[Closed] Wide bars

you'll hit more trees.

Might do. People talk about leverage, personally I think that's bobbins, unless you have arms like twiglets you don't need that much leverage.

But it does make a difference for me with riding position, wider bars settle me weight forward, elbows up and out, etc, which is something I can do with narrower bars but it makes it the more natural position so it happens without thinking if you know what I mean?

I've gradually crept up, 710-ish really feels best to me but I borrowed a set of 745s recently and though they feel kind of awkward, I seem to ride better with them.

I had 685mm bars because thats what standard size was, currently on 780 for normal trail riding but I have reasonably wide shoulders. Have a go on someone's bike who has something wider.

Not sold on the leverage thing but it's just a lot more comfortable.

it wasn't that long ago that 685mm was the widest you could get (easily) & the length I alway choose when getting bar (& was looked down upon by my 'XC' m8's). So I moved up to 710mm (or 720mm) when I needed my last set of bars & am really happy with them, but as above it was for comfort not leverage. Again I could probably happily use up to 740 but think it's just a bit silly after that, but really they wouldn't work in the local woods (as per Jam bo)

My bike came with 780 bars, thought they were silly at first

now I think they are great! ended up cutting them down to 760 as I found I wasnt using the last CM or so, but now anything narrower feels wrong

keeps you weight over the front better than narrower bars= more confidence and grip in corners

I've got 760's but i've got long arms so it feels a nice width. My stem is a little short though at 50mm so i need to replace that with something a bit longer.
And yes i have hit a few more trees here and there

just gone back to 685 (with the grips overhanging a bit) - seems fine to me. previously had 710's, 720's and some 760's on the long travel bike.

the 760's are great but i cant ride some trails i like flat out because of tight trees

the 685's mean the local gorse lined singletrack is now possible at speed without receiving sevear maiming - which is great.

will probably go back wider and attack the gorse one evening with some shears.

Went down the short stem wide bar route, tbh just to try as it was being hyped from all sides. If I'm honest I prefer slightly narrower bars and longer stem, just haven't got round to swapping back. 680mm bars are about perfect for me with a 80/90mm stem rather than the 760/50mm combo I have on at the minute.

worth noting that Im on a nuskool (tm) bike with a long front centre designed around a 40mm stem

joolsburger - Member

Old fashioned person that I am I have a set of 685mm bars is going to 720 /750 going to really make any difference to my riding and if so what?

you'll definitely notice the difference.

you may like it, you may not.

if you like it, great. thank the bike industry for providing you with choice.

if you don't like it, lucky you! - the world is full of cheap 680mm bars.

personally, i'd give up rear suspension before i gave up 740mm bars.

I'm on 760 bars with 35mm stem I like it, the leverage you have allows you straighten the front wheel in ways that make you think did I really not crash then?

There's a few factors imo; shoulder -width it one, the trails you ride on another and preference.

Width is def an advantage tho when descending, especially techinal descents as it spreads your weight more evenly across your bike (think a tightrope-walkers balance-stick thingy) and you're there.

I've got some Nukeproof Warhead's cut to 720mm going if you're interested...

I have 800mm ENVE DH bars, and was going to cut them down, but I thought I'd try them first and loved them at 800 wide. Yes, you're certainly aware of trees, and friends take great delight in taking you down narrow trails. However, I think they're worth it, as I feel I have more control on the downs, and also on slower tight tracks. I am fairly broad across the shoulders though - not sure if that has any impact.

Yep.. went from 680 - 711 on my stanton.. then to 750

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Certainly felt a lot better and i love them now. No going back

750 on my bikes. Works for me. I can steer.

750mm here, on fs and hardtail. Love them. Bike feels so much better when 'attacking' the downs.
Couldn't go back now and I even get through 'those two trees' at Cannock with no problems (though sometimes close my eyes until it's over..)

This guy loves his 760's

I've always been a solid 685 man.
then went 780 on the gravity bike but quickly cut them down to about 720 which is about right.
Still on 685 on two other MTBs though.

for me it's about stability on fast, loose, bumpy descents.
there are too many trees on my usual rides for wide bars.

785 on my trail bike, 75- on the hardtail, 800 on the DH. Every time I've gone wider Ive thought "this is ridiculous" for one ride and then not gone back

it wouldn't seem quite so ridiculous if the numbers were quoted in cm or even inches. going from 685 to 785 is a massive 100mm, or only 2 inches either side.

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I've recently gone to 710mm on my XC race bike. They felt weird at first, but feel good now, not planning on changing back.

I rode some old 540mm bars on one of my bikes recently, felt like a death trap!

@Rusty, I'll see your Mr Endurotickle and raise you a

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