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Just recently changed from a 2008 Kona Hoss (almost factory spec) to a 2008 Marin Wolf Ridge (quite mod'ed). Feels great with the funky full sus and all, but the handlebars are enormous.
The Hoss had FSA XC280B OS Riser's and felt adequate for control but not scarily wide when going between trees on the forest tracks. The Wolf's are massive.
Questions:
a) Does anyone know where to find the width of handlebars? I'm failing on Google to find the FSA's (so much for my geek status).
b) What length do you use? (Highly subjective I know)
I'm afraid that with current the handlebars on the Wolf you can expect to hear about a face plant on a forest trail in the near future.
Thanks in advance!
Just measure them.
760mm Nukeproofs here.
710mm on the smaller bike.
Wide bars rock
a) tape measure
b) which ones? the largest are 715mm and I'd normally go for anything above 680mm on a mtb
Wouldn't go under 685mm now. Have some 710mm Salsa bars and they are about the max I would go for my riding.
I believe mine are 700mm. That felt awfully wide for a while, although I've got used to it.
If they're too long you can always saw a bit off the end. But you can't stick it back on again, so don't go nuts. 🙂
710 FTW
737mm Sunlines for me, felt too wide at first after using 660mm bars for over 10 years, but I wouldn't go narrower again now.
Rigid- 495mm
Race bike- 585mm
Risers- 650mm
I only feel inadequate here. 😉
I've given up on commercially available bars, and had my local chippy turn up a 32 inch piece of yew with a 31.8mm central clamp area, and then steam bent with a 2 inch rise. Works out at about 760mm once the bend has taken out a bit of width. It's clamped in the stem so that the compressible heartwood is aligned to absorb shocks from the trail.
It gives fantastic control, and the shock absorption of the yew is buttery smooth, but unfortunately you need to be built like Michael Phelps to ride my bike.
Barflation and Forkflation are just facts of life. A couple of years ago 660mm was the perfect width, then it was narrow and 680mm was perfect, now just saw in What Mountain Bike "The 680mm bars are too narrow for trail use".
I got some 710mms, they were too wide, put 680mm back on, they're the right length. Everyone's different shapes.
wooden handlebars 😆
I use a telescope.
Carbon, of course.
660 feels just right for me - and just about fits through the styals so I don't have to get off!
785mm atlas fr of course