handlebar and stem length?

jonzy75
jonzy75 Posts: 18
edited May 2008 in MTB buying advice
A very handy forum....i have a new orange 5 and recently read and i feel from riding it, it would benefit from a slightly longer set of handlebars The supercross handlebars are 650mm in length but what would be a good length to improve the handling, without being stupidly long??

I'm sure the stem is pretty good as it is made by orange i'm sure, is it worth changing it?

Comments

  • The Spiderman
    The Spiderman Posts: 5,625
    With bars,much over 660,gets a bit difficult negotiating trees!

    Are you happy with the stem? Longer stems puts more weight over the front wheel,and better for climbing,shorter aids steering response.

    Whatever you change,do it one at a time,so you can measure if its better,or not.
    2006 Giant XTC
    2010 Giant Defy Advanced
    2016 Boardman Pro 29er
    2016 Pinnacle Lithium 4
    2017 Canondale Supersix Evo
  • jonzy75
    jonzy75 Posts: 18
    I am more than happy with the length of the stem as i feel the bike fits me very nicely, i dont particularly want to change the length i was wondering more about quality and changing it for a well known brand. I am sure it's of resonable quality as i'm sure its made by orange

    As for the handlebar length i'll have to try and see wot works, although i feel it would handle slightly better with a resonable increase in width
  • The Spiderman
    The Spiderman Posts: 5,625
    Stems from bling brands are not necessarily that much better.I have a Raceface Deus stem and its only 5g lighter than the standard one that came with my Giant.
    There are better things to spend your money on.
    2006 Giant XTC
    2010 Giant Defy Advanced
    2016 Boardman Pro 29er
    2016 Pinnacle Lithium 4
    2017 Canondale Supersix Evo
  • grantway
    grantway Posts: 1,430
    I known these contact parts are always knocked by the magazines as quoted
    as something you would find on a £ 300.00p bike.

    I bought my with the thompson kit very nicely finished too.
    Dont know if your intrested I am selling my Thompson elite seat post £ 40.00p
    only ridden 12 times and not a mark.
    Replaced with the bent seat post.
  • supersonic
    supersonic Posts: 82,708
    Stem is a stem: how many have you seen bust?! Ive fit 100s as a mechanic, and see no quality or performance difference between 20 quid stem and 60 quid stems. The very top ones offer ultra light weight.
  • ride_whenever
    ride_whenever Posts: 13,279
    how big are you jonzy? If you have really broad shoulders then you might prefer something wider, I got on well with the mid-rise EA70
  • jonzy75
    jonzy75 Posts: 18
    Cheers guys i'll probably just stick with my stem.

    Have a thomson seatpost first thing i changed out thanks (thats my second thomson had a rather large stack in afan)

    Been looking at race face next and easton mid rise bars and think i'm pretty much set on changing them for a slightly wider bar