Which handlebar for mountain bike

You often have a bar with cut lines that already tell you where to cut down in 5mm increments on each side. Something you might find interesting is how wide most EWS enduro and World Cup downhill pros ride, and it's probably more narrow than you think. Often it's rare to find a pro running a full mm wide handlebar and even mm is rare.

I would say mm wide is the average. But there are plenty of pros who ride mm, and some even mm wide, and they are much faster than I could ever dream to be. So experiment a bit, take those factors into account and find what works best for you as it will very well be different from your buddy. Over the last couple of years, we have seen the industry pushing more 35mm clamp diameter handlebars and stems over the classic The two different standards certainly have tradeoffs. Keep in mind that more stiffness isn't always the right answer!

Having a handlebar and stem combination that is also compliant to the vibration of the trail is important. The 35mm diameter handlebars, when done correctly, can actually be lighter than their On the contrary, it is possible that the two handlebars could be the same weight, one being stiffer than the other. In the end there are a lot of variables that come into play with new mountain bike "standards" and everyone has their own preference as to what works and what doesn't.

OneUp Components have taken a different approach to 35mm handlebars. We did a video comparing some different 35mm handlebars to see if we can really feel the difference in what OneUp has tried to do by adding in a patented shape to allow for more wanted flex but none of the unwanted flex. While there is no cut and dry handbook on which handlebars you should run on which bike, here are some guidelines that will hopefully steer you in the right direction.

Everyone has their own bar width preference as well, but a good rule of thumb is the more aggressive the bike, the wider the handlebars should be. Keep in mind your personal factors that were mentioned above.

But then between my light trail bike and enduro bike I run different rise bars. On the trail bike I run a mm rise bar, depending on the brand I choose to run. For the enduro bike I run a 35mm handlebar, reason being that I like to try and get my correct handlebar height from the rise in the bar and not the stack under the stem. The goal for the new OneUp Carbon Handlebars was to make the best feeling bar possible, something which would let you ride harder for longer.

The solution is OneUp's patent pending oval shape which combines the best ride characteristics of It's strong, lightweight, minimizes arm pump and vibration, and maximizes steering response. The OneUp bar profile minimizes the length of the 35 diameter clamping area as this is the stiffest portion of any 35 diameter bar.

The 35mm clamp diameter quickly changes to a flattened, oval shape in the transition zone and then to a standard Enve designed the M6 handlebar to be a lightweight and expertly tuned carbon fiber bar for trail riding. Enve claims that the M6 handlebar is a dream combination of responsiveness, compliance and high strength.

At the level of the handle and controls, the diameter of the MTB handlebar is universal and will never cause any problems. The width of the handlebar, from end to end, often depends on the bike used and the discipline practiced.

A handlebar that's larger in 29' than in 26' is preferable in order to facilitate the larger wheel's handling, which in turn has more inertia. A 'Riser' , a rise , which is very common in DH, allows to raise your handlebar to rebalance your weight to the rear. The more you increase the lift, the more you get a manoeuvrable, agile and precise downhill bike to the detriment of the rising parts which will cause the front wheel to lift itself up and the loss of control of the bike, should the percentage become too high.

Each handlebar from each brand is subjected to wear resistance tests in laboratories in order to pass CE standards and to ensure you maximum safety in the long term.

After a big fall, it's strongly advised to change your handlebar to avoid an unfortunate break: it could be damaged and jeopardise its wear resistance without it being visible to the naked eye. Customer service. About us. Top categories. Jon Allyn : Stability is the main driver for my bar width choice. Anything that can help your confidence on the downhills is what I'm after.

Other factors such as rise and backsweep come into play next which can really help dial in your comfort, or body positioning while riding. Dillon Lemarr : I think about the long term feeling of a bar. A certain bar might feel good for an hour or so, but how it feels after a full day and numerous hours on the bike is what I look at. The handlebar plays a huge role in that with proper width, back sweep, and rise. Pat Smage : I prioritize riding position so I can be comfortable on long rides.

Wider bars seem to provide more leverage, balance, and stability but there is a limit depending on your height and style. Jon Allyn : Don't be afraid to try different bar widths. You should be able to tell after 1 or 2 rides if the bar width change was an improvement or not. I thought for the longest time mm bars were perfect for me, then I tried both mm and mm bars and realized how much more stable I felt with that extra bar width.

Little changes like this can have big impacts on your riding confidence. Porsha Murdock : I typically put the bars on without brake levers or grips and grab the bars to see where I would naturally hold on. Dillon Lemarr : It may take a little time to find what you really like, so I suggest buying a wider bar and cutting it down as needed. If you feel you need to go shorter then you can always cut them down little by little. Remember, you can always cut the bar down shorter, but you can't put the width back on the bar.

Pat Smage : Start a bit wide and make small adjustments until you find what feels right. If you have questions regarding the article above, or any of our products, please reach out to our Customer Service team at info pnwcomponents. Shop All. PNW Refurbished. Viewed from the front of the bike, you will see the ends of the bar sit typically around 5 degrees from horizontal. Backsweep measures how much the bar swings back from being perpendicular to the stem and is measured in degrees.

More sweep mimics the effect of a shorter stem and changes wrist angle. While changing width makes the most obvious difference in terms of handling and fit, bar shape can also affect steering and comfort. The amount of backsweep changes where your hands are in relation to the steering axis and, in turn, how roomy the cockpit of your bike feels and the position of your upper body on the bike.

More backsweep has a similar effect to fitting a shorter stem and the wider the bar, the further back that sweep will bring your hands.

A bar with less backsweep will lengthen your effective stem length. Unless, of course, you do want to alter the position of your body on the bike. However, you may find yourself more likely to slide out in corners or loop out on climbs.

A lower, flatter bar will put you in a more aggressive attack position with your weight further over the front wheel, which can help quicken turning and lead to less understeer. On the other hand, it might also make it harder to lift the bike over any obstacles on the trail and lead to greater arm fatigue on steeper terrain. Backsweep and upsweep angles also change the position of your wrists, and what feels great for one rider may feel awkward for another. Mountain bike handlebars are available in only one diameter at the grips: That means you can chop and change grips as you please.

However, clamp diameter can be either The mountain bike industry has been gravitating towards 35mm, particularly on downhill and enduro bikes, but A handlebar with a 35mm diameter can be stiffer than a However, sometimes a more forgiving bar can increase comfort. Mountain bike handlebars tend to be made from either aluminium or carbon fibre. Carbon fibre handlebars have a few advantages over aluminium bars. The flexibility in how carbon fibre can be layered up means a carbon bar can, in the right hands, do a better job of absorbing vibrations, helping to reduce fatigue in your arms.

Carbon fibre bars also tend to weigh less, making them a good choice for riders where weight is a real concern. The significant downside to carbon fibre bars is the cost. They are also liable to being less durable when it comes to impacts. While width, sweep and rise can all be influenced by personal preference, here are some general guidelines according to riding discipline.

This will help put you in a better position for climbing. Some XC bikes have integrated cockpits, combining the handlebar and stem in one unit — a trend borrowed from the latest aero road bikes. These days, cross-country handlebars typically start around mm wide and rise to around mm on the rowdiest downcountry -adjacent XC bikes.