Protaper Pillow Top Grips – Dirt Rider Magazine

I’ve hit the garage to put fresh knobs on my bike many times, but these Pillow Top grips mark the first time the “knobbies” were for the handlebar. I like a grip that offers good glove traction, but many grips that have glove grip also irritate my hands. ProTaper’s Pillow Top grip has the cushion I like, plenty of small nubs for traction and a pleasant diameter. The grip feels like the diameter falls somewhere between a half waffle and full waffle. I’ve long been a fan of the waffle pattern and tried but never really embraced anything with a different traction pattern. Other smoother patterns just didn’t let me feel confident in my grip. I didn’t give the Pillow Top a good rain ride, but I can’t help our perfect, sunny, warm riding weather in the middle of the winter. I did hit the track and the trail, though, and the grip worked very well in both situations. Wear seems excellent, safety wire isn’t cutting the rubber and the grips just look interesting on the bike. For $14.95, I like ‘em, and I’m keeping them on my bike. They come in the usual colors but just the single compound. They’re a little firmer than most soft grips but softer than most mediums. -Karel Kramer