Renthal's Push-On grips offer a slender profile with improved feel and a bit more comfort, but they're much more faff to fit than lock-on grips. The Ultra Tacky compound does offer unprecedented levels of grip in the wet, even if it is rather fast wearing.
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Lock-on grips are more secure than traditional stuck-on designs and can be removed if you want to change anything but the aluminium collars are uncomfortable to ride on and with a plastic sleeve underneath there’s rubber for cushioning. Comfort and feel are two reasons some riders are now switching back to stuck on grips like Renthal’s Push-On.
The Push-On design has been in the range for a while but Renthal has recently launched an Ultra Tacky version to go alongside its soft, medium, hard and Kevlar compounds. The new grip uses the same dual stage pattern, which is simple file tread, with a block pattern on the outer edge for durability. Overall length is 135mm it the grip comes with a medium flange on the inner edge and double grooves for grip-wire. Weight is 56g with a plastic end cap, which is only 1g lighter than Renthal’s Traction Lock-on.
Obviously, with any push-on grip, you are going to have to stick it on. In the past one of the most popular adhesives was hairspray but I actually used enamel paint because it went off instantly, it held fast and you could easily get the grip off again (if you had to work on the controls) with a squirt of WD40. Renthal doesn’t recommend these old-school remedies though but directs users towards its Quick Bond Grip Glue. This is a fast-acting liquid adhesive, chemically engineered to bond Renthal grips to all handlebars, which means it’s liquid for long enough so you can position the grip where you want but then bonds quickly so you can start riding pretty much straight away.
Quick Bond Grip Glue offers a really good hold, especially on the end of the grip where it has a looser fit, but the problem is a 20g bottle of Quick Bond Grip Glue is £6.99 and when you add this to the price of the grip, you’re looking at £19. Compare that to Renthal’s standard lock-on at £21.99 and the Push-On isn’t as good value as it first appears. Renthal argues you can use the bottle to stick other grips but I’d rather see a small sachet of glue included, especially since you only need a squirt to stick two sides.
Like most mountain bike journalists, I own several test bikes and I always fit Lock-On grips because I’m constantly swapping brakes, stems, bars and suchlike - it’s just more convenient. Running the Push-On does make this process a little bit harder. I did manage to remove and re-stuck the Push-On when I used the paint initially but with the Grip Glue it’s really bonded to the bar and it’s impossible to get off without tearing the rubber, meaning it’s really a one-time use.
The Ultra Tacky compound isn’t the most durable either but the compound produces an adhesive grip surface that, according to Renthal, can be reactivated by simply washing the grip with clean water and allowing to air dry. With bare hands the level of traction even in wet conditions is unprecedented. There’s also a bit more cushioning compared to a standard Lock-On. It’s not super plush because the Push-On is only 30mm in diameter (about the same dimension as the Renthal Lock-On) but there is definitely a bit more give when torquing down on the handlebar and no hard edges when resting your hands on the end of the bar.
Since you have to buy the Quick Bond Grip Glue, Renthal’s Push-On isn’t great value and it’s less practical than an easily removable Lock-On but if you’re looking for a thin grip with a bit of give and a ton of feel, the Push-On Ultra Tacky is the one I’d recommend.
