Wednesday 23 April 2014

New grips for my Original Orange Brompton

I have to say that I was a very, very late convert to changing the original grips that come with ones Brompton. It was really only last year that I took the plunge and changed them. Until that time I had quite happily used the stock grips without any trouble. Many people hate them but I found them okay and didn't feel the need to upgrade. Once I did however, I wondered why I had not done it sooner.

For quite some time I have had a pair of Ergon GS1 grips on my Original Orange Brompton and they have served me pretty well. They are good grips but I have preferred the more rounded edges on the GP1 grips on my other Titanium Orange Brompton.

I have wanted a pair of the Biokork GP1's for some time but have not got round to buying them but I was recently able to get a pair at a great price.






The Biokork grips from Ergon weigh next to nothing and have a couple of tricks up their sleeve. The first is that the biokork has better vibration dampening than the rubber version. I cannot say that I noticed this on my commute but I will say they were supremely comfy and mores that the GS1's they replaced.





The other trick is that cork has anti-bacterial and hypoallergenic qualities. I cannot say that this was the reason for me buying them but it's good to know.




I have seen these on one of David P's Brompton bicycles and always liked them. It is perhaps flippant to say I like the colour better than the black version as I feel it complements the Orange and Brooks saddle that bit more.




All in all I am rather pleased with them and in the little time that I have used them, for me they have been worth every penny.




At the moment I find I have a rather large soft spot for my Original Orange Brompton. There are a few more little enhancements I would like to make but it is the perfect commuting bicycle for me. I love my Titanium Orange Brompton, which is an S-type of course but my M-type really does feel like an old friend.

5 comments:

  1. Hi, this is a very timely post, as I am expecting my mail-ordered GP1 Biokork grips to arrive within the next few days.

    Did you have to cut them short in order to make them fit on the M-bars (as I have seen from other sources; so far I only seem to have seen them fit uncut on S-type models)?

    From the photos it seems you just moved the brakes/shifters inward to make them fit? Does that affect the ergonomic handling and/or the fold?

    Thank you for ýour always inspiring Brompton blog,
    // Sebastian

    ReplyDelete
  2. Hello. I didn't really move the brakes over a great deal 5mm if that. The new levers allow them on without cutting. I have only used them on a couple of commutes so I'll report back.

    ReplyDelete
  3. I have the other ones and i cut them rather than move the cables etc as i did not think they would be close enough to my fingers. I could do with fitting something that is slightly longer really altho i am pleased with the non-cork Ergon. Could you put a link to where you got them and what price pls?

    Laurie -

    ReplyDelete
  4. I've read that the version of these that is meant for use with twist gears is shorter, do you think that they might be a better fit on Brompton M bars?

    Paul, Oxford

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. If you have the new Brompton brake levers they take up less room than the older ones. I was able to put these grips on without cutting or resorting to the short version you mention. If you don't have the new levers, might be time to upgrade perhaps.

      Delete

Thank you for leaving a comment.