Volume VLM Grips Review| Are These the Best BMX Grips?

Are the Volume VLM grips the best BMX grips for the money? In this Volume VLM grips review we break down everything you would see in our YouTube video, step by step: the specs, how they feel in your hands, how to install them, and who they are for. If you skip the video, this post covers it all in text form.

Short answer: the Volume VLM grips are soft, ribbed, flangeless BMX handlebar grips made from Vex Kraton rubber. At 150mm long and 28.7mm thick, they fit both brake and brakeless setups and feel great without gloves.

Product use: what the Volume VLM grips are and how to set them up

The Volume VLM grips are single ply flangeless BMX grips built for freestyle riding: street, park and trails. Here is the spec sheet we cover at the start of the video.

Get Volume VLM Grips here

How to install BMX grips without slipping

1. Pull off the old grips. Blow air under the grip with a compressor, or slide a thin screwdriver under the end and squirt in rubbing alcohol.
2. Clean the handlebar. Wipe off old glue, dirt and grease with rubbing alcohol so the new grip bonds to bare metal.
3. Check your length. With brakes, slide your lever inboard so the 150mm grip fits with room for your hand. Brakeless riders can run the grip right to the bar end.
4. Lube the inside of the grip. Spray a little hairspray or rubbing alcohol inside the grip and on the bar.
5. Slide the grip on fast. Twist and push in one motion until the end of the grip is flush with the end of the bar.
6. Line up the chevron ribs. Rotate the grip so the chevron points line up how you like before the hairspray sets.
7. Push in the bar ends. Tap the Volume nylon plugs in with a rubber mallet until they sit flush.
8. Let it dry. Give hairspray a few hours (overnight is best) before you ride hard, so the grips don't twist.

Why BMX riders use the Volume VLM grips

Riders pick the Volume VLM grips because they feel soft and tacky the first day, without being so thick you lose feel of the bars. They are a go to for the everyday freestyle rider who wants comfort and control without paying for a signature grip.

• Street riders like the soft compound for absorbing hard landings and long sessions on rough ground.
• Barspin and tailwhip riders want flangeless BMX grips so nothing catches their hands or knees mid-trick.
• Bare handed riders like the chevron ribs, which bite into your palms without gloves.
• Brake riders get a 150mm length that fits next to a lever, while brakeless riders still get plenty of room.
• Budget minded riders and parents get a quality BMX handlebar grip at $13.95 a pair, with bar ends included.

5 problems you will run into with other BMX grips

Before you buy any BMX handlebar grips, know what goes wrong with the wrong pair.

1. Hard rubber that kills your hands. Cheap stock grips use a hard compound. You get sore palms, blisters and hand fatigue, and they turn slick when your hands sweat.
2. Flanges that get in the way. Flanged grips can catch your hands on barspins and bonk your knees on tailwhips. They also crack and tear the first time the bike hits the ground.
3. The wrong length for your setup. Extra long grips won't fit next to a brake lever without cutting them. Short grips leave brakeless riders without enough real estate to catch the bars.
4. Grips that slip and twist. Thin, worn or oily grips spin on the bar when you pull up for a bunny hop or manual. That is the fastest way to lose control.
5. Thick or lock on grips with no bar feel. Oversized and lock on grips add bulk and weight, and the hard core blocks the feedback freestyle riders need to feel the bike.

5 reasons the Volume VLM grips are better

Each reason below answers one of the problems above.

1. Soft Vex Kraton rubber. Volume updated the compound in 2021 to make it softer. It cushions landings and stays tacky, which makes these soft BMX grips a strong pick for sweaty hands.
2. Flangeless shape. Nothing sticks out to catch your hands or knees, so the VLMs are one of the best flangeless grips for barspins and tailwhips.
3. 150mm medium length. Long enough for brakeless riders to move their hands around, short enough to run next to a brake lever without trimming.
4. Chevron rib pattern. The ribs grab your palms and keep the grip locked in your hand, gloves or no gloves. Paired with a clean install, they stay put on the bar.
5. 28.7mm single ply build with bar ends included. Thick enough for comfort, thin enough to feel the bike. Nylon push in bar ends come in the pack, all for $13.95.

Get Volume VLM Grips here

Top questions and answers

Are the Volume VLM grips the best BMX grips for the money?

For most freestyle riders, yes. You get soft Kraton rubber, a flangeless shape and bar ends for $13.95, which beats many signature grips that cost more.

Are the Volume VLM grips flangeless BMX grips?

Yes. The VLMs are flangeless, so there is no lip to catch your hands on barspins or hit your knees on tailwhips.

How long are the Volume VLM grips?

They are 150mm long, a medium length. That makes them good 150mm BMX grips for brake setups while still giving brakeless riders room to move.

Are the Volume VLM grips soft BMX grips?

Yes. They use Volume's soft Vex Kraton rubber, made softer in 2021. They feel cushy on landings and grippy in your palms.

Are these good BMX grips for sweaty hands?

The tacky rubber and chevron ribs hold onto your palms better than hard, smooth grips. That makes them one of the best BMX grips for sweaty hands and riding without gloves.

Do Volume VLM grips come with bar ends?

Yes. Each pair comes with Volume nylon push in bar ends to protect your BMX handlebar grips and the ends of your bars.

Will Volume VLM grips fit my handlebars?

They have a 7/8" (22.2mm) inside diameter, the standard size for BMX handlebars, MTB bars & almost any bicycle handlebar.

How do I install BMX grips without slipping?

Clean the bars with rubbing alcohol, spray hairspray inside the grip, slide it on in one motion and let it dry for a few hours before riding hard. Full steps are in the install section above.

Are Volume VLM grips good for street riding?

Yes. The soft compound absorbs hard landings and the flangeless ends hold up when the bike hits the ground, making them one of the best BMX grips for street riding.

How often should I replace my BMX grips?

Replace them when they tear, get hard, turn slick or start to twist on the bar. Daily riders usually wear through a set faster, so it's worth keeping a spare pair.

Final verdict

The Volume VLM grips are one of the best BMX grips you can buy for comfort, control and price. If you want soft, flangeless BMX grips that work with or without brakes and feel good bare handed, the VLMs are an easy upgrade.

Ready to upgrade? Shop the Volume VLM grips at Stacked BMX, in stock now in Black and Glacier Blue. Want to compare other options? Browse all BMX grips.

Watch the full Volume VLM grips review on our YouTube channel, and drop a comment telling us which grips you run.