Best XC MTB Grips: Are Silicone Grips Really the Answer?

XC riders are obsessed with weight.

I get it. Cross-country, rally and marathon racing reward efficiency. Every gram matters. Every detail matters. The bike has to feel fast, direct and ready to respond.

But sometimes a category gets stuck in a habit.

For years, many XC riders have used silicone grips. ESI-style grips became almost the default choice. You see them on fast bikes, on race bikes, on the bikes of other riders, and eventually the logic becomes simple:

“That’s what XC riders use.”

But that is not really thinking.

That is copying.

And if we start from first principles, the question is not:

What grips do other XC riders use?

The real question is:

What do you actually need from a grip?

Start With the Real Job of a Grip

A mountain bike grip has one main job: to connect your hands to the bike.

That sounds obvious, but it changes the discussion completely.

For XC, rally and marathon riders, a good grip should deliver:

• Grip in dry, wet and sweaty conditions.
• Comfort over long rides and race efforts.
• Control when the trail gets rough, fast or technical.
• Security so the grip does not rotate at the worst possible moment.
• Low weight, but not at the cost of everything else.

Once you define the job like that, the automatic answer is no longer silicone.

It might be silicone for some riders. But it should not be silicone just because everyone else is using it.

Silicone Grips vs Lock-On Rubber Grips

Silicone grips have real advantages. They are light. They have a clean look. They have been used by many strong riders for years.

But they also have trade-offs that XC riders do not always question enough.

They can be harder to install. They can be harder to remove. If not installed perfectly, they can rotate on the bar. And in high sweat, rain or muddy conditions, the grip feel can become less predictable than many riders want to admit.

That is where a good rubber lock-on grip starts making a lot of sense.

A well-designed rubber grip can offer more consistent traction, better control and more support under the hand. Add a single lock-on collar and installation becomes simple: slide it on, tighten it, ride.

No alcohol tricks. No compressor. No waiting. No wrestling with the grip. No guessing if it is properly fixed.

The Weight Difference Is Smaller Than People Think

The usual argument against lock-on grips in XC is weight.

Fair enough. Weight matters.

But how much are we really talking about?

We recently published a short video with Carlos Traviesa, rally and XC rider, influencer and one of the riders helping us test and develop grips at AMS.

Carlos weighed silicone grips against AMS lock-on grips. The real difference was around 40 grams. And even that comparison was not perfectly complete, because we forgot to weigh the end caps of the silicone grips.

You can watch the video here:

So yes, silicone grips are lighter.

But the real-world question is sharper:

Would you trade better grip, easier installation, more security and more comfort for roughly 40 grams?

Some riders will say yes.

I would not be so sure.

Why Carlos Traviesa Likes AMS RISE and Barcode Grips for XC

Carlos is not only riding these grips because we support him.

He is helping us test them. He rides hard. He races. He trains. He understands what XC, rally and marathon riders actually need when fatigue starts to build and the bike has to stay precise.

And he loves the feel of the AMS RISE and AMS Barcode grips.

The AMS RISE gives a very direct connection to the bike, with excellent traction and a shape that supports control when the trail gets technical. It is not the traditional XC answer, but that may be exactly why it is interesting.

The AMS Barcode is softer and more cushioned, with a ribbed pattern that gives a very natural hand feel. For riders who want comfort on long rides without going back to a foam or silicone grip, it makes a lot of sense.

Neither of them is trying to imitate silicone.

That is the point.

The Problem With “That’s What XC Riders Use”

There is a lot of copy-and-paste thinking in cycling.

We all do it.

We see what fast riders use. We see what friends use. We see what appears on pro bikes. Then we start believing that product choice is settled.

But XC has changed.

Modern cross-country courses are more technical. Downhills are faster. Bikes are more capable. Riders are asking more from their equipment than they did ten years ago.

If tires, suspension, geometry and handlebars have evolved, why should grips stay trapped in old habits?

The best XC grips should not be defined only by weight.

They should be defined by what happens when your hands are tired, your heart rate is high, the trail is wet, and the bike needs to go exactly where you tell it to go.

Installation Matters More Than Riders Admit

Silicone grips can be annoying to install well.

Everyone knows it. Few people say it.

You need technique. You need the right method. Sometimes you need alcohol, air pressure or patience. Then, when you want to remove them, the process can be just as unpleasant.

And if the grip rotates during a race or a hard ride, the weight saving suddenly looks much less important.

A single lock-on grip solves that problem cleanly.

With AMS lock-on grips, installation is simple. Slide them onto the bar, position them, tighten the collar. Done.

That matters for riders. It matters for mechanics. It matters for anyone who changes parts, travels with bikes or simply wants the bike ready without unnecessary drama.

So, Are Silicone Grips Bad?

No.

Silicone grips are not bad. They are light, simple and many riders like them.

This is not an anti-silicone article.

It is an anti-automatic-thinking article.

If you love silicone grips and you know exactly why, keep riding them.

But if you are using them because “that’s what XC riders use,” it may be worth questioning the decision.

Ask better questions:

• Do they give you the best grip?
• Do they feel secure in rain and sweat?
• Are they comfortable after three or four hours?
• Are they easy to install and remove?
• Is the weight saving worth the compromise?

That is the conversation I want XC riders to have.

Will AMS Make Silicone Grips?

Maybe.

We are not religious about rubber. We are not against silicone. If riders really want silicone grips, and if we believe we can make something that deserves the AMS name, we may develop them.

But we will not make silicone grips just because the category expects it.

At AMS, we want to build products from the real problem backwards.

Not from the trend forwards.

Our Current Answer for XC, Rally and Marathon Riders

Right now, if an XC rider asks me what AMS grip I would recommend, I would not automatically point them to the lightest option.

Our Extralight grips are being phased out. They had a place, but they are not where we believe the future of AMS grips is going.

For many XC, rally and marathon riders, I would seriously consider:

• AMS RISE if you want maximum control, precision and a more direct feel.
• AMS Barcode if you want more comfort, cushioning and a natural hand feel.

Both are easy to install. Both stay secure on the bar. Both offer the kind of real grip that matters when conditions are sweaty, wet, dusty or rough.

And yes, they weigh a little more than silicone.

The question is whether that small weight difference is really the thing holding you back.

Final Thought

The best XC grips are not the ones everyone else is using.

They are the ones that give you the best connection to your bike.

For some riders, that may still be silicone.

For others, especially riders who care about grip, comfort, control and installation, a good lock-on rubber grip may simply be the better answer.

Think from first principles.

Then choose the grip that actually solves the problem.

Explore the AMS grip collection