Handlebar Width/Length

[Mohs]

Wider bars also opens the lungs...If you have lock-on grips you can always shift them a few mm over the edge...that's a cheap way of going from 760 to near 780

[enduroist]

I went from 680 to 720 on my Stumpjumper and its +3 for climbing +5 for control and stability however due to same stem jumping ability has suffered so -3 there and everytime I land and I have to work hard not to go OTB. this will be sorted once I get the correct stem about 60mm or 70mm from 90mm.

[Grease_Monkey]

Problem is it's a 100mm hardtail and not a trail bike so I feel going too wide will be overkill. My main concern at this point is flat vs the bar with upsweep and stem length.

True... not the same at all. On my XC I find 720mm with an 80mm -7° rise stem works. All about where you want your weight on the bike.

 

But the same applies, buy a bar that is too wide and work your way in. And when you do test a width do it over a propper ride or 2 instead of 10mins around the block. Any change in setup will initially feel wrong - takes a while to gwt used to.

[Kom]

I bought myself the rapide 780 expecting to cut it down to around 760. I never did and I've been very happy with the change. The thing is if you go wide bars you must go short stem too. They go hand in hand. Also expect to be a little freaked out at first. I took a few rides to get used to things but once I did I felt so much more confident. You have to persevere though as it feels twitchy at first but basically its like power steering, inputs you make are amplified (so you have to concentrate) but stuff the trail throws at you like rocks and ruts are diminished in terms of their ability to throw you off line. It makes a huge difference. I was shocked.

Is this not more trail and enduro based advice? I've noticed almost the opposite on the xco scene.

[Grease_Monkey]

Is this not more trail and enduro based advice? I've noticed almost the opposite on the xco scene.

Yes - it is more trail/enduro. You will hardly ever see any XC bike with a bar wider than 720mm and a stem shorter than 80mm. Trail/enduro - weight back, all about handling and descending, XC - all about power and climbing ability. Cockpit setup should reflect your priority.

 

But that said XC setups of today are still much wider than 5 years ago.

[Jewbacca]

Problem is it's a 100mm hardtail and not a trail bike so I feel going too wide will be overkill. My main concern at this point is flat vs the bar with upsweep and stem length.

Dude, I ride all my mountain bikes with 780mm bars. That is a fully rigid SS, 100mm hardtail and trail bike. (The trail hardtail has been sold and also had 780mm bars on.). On my AR bike I give myself hand options like bar ends and bar ends inside my grips. It's not very 'cool' but being comfy is cool, so pffffft..

 

60mm stem is my longest and a 40mm stem on the tranny.

 

I haven't run handlebars on any bike narrower that 760 since 2009. 

 

If you get wider bars and feel they are 'too wide' then cut 5mm off each end until you find your sweet spot.

 

OR, if you are unconvinced, don't feel confident and enjoy what you're riding now, don't change anything. 

[Tatt]

The Camber deserves a shorter stem and wider bars - if you wanted to be a race snake you would have bought an Epic...

 

I run a 785mm Race Face SixC 19mm riser bar on a 50mm stem on my bike. Love the short stem - wide arm position, but it does have drawbacks for climbing steep stuff (front is very light) and in forests you occasionally *** yourself when the trees are close.. But the positives are the very relaxed position and handling is superb.

 

My temporary bike this weekend is a GT with a 700mm bar on a 70mm stem. It feels absolutely awful, my arms don't feel comfortable, and handling sketchy.

 

Tom 

[Chris NewbyFraser]

Alwats felt my Camber 72cm with 8cm stem was too wide (even though I have wide shoulders at a height of 1.7. Found a 70cm was better as an all round solution. Just dropped my Giant xtc from 69 to 64 and my control thru tight single track is much improved. I am not convinced that very wide bars are of much value to the average rider.

[Chris NewbyFraser]

Wider bars also opens the lungs...If you have lock-on grips you can always shift them a few mm over the edge...that's a cheap way of going from 760 to near 780

if wide bars improve breathing, why do the world very best road riders stay with 42cm bars?

['Kaze Pete]

if wide bars improve breathing, why do the world very best road riders stay with 42cm bars?

Bar width is a function of shoulder width. With 42cm being the 'norm', maybe that is the sweet spot for normal width shoulders?

 

I ride 44cm on my road bike, and my SS has 700mm bars, which could be a bit wider to be honest.

 

The road bike was measured and set up by Bikefit, and the SS has bars in the colour I like, at the width I could get - with my previous MTB having a very narrow straight bar XC type setup.

[Grease_Monkey]

The Camber deserves a shorter stem and wider bars - if you wanted to be a race snake you would have bought an Epic...

 

Tom

Depends what you use it for. My Camber is my XC bike (Stumpy is my trail bike). I don't disagree that it's great with a short stem and wide bar, but it's also great with a long stem and narrower bar - very versatile. I once heard it described as a trail rider's XC bike - very apt description IMO.

[Mohs]

if wide bars improve breathing, why do the world very best road riders stay with 42cm bars?

cause we are not as fit as those basters....point taken. I need every bit of help I can get, even if its imaginary or not.

[ABrooks]

Thanks for all the replies and inputs from everyone. I think I'm going to go with the 780mm bars and test them at different widths. I think I would benefit more from the wider bars for stability when going down as opposed to the narrower 720mm bars.

 

 

Should I go with a 60mm or 70mm stem? At the moment I have a 680 wide bar with a 100mm stem. 

[enduroist]

I used this article as a guide when changing mine. I am still looking for a suitable stem though

 

https://www.rapide.co.za/short-stems-wide-bars/

[Two-Stroke]

Is it always necessary to reduce stem length with an increased bar width?  I know the common advice is "go wide on the bars and short on the stem".

 

Recent bike fit showed that I'm on the upper limit of my frame size and can't go any shorter on the stem.  Am considering replacing the OEM 750mm riser bar with a 780mm bar with less rise, but shortening the stem isn't an option.  Bike is a Spez Camber.

 

Is there a downside to only increasing bar width while leaving stem unchanged?

[Captain Fastbastard Mayhem]

you'll be fine. What is "can't go any shorter"? Where are you at now?