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review
Lubrication
Muc-Off Carbon GripperMuc-Off Carbon Gripper

Muc-Off Carbon Gripper

8
by Stu Kerton
UPDATED Thu, Oct 15, 2015 04:24

First Published Apr 5, 2015

3
£15.00

VERDICT:

8
10
Does what it needs to do
Weight: 
75g
Contact: 
muc-off.com
How we test

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There is nothing worse than a slipping carbon seatpost mid-ride and that's exactly what Muc-Off's Carbon Gripper is designed to avoid. It certainly does its job, but is it any better than any of its competition?

To be honest, it doesn't seem to be. It grips though, I can't take that away from it. Having carbon fibre handlebars on a few of my bikes I always worry about overtightening the bolts as even at the recommended torque settings the bars can still twist.

Applying the Carbon Gripper to the mating surfaces provides friction from the granule rich paste you find in the tube. Muc-Off have kept the exact composition under their hats but it doesn't feels like one of those gritty hand scrubs.

Having a layer of the paste between the mating parts creates friction so you don't need to apply as much torque to keep the parts from slipping.

If using it for fitting a carbon seatpost into a metal frame it'll also prevent the chemical reactions that cause seizing.

So, it works, but it is at the top end of the price range when it comes to cycling specific brands of the same stuff. Unless you are putting a lot of bikes together this 75g tube is going to last you an age as well so it'll be £15 sat on the shelf.

It's a great product but it doesn't really stand out over any others, and for its price I think it should, even if only a little bit.

Verdict

Does what it needs to do while offering nothing game changing

road.cc test report

Make and model: Muc-Off Carbon Gripper

Size tested: n/a

Tell us what the product is for, and who it's aimed at. What do the manufacturers say about it? How does that compare to your own feelings about it?

It's designed to increase friction between carbon components to avoid having to apply to much torque to stop things slipping. It works well on handlebars.

Tell us some more about the technical aspects of the product?

Muc-Off don't give away their secret formula.

Rate the product for quality of construction:
 
9/10

The paste is the right consistency for the application and it's a pretty colour.

Rate the product for performance:
 
9/10

Solved my handlebar slipping issues.

Rate the product for durability:
 
8/10

Winter road spray hasn't removed from seatpost or bars.

Rate the product for value:
 
7/10

Pricier than rivals and quite a large tube option for domestic use.

Tell us how the product performed overall when used for its designed purpose

Very well, it grips the components and is easy to apply.

Tell us what you particularly liked about the product

How well it works.

Tell us what you particularly disliked about the product

Pricier than its rivals.

Did you enjoy using the product? Yes.

Would you consider buying the product? Yes.

Would you recommend the product to a friend? I've used cheaper and had the same results.

Anything further to say about the product in conclusion?

It's some decent stuff and does what it's supposed to do though it doesn't really stand out as anything special.

Overall rating: 8/10

About the tester

Age: 36  Height: 180cm  Weight: 76kg

I usually ride: Kinesis T2  My best bike is: Kinesis Aithien

I've been riding for: 10-20 years  I ride: Every day  I would class myself as: Expert

I regularly do the following types of riding: time trialling, commuting, club rides, sportives, fixed/singlespeed,

 

Muc-Off Carbon Gripper
Muc-Off
Stu Kerton

Since writing his first bike review for road.cc back in early 2009 senior product reviewer Stu has tested more than a thousand pieces of kit, and hundreds of bikes.

With an HND in mechanical engineering and previous roles as a CNC programmer/machinist, draughtsman and development engineer (working in new product design) Stu understands what it takes to bring a product to market. A mix of that knowledge combined with his love of road and gravel cycling puts him in the ideal position to put the latest kit through its paces.

He first made the switch to road cycling in 1999, primarily for fitness, but it didn’t take long for his competitive side to take over which led to around ten years as a time triallist and some pretty decent results. These days though riding is more about escapism, keeping the weight off and just enjoying the fact that he gets to ride the latest technology as part of his day job.

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3 comments

Avatar
StraelGuy | 9 years ago
0 likes

I used to really like Muc-Off as a brand but their prices seem to be getting more and more indefensible.

Avatar
gdmor10 | 9 years ago
0 likes

Is it an extra £5 because it says team sky on it?

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Accessibility f... | 9 years ago
0 likes

You can buy more for less if you get Park's compound:

http://www.evanscycles.com/products/park/supergrip-assembly-compound-ec0...

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