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Mtb Handlebar sizing


WikusTri

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Posted

Hi i recently got a mtb and need to size my handlebar its currently at 73cm width. Been looking online for ways to size them and the only thing i find is the pushup method. When i do this the width is 64cm. Is this accurate or is there another way to do this.

 

Thanks in Advance

Posted

Just ride them at that width and if you start feeling like they're too wide (you shouldn't), then before you cut them just move the grips and cockpit stuff inboard by a centimeter at a time each end and make sure you're more comfortable and confident, then do final cut. I would leave them at 730 though that's a pretty great width for most riders, too narrow for a lot more...

Posted

I wouldn't go narrower than that. I ride 800mm which I bought with the idea to cut down to "my" length. The roomy cockpit and better handling made me keep it at 800mm. I remember when I started out with 680mm, I felt this was ok and better between trees etc. But once I started tackling more technical terrain I soon saw the benefits of the wider handlebars. Don't go narrower. Rather shorten the stem. What bike is it BTW?

Posted

Ride what feels comfortable - push up method or any other method is rubbish.

 

1. Wider bar + short stem = better handling but compromise in climbs because of weight being further back - Generally found on trail and gravity oriented bikes.

2. narrower bar + longer stem = better climbing, but compromise in handling - generally found on XC bikes

3. Narrow bar + short stem = very twitchy handling

4. Wide bar + long stem = steering like a bus

 

I ride 810mm bars and 50mm stem on my Enduro bike, and 760mm bars and 75mm stem on my XC bike.

 

Most XC bikes are coming out with 720mm bars these days - seems to be the narrowest modern bikes come out with. Trail bikes are coming standard with 760mm bars.

 

Don't cut yet, ride for a while and if you need to remove some width do so a little bit at a time until comfortable - you can always make the bar norrower, but once you have cut it you cannot wider again.

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