Ergon GE1 Evo vs GA3: Employee Review

Words by: Reamonn Ryan

I have been riding Ergon grips for a good couple of months now and I can honestly say that I love them. A few weeks ago I released a review on the GE1 Evo Grips and have pretty much been riding those ever since. A few weeks ago, I decided I would try out the GA3 Grips with the wing just because a few of my friends always make fun of the design. I figured Ergon had some really good reasoning behind the design and decided to give it a go. Here is what I thought of the two grips:

GE1 Evo Grip

Having ridden the grips for a couple of months over countless rides, every type of trail from long and smooth XC trails, to jump trails to rocky and chattery Enduro/DH trails, I can happily say these grips are something else. I never began to experience an immense amount of fatigue in my hands, wrists, or arms or even had a slip up at any point in riding them. For riders looking for a grip that will not only last them a long time but also a grip that will effortlessly help them become a better rider, I think Ergon hit the nail on the head with the GE1 Enduro.

My Favorite Features:

Some of my favorite features about the Ergon GE1 Evo grip include:

1. The Material

I don’t know exactly what material they are using for their grips but Ergon is killing with a comfortable and durable material that does an incredible job eliminating some of the extra vibrations coming through the handlebars. The fact that the grips last so long blows me away as well. I feel like some companies either accept a short grip life for a comfortable compound or vice versa. Ergon seems to have the perfect combination going right now.

2. The Tapered Diameter

It’s crazy to think that a grip can allow me to ride better just by slightly adjusting my hand placement.  Keeping my elbows up ultimate helps me corners and control the bike better than I had before and it helps me do it more consistently since your hands naturally sit in a way to make your body naturally move that way.

3. Thumb pad

I feel like most people don’t pay much attention to the thumbpad area of a grip and to me, that is one of the most important parts of a grip. Have a pad that is too small thin and your thumb will begin to fatigue and you lose grip of your bike faster. Have a thumbpad that is too big and you start blocking your thumb’s movement to the shifter or whatever other remotes you might have set up.

Final Thoughts on the GE1 Evo Grip

"As for where the GE1 sits on my list of favorite grips. I would say it sits very high, although not the very top and that is for many personal reasons and my strange preferences when it comes to my own bike setup. Keep in mind that every rider has a different setup that is determined from multiple factors from the bike itself, whether that be the category of riding style, or even the rider and their previous riding experience and body shape. I am by no means, a racer or an athlete when it comes to cycling, but merely an enthusiast that enjoys riding as much as my life lets me.

The Ergon GE1 Evo Grips are a great starting point for those people looking to have a better experience on their bike and as I mentioned above, Ergon hit the nail on the head making a product that genuinely helps riders better themselves and betters the overall riding experience no matter the weather or terrain. If you are looking to do that yourself, I would recommend looking into the GE1 Grips as an easy and cost-effective solution." – Reamonn

GA3 Grips

At first glance, the Ergon GA3 grip does look pretty funny. I often hear the comments about these being “old-man” grips which to some might seem like an insult but the reality of the situation is that old men know comfort and these grips are just that. The extended palm support really takes the strain off of your wrists and for people like me who have put their wrists through years of abuse, it feels nice to let them rest more often than not.

My Favorite Features:

Some of my favorite features about the Ergon GA3 grip include:

1.   The Material

Much like the GE1 Grips, my favorite feature would have to be Ergon’s rubber compound. These guys have been around for a long time and had some of the best cycling athletes giving them feedback so you would hope their grip would offer something grippy and comfortable, which it does! I ride without gloves a majority of the time so the rubber is really important to me. Even with a little sweat under my hands I never lose grip!

2.   The Palm / Wrist Support

The wing may look funny to you but it really does add some needed support to your ride. Whether you are older or just have bad wrists, the support given makes the world of a difference, especially on those long rides. You may question whether or not the wing will affect your handling but to be honest I didn’t notice it too much when doing normal trail riding.

Which one wins?

This is a hard question to answer. I feel as though both grips have the ideal set up on either of my bikes. I would definitely choose the GE1 Evo grips to run on my Enduro bike. The grip is a little nicer on rough trails and jumps. Also, being able to freely slide my hand around the grip when trying to maneuver the bike is a must. That being said, I would definitely choose to run the GA3 Grip on my trail bike when I am planning out longer rides that do not involve a lot of technical, rough sections. The support the wing gives helps me stay on the bike longer when I am trying to log in some miles.

Conclusion

“Fortunately, grips are not too expensive and are easy to swap out so trying different pairs is not that hard for most people to do. Ergon really has a great selection of grips for riders of all different backgrounds and they most definitely have one for you. Like I said above, The GE1 better suites my Enduro setup while the GA3 will most likely live on my Trail bike moving forward to keep me out on the trails longer. I can’t choose a winner as they are two totally different grips but I do suggest you check them out!” - Reamonn

This article was written / authored by Reamonn Ryan. Reamonn has worked in the bicycle industry for 6 years now and currently runs our Instagram account along with testing products, editing video content, and writing blogs like this one you just read. Reamonn was a die hard BMX kid for over 10 years and once he started at Worldwide Cyclery made the switch to mountain bikes where he can send stuff better than most guys at the shop. If you like any of our Instagram posts or have gotten any responses from your DM's it was most likely from Reamonn, so give him a thanks. As with all of our employees, Reamonn is a key part of making Worldwide Cyclery the "Best Damn Bike Shop in the World".