Lizard Skins have made a number of signature grips over the years, the most recent being this, the Danny Macaskill edition. They’re Lizard Skins first single-sided lock-on design and although they look the part they left us wanting in terms of vibration damping and cushioning.
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The Danny Mac grip comes in various colourways including these neon yellow versions. I mounted them to my current Specialized Enduro test rig which happens to have almost identically coloured logos on it - winning!
Now, I don’t have massive hands and like a grip that’s on the thinner size as I feel it reduces hand/arm pump and increases control. I was initially pretty keen to get these Danny Mac specials mounted up, at 29-30mm in diameter, they’re very much on the skinnier size. Lizard skins claim that the grips have a larger diameter in key areas to increase damping and cushioning but with a 1mm range in diameter, additional cushioning is somewhat limited. The length of 137mm and weight of 88 grams is comparable to others and perfectly acceptable.
They’ve got a pyramidal design over the majority of the grip and a couple of raised logoed blocks on the inboard end. The level of traction is adequate, however, they’re far from tacky, maybe even a little on the hard side. That pointy surface design is their saving grace, relying solely on the grip’s compound wouldn’t work when the going gets rough or conditions damp and muddy.
Unfortunately, the Danny Mac’s are pretty minimalist with very little damping. They may work well for a dirt jump bike or for someone who rides street or the skate park more regularly, but, for general mountain biking or rougher trails and when the conditions are anything but perfect, they’re far from the best I’ve used. During longer days in the saddle and repetitive movements that require pulling on the bars such as hops, manuals and position changes, have actually resulted in the odd blister - I’ve not got soft office hands either before you scoff!
They offer very little vibration dissipation and not much cushioning either. That's to be expected to a point from a skinny grip but other brands have managed it with a softer compound and for less than £29 too. Ultimately, the Danny Mac Signature grips look good, come in a cool array of colours and could be good for those that prefer stunts than trails. But, if you’re time is mostly spent on dirt, there are better options out there and at cheaper prices too.
