The tacky gel-like surface compound is perfect for off-road riders
Inner core compound is amazing at bonding with the handlebars
ANTI-Rip Tip on these bad boys as well, I would expect many wrecks before they show signs of wear.
Designed to self-clean and shed mud away from the outer surface of the grips.
One of my top picks for a soft grip, great for trails or muddy conditions.
The Best Grip Glue’s for Dirt Bikes
I wish I could just slip on some new grips without having to deal with the messy glue. However, it is a must to prevent your grips from slipping while riding which could lead to a disaster.
These are the grip glues that I use when putting on some new grips:
Enough glue to put on about 4 to 6 sets of grips depending on how conservative you are with the glue.
This would be my recommendation when using renthal grips.
This is a proprietary grip glue that dries withing 10-25 seconds upon application.
I would highly recommend this grip glue for all different types of grips but especially the Pro Taper grips because it is designed for their grip compounds
I love the convenience of the glue drying so fast. Makes me not dread having to wait to go ride after putting a fresh pair of grips on.
How To Install Dirt Bike Grips
The first thing to do is read the instructions on the packaging or the back of the glue bottle.
Each glue will dry at different speeds so be sure not to skip that step.
Most of the glues out there dry pretty fast so work swiftly when putting them on.
Prepping for new grip application:
- Wear old clothes that you wouldn’t be mad about ruining, there is no chance of getting grip glue off your favorite shirt.
- Get some wipes ready to clean up the excess glue that will come out the open end of the grip.
- Poking a small hole in the end of the grip will allow air to escape when slipping them on.
Putting on new grips:
- Remove the old grips by cutting them off.
- Make sure the handlebars are cleaned off.
- Put a thin layer of glue onto the grips and the handlebars (one side at a time)
- Slide the grip onto the bars all the way to the end. (try twisting as you push them on)
- Clean up the excess glue
- Let the glue set up based off of the instructions from the glue you decide to
purchase. - Many people will use a .025 safety wire and twist it tight around the grips to make them more secure. The size of the wire can vary slightly but I wouldn’t go much smaller or you risk cutting through the grips.
- Time to go Braaaap the gnar!!!
Did you find this article helpful? If so please leave a comment below and tell me which grips you decided to go with!
Go check out my article on the best goggles in 2020!