All bikes I've purchased myself in adulthood (2! I used to ride my Dad's 90s Ti Raleigh in uni, but since moved to this side of the world) have been co-op bangers. I replaced parts that needed replacing, but if the seat didn't hurt, the casette had life in it, I just used them as is for thousands of kms.

With all the excess project time at the moment, I'm tinkering with my current bike a bit more. Most of it is in good enough shape (I have plans to convert the drivetrain, but for now those components are functional, and should have a couple of years left in them..) - but the saddle and grips need replacing.

Having always just used what I had, how does one decide what makes one set of grips £70 and another $7? What sets them apart? What do I look for (other than the right handlebar size and a colour I like )?

I use gloves on any long rides, so i'm unsure just how much care to really give grips.. but looking at the hundreds of options online I start to feel as if I'm being a bit simplistic in my approach to grips

And, my current bar ends annoy me for being a bit thin, and really cold (even with gloves) - should I look into taping them, or will forcing grips on work there too?

I think grips are like saddles in as much as what works for someone might not work for you. I've got fairly small hands, so thickness / size tends to be something I always think about first. I don't like lock-on grips as I find the clamps can become cold in winter. I also tend to ride / climb with my palms resting on the outside of the grip so usually look for something with a 'sealed end'.

Very much a personal choice.

I found out that I was really more comfortable with a slightly swept bar and that Ergon GE1s add a couple of degrees of added sweep so have almost standardised on those.

I've just refitted some barends to 9ne of my bikes and remembered that I really liked them. They are Cane Creek Ergos and are rubber coated.

I dont understand why folk care so much about the tube of standard size with a something not quite as hard as the metal [ or carbon] bar covering it.
I have used all sorts and i could hold on to them all and not really sure what can go wrong - foam and har spray is the lightest

I like ergo grips personally - though not on the SS as you cannot grip for thrutching uphill with ergo grips[ the chinese ebay set are clearly inferior but seem to be lasting as the price of ergo ones now is trully shocking]

Price wise i doubt there is anything worth paying for
I think I am more like you [less fussy different saddle on all 7 bikes etc]in that i once bought a bike and just did a 200 miler on it without bothering to do much more than go yes fit is fine - think i swapped the stem from 120 to 90 mm iirc [ road bike mind]
i know folk who would still be messing around with reach and saddles and bar angles and other "fit" to make it perfect

Bar ends I have used all sorts from cheap to also cheap - not sure what to say if it long enough for your hand to grip it then its good enough the ones on the SS are proper retro jobbies ! I have used straight and angled and right now could not say what is currently on the SS or the Genesis without looking
YMMV

I like ODI longneck. Cheap, comfy, don't slip.
And come in loads of colours

Cheers folks. Aimed for something seemingly suitable for my hand size, had positive reviews online and was only a tenner (and mentioned consistently in these kinds of threads that I dug up on other forums) - some of the ODI longnecks. Cheers gang