Carbon MTB Handlebars

[428 others]

Hi Hubbers,

 

How strong and reliable are carbon MTB handlebars? Is it possible to snap them in normal XC and marathon races eg Nissan series.

[Lukep]

If you take a big enough fall you can snap/bend ali bars.

I ride with carbon bars and have taken a few falls and my bars are 100%, I think it more about what bars you buy I.E a reputable brand.

[Greg29]

I've seen two carbon bars fail with dire results. They may be light (and strong) but for the sake of a few 100 grams (if that) I'd stick with good old aluminium. JMO.

[428 others]

Thanks Greg, that's what I'm afraid of...

[Darryl O]

If you want carbon, Syntace is the product I would suggest. (I am VERY biased though)

 

CUBE, Specialised, Cannondale all use their products. (Although not always branded as Syntace)

 

http://syntace.com/index.cfm?pid=1&pk=1405

[Li Mu Bai]

No issues with my carbon bars over 5 years of riding and many races. No matter what you have, a good fall will break anything.

Carbon absorbs trail chatter nicely, not as hard on the hands as alum.

Also care needs to be taken with attaching bar ends to a carbon bar, make sure you have the correct stoppers (alum bar end plugs) inside, and dont over tighten them, or CRUSH...

Edited September 12, 2012 by Li Mu Bai

[patches]

or... if you go big spender, have a look at the Enve carbon bars.

 

DH world champs was won on a set of Enve carbons

[Iron]

on any bars all I can say is this .

 

Torque wrench !

 

don't over tighten them .

Edited September 12, 2012 by Iron

[kosmonooit]

I've had some Truvativ bars now for over 2 years on Scalpel, and taken some big tumbles into rock gardens etc. Brake levers bent but the bars have been fine. 100% confidence, at least at my level.

[Stewart69uk]

I Put a Momsen Carbon Handle bar on my bike seems to be great, done a few hard rides with it and it seems perfectly strong enough. then again (touch wood) I try not to fall off my bike

[Peewee1]

You guys are forgetting about Ritchey http://cart.cyclecraftsg.com/images/ritchey_superlogic_fb.jpg

[428 others]

No issues with my carbon bars over 5 years of riding and many races. No matter what you have, a good fall will break anything.

Carbon absorbs trail chatter nicely, not as hard on the hands as alum.

Also care needs to be taken with attaching bar ends to a carbon bar, make sure you have the correct stoppers (alum bar end plugs) inside, and dont over tighten them, or CRUSH...

 

That's exactly why I'm looking into getting carbon! Thanks for the reply's guys!

Edited September 12, 2012 by Scottondale

[MTBer wannabee]

Dont buy cheap.

[patches]

buy cheap and eat stem!

[rouxtjie]

buy cheap and eat stem!

hehehehheh, I love the taste of ENVE carbon, njom njom njom njom

[rouxtjie]

I've had some Truvativ bars now for over 2 years on Scalpel, and taken some big tumbles into rock gardens etc. Brake levers bent but the bars have been fine. 100% confidence, at least at my level.

+1 noir carbon bars...tough