Ergon has upgraded its GD1 Series to the GD1 Evo Series Gravity-Grips 2.0. The new “GD” or grip downhill features a super-soft thumb zone that provides improved grip while reducing the forces needed to hold onto the handlebars securely. The inner stop has been trimmed down to make hand repositioning easier, and a chamfered underside provides fingers something to dig into.
The evolution of the favorite Ergon’s GD1 grips produced their latest iteration, the GD1 Evo, and GD1 Evo Factory grips that feature a new surface structure that offers more adhesion and stickiness. The GD1 Evo and the GD1 Evo Factory utilizes a conical grip shape – delivering more damping on the outer edge and more grip on its slimmer inner diameter. The surface profile with a new, super-soft thumb zone provides optimal grip yet reduces the gripping forces required to hold tight. The sleek, newly designed, slimmer inner stop improves the quick repositioning of the hand. The Factory version that I tested gets a unique Factory Custom Rubber compound that delivers an improved grip, adhesion, and rebound characteristics over its brethren, making them ideal for control and comfort on the gnarliest terrain. The grip is soft but very defined and precise.
The high-strength, aluminum inner clamp keeps the grip locked down tight even on carbon handlebars.
Measured Weight – 117 grams
Both the GD1 Evo and GD1 Evo Factory come in two sizes, Regular at 32mm in diameter and the Slim at 30mm. The end plugs are interchangeable and replaceable. The GD1 Evo comes in Black and retails for $34.95, while the GD1 Evo Factory comes in three colors (Frozen Stealth, Frozen Orange, Frozen Moss/Oil Slick) and retails for $39.95. The Oil Slick inner clamp on the Frozen Moss color is pretty rad!
- Sizes:
- Regular- Recommended for glove sizes Large/X-Large (8.5 – 10.5) or increased vibration damping.
- Slim – Recommended for glove sizes Small/Medium (6.5 – 8.5) or the preference of smaller diameter grips.
Features
The Evo grips have an ergonomic shape and are optimized for wider riser handlebars that are popular with All Mountain and Enduro riders. Using feedback from their EWS (Enduro World Series) riders, they redesigned and improved the original GD1 for the utmost in response and comfort. It actively supports a proper upper body and forearm position during downhill riding by rotating the grip area towards the steering axle so that the elbows raise outwardly. They created an optimized pressure distribution section by the thumb for improved holding power and added damping at the outer edge to decrease the pressure to your hand’s sensitive ulnar nerve.
The GD1 Evo conical grip shape subtly tapers 2mm from the outer to the inner edge, meaning the Regular size goes from approximately 32mm to 30mm. This tapered design offers more damping on the outer section, while the slimmer inner diameter provides more grip. The top surface features and Anti-slip zone profile, while the bottom requires minimal gripping force when pulled, especially under the thumb and forefinger, which has a super-soft zone for optimal grip to help hold on tight. The slim inner stop, which protrudes on the front half of the grip, helps improve quick repositioning of the hand and prevents it from sliding to far inward. The Factory Custom Rubber compound offers enhanced grip, adhesion, and rebound for excellent control and comfort on rugged terrain. The high-strength aluminum inner clamp securely keeps the grip in place, even safely doing so on carbon fiber handlebars.
Installation
The grips are left and right specific, and slide onto the handlebars until their inner barrel lines up with the end of the handlebar. They have a default upwards orientation marked on the inner side of the grip on the lock clamp, and the angle of direction can be tweaked for personal requirements. I left them in their default position since I found it fit my hands the best. Tighten them down using a 3mm hex socket to 3 Nm of torque, and tap in the bar end plugs. My SQlab 311 FL-X carbon handlebars are relatively thick, so I had to do quite a bit of trimming to the bar plug to get them to fit into the ends.
Impressions
They’re comfortable and have this proper tacky, grippy, and tactile feel, becoming one with the hand. The softer rubber compound practically feels like it molds to your hands as you hold onto the grips. When your hand’s sweat or your gloves get wet, the grips keep providing a secure anti-slip hold, which is comforting when bouncing along on a trail. When you start riding, you don’t have to grip the bars as tight, and you can use a bit looser grip on the handlebar, which saves a good deal of energy when you’re not battling to hold on. On longer rides, the grip gives considerably less numbness in the hands, along with decreased hand, arm, and upper-body fatigue.
The ergonomic design of these grips feels right, pleasant, and comforting. The conical grip shape design with the different damping and thickness zones along the length of the grip becomes readily apparent when you hammer down a trail. The inner section offers up excellent holding power to grasp with your thumb and fingers while the outer edge offers extra comfort for your ulnar nerve.
The top surface features a pliable Anti-slip zone paddleboard profile. At the same time, the bottom requires minimal gripping force when pulled, especially under the thumb and forefinger, which has a super-soft zone for optimal grip to help to hold on tightly to the bars. The bottom sections rectangular tread acts like soft little pry bars, offering up functional torque when required. The subtle inner stop, which protrudes outwards at the front half of the grip, helps improve quick hand repositioning and prevents unwanted inward movement.
The Factory Custom Rubber compound offers enhanced grip, adhesion, and rebound for excellent control and comfort on rugged terrain. I enjoyed the texture of the grip, and the surface had a sort of soft rubbery ribbed pliability to itself, making it extremely comfortable to hold onto without it feeling gooey and sloppy.
They’ve been pretty durable for such a soft grip, and most of the wear comes from me laying the bike down in the dirt, and the end plugs getting gouged up on rocks.
Bottom Line
The Ergon GD1 Evo Factory grips ergonomic design, damping characteristics, and surface textures give less fatigue to the hands, arms, and upper body, allowing for longer rides, less cramping, and numbness, greater strength and comfort, and performance. The uber-soft Factory Custom Rubber compound provides superior grip, adhesion, and damping in any conditions for excellent control and comfort on rugged terrain.
With its conical shape, top, and bottom ribbed textures, soft thumb section, inner front stop lip, and sticky rubber compound, means the GD1 Evo Factory offers ease of hold, anti-slip, excellent comfort, and precision control for climbing, steering, and maneuvering.
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