Handle bar length?

[juggie]

Can you tell me what the correct handle bar length should be?

 

I have a 640mm bar with end levers and feel that is too long.

 

 

[stewie911]

Depends on the type of riding and shoulder width and preference.

 

Downhill, trails etc have wider handlebars for better control, while xc bars are not as wide.

 

I rode my handlebars at normal length for a year and recently shortended them by about 40mm and it feels a lot more comfortable.

 

If you think that they're too wide then cut them shorter. Mine is 640mm at the moment, but I can go even shorter and I have kinda broad shoulders.

[juggie]

So do you think they should be the width of your shoulders?

[stewie911]

Maybe a bit wider than your shoulders, because you want your chest to be open to breath easy.

I would say make them a bit shorter each time and go for test ride and continue this untill you feel comfortable.

 

Just my opinion.

[Wernervdmerwe]

 

Downhill' date=' trails etc have wider handlebars for better control, while xc bars are not as wide.

 

[/quote']

 

Why is that though? I know longer bar would result in a smaller movement having a greater effect due to leverage, but is that not then counter-effective?

Wernervdmerwe2009-12-06 08:41:32

[stewie911]

smaller movement won't have a greater effect. It's the other way around.

The same movement would result in a smaller turning angle.

This gives you more control. Imagine riding a downhill with your hands at the stem. It will be very difficult keeping your lines.

[droo]

Also more leverage for slack head angles, which can be useful. Have needed to haul pretty hard on my bars before today to keep a line in roughness - my 710's helped a heap there.

[techguy]

The wider the better, I'm riding 680mm bars on my XC bike, nothing better, but there is no "correct" bar width its personal...

[Borriz]

it all comes down to setup. My recommendation is to also experiment with stem lenght. The wider you go, the shorter stem you might want to evaluate. Works like a triangle. I'm just thinking that if you go to wide and to long then you might end up with shoulder pain on long rides.

 

I wasn't comfortable with 710, 680 or 640 and been riding 580mm flat bar with 110 to 100 mm stem for last 4 years.

 

Its all preference at the end.

[juggie]

Thanks all

[Hairy]

Move the grips inward first before you cut the bars as once you have cut you Can't go back again!

[Bike Mob]

a quick easy way to test is to drop and do 20 push ups... maybe 5 if you are unfit...then while you're down there measure (or have someone help you measure) the outside of where you put your hands naturally.

 

That will give you a fair idea. add 20 mm or so if you want bar ends.

 

[juggie]

Hairy//Tarmac--Thanks didnt think of that, will try

[cat-i]

wide handlebars have lots of space for gadgets

 

the trance came with wiiide handlebars. wanted to have them cut but a friend suggested i ride with them for a while and cut after 2 months. I love them now - i can force the bike in the direction i want to go far easier than i can the hardtail. the geometry might have something to do with it, though.

 

at 24 hrs, the first forest-lap was a bit scary (almost touched tree trunks a few times) but got used to that quite quickly and on later laps i wondered why it bothered me.

 

 

[patham]

I actually took a hacksaw to the 24 hrs in case I needed to cut my bars down to size. First lap in the forest was a good motivating factor for the emergency surgery, but the storm overtook events somewhat. My bars are 720mm with the ends, wide in any event, but with my small shoulder frame I think its right to saw off 1/2cm at a time or so.

[Racer X]

Like Techguy put it, its personal. I went from a 600 mm flat bar to a 685 mm wide, low rise, riser bar. Will never go back to a flat bar. The width of my Easton gives me much more confidence on rocky technical terrain and I find climbing up rooty rocky easier due to the increased leverage. Again its personal.