Cam Zink’s Sensus brand have partnered with 21 year old Emil Johansson to develop his very own dream handlebar grip; the EM.J Signature Grip. As the direct point of contact with the bike, Emil considers grips to be one of the most important components of a bike. No surprise then that this Red Bull freerider is a very fussy customer.
Sensus EM.J Signature Grip
Though EM.J is Emil Johansson’s nickname on the slopestyle scene, the name allegedly pays homage to one of the greatest basketball players of all time, Michael Jordan. Sensus say the name is fitting for a young rider who is set to, as Michael Jordan did, go on to dominate in his chosen sport.
So, what about the EM.J grip? It’s a single-ply grip, meaning it slides directly onto the bar with no plastic sleeve between the rubber and bar. Many BMX and DH riders prefer this style of grip for its vibration damping properties and improved feel.
With no lock-on clamp, that would surely leave the grip at risk of rotating on the bar, right? To combat this, Sensus have reduced the inner diameter of the EM.J grip to create a super tight fit that will resist rotational torque.
Emil wanted a grip that would be comfortable enough for riding all day but tough enough to handle big G landings. In response to this request, Sensus have created a grip pattern that is an inversion of the Crush pattern seen on their Swayze grip. Tighter gaps and thicker waves are said to deliver a denser feel in the hand while keeping the rubber extra soft for small bump damping.
The 150mm EM.J grip has a 32mm outside diameter. Pre-cut lines at the end are useful guides to allow riders to cut them down to their preferred size; cut them down to 144mm, 137mm or 132mm.
While developing the EM.J grips, Sensus took the opportunity to update their bar-end plugs. These are now wider, for improved impact resistance. They are also chamfered to reduce the likelihood of the bar-end catching on the rider while they spin the bars mid-trick. Sensus also say the chamfer has the added benefit of being better at deflecting trees than the OG grip.
Cam Zink, founder and owner of Sensus says “Emil is in a league of his own. Creating this signature model to get Emil his dream grip, just the way I created my own dream grip 10 years ago, is going to speak for itself, making this the most sought-after single-ply grip on the market. It’s perfect.”
Pricing & Availability
The made-in-USA EM.J grip is available in Black or Gum Rubber colorways. Pick up a pair for $13.99.
