Road Foam Grip 4 Piece Set, 10 SPD

I am not a fan of tape; too much time and trouble, and then it eventually unravels or gets torn. And thick supportive tape is ridiculously expensive. The Sunlite foam grips are easy to install - soak them in a bucket of water first, then slide on. I've had a set of Sunlite foam grips on my commuter for nearly a year, no tears or issues. The grips are very sturdy. Of course, the price is much cheaper than good tape. This latest set went on a dropbar with interrupter brake levers. I couldn't get full coverage all the way to the stem, but this shouldn't be an issue since my hands stay outside the levers anyway. Some tips: Like I said above, soak the grips in water before installing. You can use soapy water but I found that made the grips and bars too slippery. Adjusting the grips after installation is a pain, but just go slow and work both ends - push one end then pull the other. I soak my grips in Scotchguard or Armor-All since I sometimes ride in the rain; even rubber grips get a coat or 2. For the foam grips, I use at least 3 coats. Makes them waterproof and keeps the sun from drying them out. Bar tape can be installed over the foam grips; I would use a thinner tape unless you want a really thick bar.

Why did you pick this product vs others?: Easy to install using window cleaner on the inside of product and spraying the handlebar. Dries and holds its position well and foam cushion feels good. This was a good investment at a very good price.

Easy to install with a spray of window cleaner in the tube. Let complete dry before using so the grip won’t slip.

Great fit and functionality on my road bike setup. Arrived just as described! Thx

I can't speak to longevity because I've just installed these, but they appear to be made from good sturdy material with just the right amount of cushioning to enable a firm, comfortable grip. They are very hard to install, so I looked for tips on YouTube and found several suggestions including using an air compressor, (Ain't got one) hairspray, (Don't have any of that either) and a host of other non-oil-based lubricants including brake cleaner. Well, none of these seemed ideal, so I dove into the little gray cells, (My brain) and came up with an excellent solution. Windex! Yep, just spray it liberally inside the tube and on the handlebars and 'Bob's yer uncle'; they slide right on, and the wet & sloppiness of it all allows adjusting the grips to one's liking. I was even able to scrunch them down and compact them nicely for maximum cushiness. The glass cleaner evaporates quickly and leaves a smooth clean surface for the grips to grip - thus, reducing slippage over time. You're welcome.

These are good quality grips. I used them to replace the worn grips on a treadmill, and these seem to stay on a lot better than the old ones did. They are also quite comfortable and have good friction for the hands. I did have difficulties putting them on, but that's no reason to lower the rating, since that's just the nature of the beast. The solution was (a) to chamfer the ends of the metal handles I was putting these on (I used a rotary tool, but a flat file would have worked, too), and (b) to use a bit of soap water on the handles before slowly pushing these one. I was worried that the soap would make them slide off, but that's not a problem. I did ruin one because the metal handle I pushed the first one on had sharp pieces of metal sticking out of the end. I took care of these while chamfering. So you should make sure that there are no sharp bits of metal prior to installation.

Great foam. Used almost the full length for my setup. Two person job to put it on. Soaked the foam and the handlebar. One person cupped one hand around the tip of the power duster, at the rear side of the foam; blowing in compressed air, while the other pulled up the front side of the foam over the handle bar tube. The compressed air expands the foam enough to slide it in, but still took some effort between 2 people. Cut the length down to what was needed with good results. Two pieces went to waste, but it's great that 4 pieces are included.

For use on bars that are on the small side, hair spray can be both a lube to get it on and a glue to keep it in place. For larger bars, plug the opposite end and blow compressed air at the edge of the foam, done right the foam will slip into place easily. With a lot of sun exposure, the exterior of the foam can weather, though I've found this takes quite a while in normal use where the foam isn't constantly exposed to UV and ozone. Recommended.