WE DIG
WE DON’T
ABOUT THE BURGTEC BARTENDER PRO JOSH BRYCELAND SIGNATURE GRIP
Burgtec designed the Josh Bryceland signature Bartender Pro grip to satisfy his wishes. Seeking a “push-on feel” with lock on security, Burgtec made some smart calls in the design to achieve comfort without sacrificing stability.
This consistent 31mm diameter grip is given a tapered core and single locking collar design to keep them firmly in place. The core receives a cut-out underneath the palm, around where the outer three knuckles sit. This increases rubber thickness to improve comfort and give the push-on feel desired.
The main pattern of the grip consists of horizontal ribs, designed to give traction and some cushion under the palm. On the underside of the grip, the pattern is modified to give more stability, improving control when pulling up hard on the bars. In the thumb area, the orientation is modified to allow the thumb to slide better when using the controls. On the inside of the grip, a low profile flange gives a reference point.
The Josh Bryceland Signature Bartender Pro grip is offered in a standard or Super Soft version. The former uses a typical 30A rubber for increased longevity, while the Super Soft uses a tacky 15A rubber for maximum comfort and grip. The standard version is offered in a choice of eight colors, and the Super Soft in black only. These retail for £23.99 / $30.95 and £24.99 / $32.24, respectively.
THE DIRT
Arguably the most important contact point on the bike, a good set of grips can make a notable difference. Every rider will have their own preference of thickness, pattern and rubber durometer, but the smarter the design, the more people it’s likely to please. I would consider the Josh Bryceland Signature grips to be very intelligently designed, and I believe they’ll satisfy a lot of riders as a result.
I am one of those riders. Though the 31mm diameter is a touch thicker than I’d typically choose, the horizontal rib design and soft rubber meant my hands sank in and obtained an effectively thinner diameter. Yet the feeling under the hand, between my palm and the bar, was that of a thicker and better cushioned grip. They provided a nicely damped feel, helping to take the sting off the trail effectively, without having to go “full Meaty Paw”.
The ribs combined with the soft rubber of the Super Soft version had a lot of give when pulling hard, and as such they didn’t offer the most precision. But with the reduced rib thickness on the underside, it rarely limited the feeling of control. The Super Soft rubber’s incredible comfort was worth this minor loss in precision, without a doubt.
The soft rubber unsurprisingly came at the expense of reduced wear life, but it only served to get them to the “bedded in” and into the sweet spot quicker. I’m a big proponent of running soft rubber grips to boost comfort and traction, and sucking up having to replace them a little more often. The rubber bar ends were also quicker to deteriorate than a hard material, but this will come as no surprise.
The Wolf’s Last Word
A serious contender for my favorite mountain bike grips going, the Burgtec Bartender Pro Josh Bryceland Signature Super Soft grips suit my preferences very well. With excellent comfort for their thin to mid thickness thanks to some smart design, Rat boy’s signature grips are sure to please a lot of riders. 
Price: £24.99 / $32.24 (Super Soft, Tested)
Website: Burgtec.co.uk
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ABOUT THE WOLF
Robert’s habitat is the Tweed Valley, Scotland, which is renowned for its root-littered enduro mountain bike trails. Robert has been developing his bike handling skills for the last 16 years. Since he was a pup, he’s been riding everything from BMX through to enduro and downhill bikes. Combining a playful style with occasional speed-focused aggression, he favors supportive bikes, and does his best to push them hard.
Rank: European Tech Editor
Size: 6’2” / 189cm | 220lbs / 100kg
Social: @robert_johnston
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