The Title L01 grips are great for those who prefer riding with the thinnest grips possible. With a super slim build, these grips don’t slack on the comfort through clever but very subtle contouring with a simple, yet effective texture that provides plenty of traction. However, the L01s aren’t without durability woes which may affect their positioning among some of the cheaper and hardier options in the competitive best MTB grips space.
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Title L01 grips - Technical details
Title doesn’t have an awful lot to say about its only lock-on grip but, given the simplicity of the design, less is certainly more.
The L01 has a built-in bar end with a single clamping design including contours to fit the hand. On this grip, it’s almost invisible to the eye but look close enough and there’s a mild hump in the very middle of the texture.
The texture is fairly interesting as it uses a wavy pattern that straightens near the middle and becomes wavy again towards the other end. There’s also a neat protective lip that keeps the hand away from the clamping bolt.
Designed for all-mountain, downhill and enduro riding, a single grip measures 135mm in width and 30mm in diameter. The grips use 3mm Allen bolts to clamp onto the bar and are available in six colours.
Title claims a weight of 90g a pair and they weighed the same on my scale.
Title L01 grips - Performance
Unlike many other modern grips, they don’t need a specific setup or rotation on the bar. The tread isn’t asymmetric, aside from the miniature flange but getting the bar-end logos straight is a must.
The grip thickness increases near the middle of the grip and this is going to be a love/hate kind of thing, and dependant on where you hold the grip. I prefer to hold the grip fairly far outboard but, even then, the contour followed the shape of my hand well and helped to fend off arm pump later into lengthier descents.
However, the rubber compound used is fairly firm and, because the grip is so thin, there’s not an awful lot in the way of vibration damping so fatigue did end up setting in. That said, grip was very impressive – with or without gloves.
Although the grip is slim, hand traction and bar feel are excellent. The L01s translates trail feedback into useful communication, which enhances the overall trail experience.
And, because there is such a thin layer of rubber lining the grip, it’s not incredibly durable. I’ve treated the L01 just like I would any other and it’s showing signs of wear around the bar ends, where I’ve had the bike leaned up against a wall or positioned upside down for quick trailside tweaks. Now that this wear has started, it's getting worse as I ride with the grips.
Title L01 grips - Verdict
Title’s a premium brand and these grips are premium-priced at £37. Durability aside, that’s the real kicker merely because there are so many excellent, if not, better grips on the market for less money – one of which is Ergon’s GDH Team grips. These are built for downhill riding and get a somewhat similar build featuring an increased thickness towards the middle of the grip. This grip is much more durable and the texture is more thoughtfully designed, so the raised palm section can move and damp vibration. The downside, however, is that the bar end plugs aren’t integrated.
ODI’s Vans v2.1 MTB Lock On Grips are well worth considering if you’re looking for a slim grip as these are exactly that. As it turns out, the tread pattern found on Vans shoes works incredibly well for grips and they’re £30.
If you’re up for more contouring, Race Face’s Getta Grips are a solid option. They’re not quite comparable in terms of the texture but they’re grippy and the contouring is comfy. These are now £24.
Some grips reach beyond the L01’s price point, namely £40 ODI Vanquish grips. They’re the first to feature D3O and a new rubber compound designed with the brand, and there’s been a lot of thought into the grip’s vibration damping.
Disclaimer - Title's website lists the L01 grips for £27 but shipping is an additional £41. The RRP at Title dealers will be closer to the price stated in this review, ignoring sale prices.
Despite its excellent traction, simplicity, and shorter-term comfort, the price of the Title L01 grips is hard to swallow. This might be justifiable if you're looking for effective and mega-slim grips.