Author Topic: Sharp Grips (Read 2891 times)

factory pilot · « **on:** February 25, 2016, 05:17 PM »

Just snaffled a NOS set of these from Mr Rooski as an alternatively to our failed attempts to dye some yellow Oakley .5s.

Did any of you Radsters use 'em bitd and what did you make of them?

I'm thinking they are pretty darn cool what do ya think?

griff · « **Reply #1 on:** February 25, 2016, 05:32 PM »

I already replied on the other thread, but since you posted here...

Had them BITD on my Silverfox - really wanted to like Mushrooms as I thought they were really cool, but when my mate got some I hated the feel of them, the thin 'filaments' just felt too squidgy to me. Since the profile of the Sharp ones was a bit thicker I found them more precise & comfy.

Since getting back into BMX I've got them on all my bikes, except for the NS one - that got Odyssey Team Grips as they were the closest modern equivalent I could get my hands on

Bobby · « **Reply #2 on:** February 25, 2016, 07:51 PM »

Had a black hard pair that where horrible !!!! also a White pair & a green pair in the soft compound always liked the look but always felt big

Mushrooms & ame round felt better but did not look as good

The bike shop I worked at weekends & after school sold sharp grips & they did not sell well bitd

bodamus · « **Reply #3 on:** February 25, 2016, 09:22 PM »

I used to use them back in the day I used to get them from O.T.'s in Dartford.

Great grips

deeman · « **Reply #4 on:** February 26, 2016, 12:34 AM »

You already know my feelings Ant!
I had a pair on my PR back in the day, loved them...they are thick and kinda give the bike a different feel but feel lush, iirc they absorb vibration a lot better. I don't think they got enough credit for being the first grips you could adjust the length of and practically the first bar ends in bmx. they obviously realised the need for a solution to the ends of grips getting blown out.
I have been looking for best part of 5 years for a white pair to come up. I recently purchased a pair of yellow ( they COULD be white which have gone off, I don't ever remember seeing yellow) and they have white griplocks. I am going to try a little experiment to bleach them white, if that doesn't work I will see about painting them (last resort)
I love the way they look and feel and the fact they are British. I confess to buying a green pair when I first got back into the hobby 5 yrs ago just to feel them...then moved them on!!
It is surprising they never really caught on....the BB boots and lever grips were popular enough and still see them for sale a bit but the grips rarely come up.
Look forward to seeing them gracing that Quad, the yanks never got them and it will set the build apart as British....I doubt they even heard of them. You are unlikely to see a build on the museum with Sharps unless it is a UK build which makes them nicely exclusive in my eyes....Enjoy!

factory pilot · « **Reply #5 on:** February 26, 2016, 08:02 AM »

Thanks for all the replies so far.... Deeman I love your enthusiasm for these things .. It's what won me over to take the plunge.
I remember the adverts from BITD and always thought they were very cool.
OT Cycles always had cool adverts at the back off Action Bike too. I thought all their products were cool.... I had a Sharp BB Boot on my GS Burner and it made me feel like a pro!

I hope a white set turns up for you mate or that you have better luck than me in turning those yellow ones white!

Griff the ones on your Ripper look ace!

Retrodan72 · « **Reply #6 on:** February 26, 2016, 08:17 AM »

A bike shop in Chester, Davies Brothers, stocked all the Sharp products when they came out, probably mid 85.

It was a case of saving paper round money, and getting the B4 bus into town to go and get them. I too had the full set of bits. Lime green (as they called it, more like dayglo) BB boot, on my Piranha, and pink lever grips, white BB boot, pink grips and white grip locks on my green Fox 4 Styler.

Monk_Wally_Honk · « **Reply #7 on:** February 26, 2016, 08:42 AM »

Quote from: bodamus on February 25, 2016, 09:22 PM

I used to use them back in the day I used to get them from O.T.'s in Dartford.

Great grips

I bought a pair from there too. I tried mushrooms but they made the palms of my hands itch when you got some speed up, tried these and they weren't as bad, but ended up always going for Ame grips.

I've always had modern Ame grips since getting back into biking, might try and find a pair of these too, they did look ace and I loved the end caps.

factory pilot · « **Reply #8 on:** February 26, 2016, 08:47 AM »

Quote from: Retrodan72 on February 26, 2016, 08:17 AM

A bike shop in Chester, Davies Brothers, stocked all the Sharp products when they came out, probably mid 85.

It was a case of saving paper round money, and getting the B4 bus into town to go and get them. I too had the full set of bits. Lime green (as they called it, more like dayglo) BB boot, on my Piranha, and pink lever grips, white BB boot, pink grips and white grip locks on my green Fox 4 Styler.

I don't remember ever thinking that these were UK poor man's versions of the real deal ... These were the real deal to me too Dan and they made feel like a million dollars

kdw712 · « **Reply #9 on:** February 26, 2016, 10:39 AM »

OT's is still in Dartford back in the original shop now though
the big BMX centre long closed

even the old gate has gone now, was there till about 2001

factory pilot · « **Reply #10 on:** February 26, 2016, 10:56 AM »

Cool pictures ... Must have been a BMX dream bike shop back then ...anyone been in to ask about old stock?

Thanks for sharing mate

Monk_Wally_Honk · « **Reply #11 on:** February 26, 2016, 10:59 AM »

Look at that ad.

I bought from OT's the DP Firebird Freestyler F&F in white and black padset (saved up for ages with my saturday job money)

A set of black Z-rim wheels, ACS hubs.

Black Sharp Grips

And those curved rear standers in white.

Looked the business for about 5 months then everyone wanted bright colours.

kdw712 · « **Reply #12 on:** February 26, 2016, 11:16 AM »

Quote from: factory pilot on February 26, 2016, 10:56 AM

Cool pictures ... Must have been a BMX dream bike shop back then ...anyone been in to ask about old stock?
Thanks for sharing mate

the east hill shop was heaven, just BMX and seemed massive
most saturdays we would ride down and look at full chromoly race spec bikes in there and dream

some classic pics on the Official FB page

https://www.facebook.com/groups/46065627039/photos/

factory pilot · « **Reply #13 on:** February 26, 2016, 12:27 PM »

Superb ... Thanks again for sharing ... OT and Sharp are a big part of UK Bmx history, kudos and folklore

Monk_Wally_Honk · « **Reply #14 on:** February 26, 2016, 12:36 PM »

Damn, need to hack facebook to see them.

kdw712 · « **Reply #15 on:** February 26, 2016, 12:44 PM »

Quote from: Monk_Wally_Honk on February 26, 2016, 12:36 PM

Damn, need to hack facebook to see them.

some were from my web page - http://www.kdw712.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/otcycles.html

factory pilot · « **Reply #16 on:** February 26, 2016, 12:54 PM »

Quote from: kdw712 on February 26, 2016, 12:44 PM

Quote from: Monk_Wally_Honk on February 26, 2016, 12:36 PM
Damn, need to hack facebook to see them.

some were from my web page - http://www.kdw712.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/otcycles.html

Lads you must take a look at this link ... It's old school BMX heaven !!!!

Cheers dude ..... Imagine if there was still some NOS Sharp stuff still lurking eh?

Monk_Wally_Honk · « **Reply #17 on:** February 26, 2016, 12:59 PM »

Cheers for that. i can see it looking up that overgrown driveway, I remember a parking area too.

SO many memories.

kdw712 · « **Reply #18 on:** February 26, 2016, 01:11 PM »

I can remb going to the Mongoose demo, ruffell and march giving it large, was so fecking cool

ORANGEZIPPY · « **Reply #19 on:** February 26, 2016, 03:01 PM »

I remember the Rider demo also, and quite a few visits on a saturday dreaming of which bike I would pick if I had the chance.
I think my silver streak came from the East Hill shop.
Great Photos, took me right back.

Retrodan72 · « **Reply #20 on:** February 26, 2016, 04:44 PM »

I went on Street View, and looked up where Sharp's were located, using the address at the bottom of the advert.

It's now a Florists shop. I dare someone to phone them up, and ask them if they have any old boxes of BMX parts knocking about in any of those upstairs rooms.

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Author Topic: Sharp Grips (Read 2891 times)

griff