carbon bars - honestly

It depends on the bars. I've ridden some very compliant carbon bars, some very noodly ones and then there are the RaceFace 35s that are the stiffest thing ever.

like for like? same manufacturer and equivalent geo?

It's going to depend on how the carbon has been laid up, how thick it is, the taper etc. I don't think it can be assumed that something the same external shape/dimension will be behave in any particular way. A bit like saddles, you might only know once you've ridden them for a while.

The only carbon bar experience I have is with Renthal's own carbon bars and a Hope 35mm bar that I'm currently riding.

The extra couple of millimetres at the stem is - subjectively speaking from here on - the most profound difference in terms of stiffness that I've noticed in all the years that I've been running 780+ mm bars, either carbon or alloy. My bike originally arrived with a set of Specialized alloy bars with more backsweep than I'm used to, albeit at an 800mm width. TBH, I didn't get on with them at all so a bar/stem upgrade was top of my list.

I think that my carbon bars feel more compliant than my old alloy Renthals, but it's taken me a while to find a my ideal grip/glove interface.

To add, I'm running a similar front end to you - 30mm wide alloy rims with a 2.5" front tyre at around 20psi - albeit with Lyriks.

I could tell when I replaced a alloy bar with on on one knuckle ball chewie. That was on a 27.5+ bike with a 3" tyre @ 14psi.

I noticed a massive difference when I replaced my standard Cannondale alloy bars and stem with a shorter Easton stem and wider, higher rise Easton carbon bars. Everything felt much less harsh and more comfortable. Mind you I also replaced the standard grips with some big, chunky North Shores at the same time so that might have as much to do with it. Probably the combination of the lot, I'd imagine.

A few years back I was lucky enough to ride at Whistler, hired a bike that was slathered in XTR, Chris King etc. It had a Rental Fatbar carbon 35mm bar. It was so stiff, it literally dug a hole in my left hand over over 3 days of use, and the last day I had there was an exercise in pain management and I could barely hold the bar.  My current bike has a 35mm Chromag Fubar Carbon bar. Even on long chattery descents I barely get any trail buzz.

Not all carbon bars are built the same

Oneup best bars I've had.

I've run carbon bars since getting a set of Easton DH Monkeylite's back in 2009, and when the Renthal's first came out I bought a pair - hated them, just too stiff.

Went back other carbon bars (On One both Hard & Chewy) and very happy. Then moved on to Brand X 800mm's.

I bought a new bike late last year and it came with 35mm alloy bars. 4-5 hours in and my hands were battered, persevered and no better.

Replaced them with the Brand X carbon bars I'd been running on both FS and HT, back to comfy all-day riding.

Nukeproof Horizon carbon V1s are reasonably comfy (in high-rise, 31.8mm).

The V2s are supposed to be designed a bit more comfy still IIRC.

A friend was praising his OneUp carbon bars for comfort the other day.

I've had a oneup carbon bar for about 3 years now. It's decent, and at regular speeds its fine, but my alu Spank vibrocore bars are still better at the lairy end of things.

I bought some Nukeproof carbon bars with 38mm rise and it's made riding the hardtail a lot easier on the hands and arms.

I have just moved to a 12° backsweep alloy handlebar (SQLabs) and really liking the feel. They also do carbon versions but we're a bit spendy for my liking. Not missing the carbon so far, but will see once the trails are dry and as hard as concrete.

with a set of 36s and 29er 2.5 somethings at 20psi on a 30mm rim do they ‘really’ make a difference?

Probably not, perhaps put them on a rigid bike with <2" tyres at 35psi+ if you actually want to perceive the difference.

I still think there's better things than carbon bars to spend the money on, but if you've got the cash spare, and have already bought all the other trinkets then why not?

Depends which carbon bars don't it?

My Nukeproof ones were about £50 in one of the CRC's many sales.

Cheaper than a lot of alu bars.

On a more XC biased set up, then definitely, but thats with 100mm forks 25mm internal rims and 2.25" tyres at a typical 22psi, t difference is night and day from say an OE Scott or KTM alloy bar to something like Mt.Zoom or Prime Prima XC, given the choice I wouldn't have anything else.

I have a set of carbon bars.  I find the flex in them a bit disconcerting

with a set of 36s and 29er 2.5 somethings at 20psi on a 30mm rim do they ‘really’ make a difference?

I got a new bike - 38's (full teardown and setup), 29er, 2.5's at 22psi and my first bike with 35mm alu bars.

First few rides my hands were really uncomfortable on chatter. It was noticeably harsh.

Swapped to OneUp's and the best thing I can say is that I don't notice the bars at all, until I realised that I didn't feel any harshness. They just quietly do the job and are much better.

Not a direct like for like as your experience but the OneUps are far better than my previous bars.

I have just moved to a 12° backsweep alloy handlebar (SQLabs) and really liking the feel.

Ooh. I've been thinking about those for a while. I have 12 degree Ti bars on one bike and think they're ideal. A riser version should go well on my Occam

with a set of 36s and 29er 2.5 somethings at 20psi on a 30mm rim do they ‘really’ make a difference?

It's a bit like saying "why run 36's. you could just run a Maxxis DHF 4.8", it's not the same.

There's a difference between stiffness and damping.

A tyre is not stiff, and not damped.
A fork is stiff, but damped.
Handlebars are stiff and damp higher frequencies, but can also be less stiff (it's relative) and deflect at low frequencies (but will be less damped at hose frequencies as frequency is proportional to energy).
Carbon rims are just plain stiffer than alloy ones and feel very different, not sure anyone's really done much work on tuning them and spoke tension to alter feel/grip though but I'm sure it should be possible?

So yes, a few psi more/less in the fork or tyre will feel completely different to each other, a carbon (speaking generically) 35mm bar might feel more direct but absorb more vibration than an alloy 31.8mm bar which might not absorb vibration but will deflect more on larger impacts.

Personally I run a Stooge Moto Bar on a carbon FS bike, if anyone starts making 15deg sweep 30mm+ rise carbon bars I might consider them.

The other thing to note is the more bends in a bar the more they will flex all other things being equal

Ride feel aside, if you care about weight, carbon bars are a fairly good £ per gram saving.

I have just moved to a 12° backsweep alloy handlebar (SQLabs) and really liking the feel. They also do carbon versions but we’re a bit spendy for my liking. Not missing the carbon so far, but will see once the trails are dry and as hard as concrete.

I've got the same. I read reviews saying the carbon versions were stiffer and less comfortable. Comfort was what I was after, so I was happy to save the money. Liked them, solved some elbow pain issues, bought another set for another bike.

A mate tried my Signal to get a feel for the frame. He bought one for himself, and also the SQ Labs bars as well. 3 rise options, @scotroutes, but sounds like you're aware already. I'm tempted by the 16degree version for very long/multiday rides

I find the flex in them a bit disconcerting

Depends on whether that's a design choice or not? 😲

I like the Oneups. They are kind to my poor knackered wrists. Someone told me they were even better than the spank vibrocores they replaced and although I was a bit skeptical I have to say it's true. Big fan. Was not a bit fan of the race face ones I got with the Bird I owned. They were horrid.

Caveats - light rider (61kg) with aformentioned dodgy wrist.

It had a Rental Fatbar carbon 35mm bar. It was so stiff, it literally dug a hole in my left hand over over 3 days of use, and the last day I had there was an exercise in pain management and I could barely hold the bar. My current bike has a 35mm Chromag Fubar Carbon bar. Even on long chattery descents I barely get any trail buzz.

Not all carbon bars are built the same

Also my experience with a Rental 35mm Fatbar, though it might just be that rise / sweep doesn't suit me. Running a 35mm Pro (Shimano?) Carbon bar and don't get the sore arm issue. Seems strange to me as you'd assume that with 160+ mm travel in forks that bar compliance wouldn't make any difference but it definitely seems to though @thisisnotaspoon's post makes sense.

Been running One up carbon bars for a few years now. Hand on heart I couldn't tell any difference from the original alloy bars I replaced.

Like rev grips it's probably all psychosomatic

Lot of OneUp owners here, mostly really liking them. You can tell which posters are not sponsored 😉

@thisisnotaspoon the Whisky Milhouse bar if you have the funds and can get hold of one is close to the Stooge bar numbers but in carbon

https://whiskyparts.co/handlebars/milhouse-bar#/

Yea I've seen those before, and they do look very nice. I live in eternal optimism that the mainstream will catch up and start making wide bars with a decent amount of rise and sweep, but not holding my breath.

I had Nukeproof V1 Horizon carbon bars on my previous Mega - took some of the chatter out.
Just about to put Hope carbon bars on my new one - will see how they compare.....

Fast travel over hardpack I can 100% feel a positive benefit. On OneUp bars, I also can’t feel any bend toward the saddle when travelling fast downhill. This makes them a win for me.

For road and gravel they’re just universally better. To me, who also gets cold hands, they also seem warmer…or at least there’s less heat transfer through the tape to my hands.

with a set of 36s and 29er 2.5 somethings at 20psi on a 30mm rim do they ‘really’ make a difference?

yes, i definitely noticed a difference between riding the stock alloy bars on my new (at the time) bike and fitting some one up carbon bars when they arrived. granted the stock bars were specialized oem bars which were horribly stiff, but my wrist pain pretty much disappeared when the carbon bars were fitted

Didn’t Renthal make an effort to get their Carbon and 35mm bars to feel the same as the original Fatbar? Which sort of defeated ri point of changing.

The only carbon bars I’ve tried were RaceFace and they were too stiff. But then RF bats had a rep for being stiff.

I’ve never ridden a set of 35mm bars that have been compliant or comfortable.

Yep, depends hugely on the bars. Like, I have a set of Crank Bros ones that are like rubber, you can literally see them bend as you weight them, they're absolutely perfect on the fatbike but would be horrendous on anything else. Had some Enves back when Enve were the brand and tbf they were absolute shit, so stiff they were orrible. You can do clever things with alu too as some brands demonstrate but it's harder.

Shape's most important I reckon, then... buzz and shock transmissioneyness, whatever we can call that. Nukeproof v2 carbon are good allround.

My current bike has has 35mm alloy bars. It’s never felt as comfy over bumps as I hoped it would. I really should try some thinner bars

To me it seems obvious that bars should make a difference. They are a long thin unsupported tube. They must bend when you hit a bump. I think must should be able to respond at a much higher frequency than a fork, as they are much stiffer

I think the logic is, you can use the 35mm to make a lighter bar for equivalent strength, and then you can use that to put in the characteristics you want. But in practice it just doesn't seem to have worked, it's proved to be a dead-horse standard that only OEMs really use and so most of the products are just "how can we get something that looks nice for a very low price so that bike companies will buy 10000 of them". And meanwhile some people do want super-stiff products, and others can be marketed to that way.

The trick of carbon is that you can pretty much make it do anything you want,if you know how. Which makes it a kinda awkward thing to buy as a customer, especially since the marketing man and the designer aren't necessarily on the same page or even continent.

Just fitted the Cannondale Hollogram 35mm 800mm 30mm (£40! from Merlin). They are replacing Vertik alu bars and there is a subtle difference, a sort of slight cushioning effect that cuts down the "trail buzz" sorry for the cliche !

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I’m tempted by the 16degree version for very long/multiday rides

i have 12 and 16° sqlab 30x. i prefer the 16, but the 12 are still more comfortable than easton’s i was using previously. for almost 30 years i was after a bar with more sweep than 9°. i could never find the ritchy bars with the bigger back sweep in the olden days.

as for carbon bars, had some easton ones about 15 years ago. i found them too harsh

The £30 ish depending on sale prices. Selcof bar off px has a bit of flex but comfy 🙂

Likely a knuckleball chewey with different decals 🤷‍♂️