Carbon bars

Surf-Matt
Surf-Matt Posts: 5,952
edited December 2008 in MTB general
We have a 2008 Rockhopper (wife mainly uses it but it's the same size as mine) and a 2007 Stumpy.

Mrs Matt doesn't like the riser bars so took it into my LBS to get flats fitted.
Tragically they only had carbon bars in stock - so I'm putting them on my Stumpy and putting the Stumpy bars (aluminium - but quite good) on the RH - SUCH a tragedy!! :twisted: :lol::lol:

Comments

  • Surf-Matt
    Surf-Matt Posts: 5,952
    I did get in slight trouble for getting MYSELF new bars rather than getting her bike new ones... :cry::wink:
  • Have you ridden them yet?
    Do they manage to negate some of the vibration off the front end?

    When ever i have looked at them in LBS' I find it hard to comprehend how they can take mush punishment!
  • Surf-Matt
    Surf-Matt Posts: 5,952
    Justin - not yet and slightly embarrassingly, I'm getting the LBS to fit them (and replace all my gear cables on the Stumpy too) - bit too busy to sort them myself and I need the bikes by Saturday :oops: :oops:

    I'll let you know though - I'm quite an XC type rider with the odd bunnyhop here and there so my bikes don't get too much bashing. Also not too heavy at just under 12 stone.
  • Surf-Matt
    Surf-Matt Posts: 5,952
    Also took my bike in because the shifting got pretty poor and although I can tweak them, knew they were on the way out.

    Just had "the call" and I need a new: Front mech shifter (upgraded to X-9), rear cassette, new chain, cables (again upgraded to XTR) and...errrmmm... that's about it.

    It's done 3000 miles so not too worried but it'll all add up to over £150 I reckon :cry:
  • Let me know what it is like when you do Matt.

    Always wondered if the extra expense was worth it in terms of their damping abilities, rather than just weight reduction.
  • Surf-Matt
    Surf-Matt Posts: 5,952
    Justin - I've gone a bit budget and gone for BBB ones that supposedly combine the strength of alu with the lightness and damping ability of carbon - will report once I use them!

    www.bbbparts.com

    (Go to bike parts, handlebars - I'm getting the BHB-16 Fibretop OS ones)
  • Surf-Matt
    Surf-Matt Posts: 5,952
    Justin - did a 12 mile blast and very impressed.
    The big test was a cobblestone bit of the Truro - the carbon bars really do take the edge of the vibrations. I'm converted!

    Also tried some biggish bunnyhops and a few little jumps - no snappage so far!
  • Hi Matt, I'm very tempted by a set of carbon bars, been looking at a couple, how much did you pay for them? Where from? Cheers.
  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Posts: 79,667
    I run carbon Easton Monkeylight XCs on my Commencal Meta 5.5 that takes plenty of punishment in the peaks / N Wales trail centres including some reasonable sized jumps (such as those at Llandegla) and I can give them nothing but praise!
    Really comfortable due to the damping abilities and mega stiff. Not too bothered about weight saving but any weight loss is always appreciated.
    I'm 14.5 stone and have been using the bars for about 8 months.
    I recently upgraded my road bike (i.e. the only thing left the same was the frame) and I went for carbon bars and stem on this. What a difference! I was almost laughing when I first rode it when I went over some rough patches on the road. Absorbs so much :)

    MetaVIP2.jpg
  • Surf-Matt
    Surf-Matt Posts: 5,952
    edited December 2008
    Hi Matt, I'm very tempted by a set of carbon bars, been looking at a couple, how much did you pay for them? Where from? Cheers.

    See link two above your post - £40 from my LBS.

    Also here (except the bigger size gets better 6000 grade aluminium, not 2000 stuff):

    http://www.webstersbikes.co.uk/products ... 2b0s91p654

    I looked at the Easton EC70s but just struggled to justify the extra £30. I also like the little of alu in them as "back up" - they weigh more though. Easton is about 100 grams, mine is 180 - looks nice and strong though!

    Reckon the ones I got are a TOTAL bargain!
  • stu8975
    stu8975 Posts: 1,334
    Hi Matt, I'm very tempted by a set of carbon bars, been looking at a couple, how much did you pay for them? Where from? Cheers.

    You can get a set of FSA K-Force carbon risers (only OS clamp size though) from Merlin cycles for £45 gold coins..Had mine for about a year and a half and they are the mutts nuts..cant go wrong for £45..still in stock aswell.

    http://www.merlincycles.co.uk/?fn=produ ... egoryId=74
  • haha! so your slowly converting to the carbon side then matt!
    its the future i tell you!!!!:wink:

    i'm running k-force ones on mine and can oly praise them! great bars, light and stiff, (140g iirc) and they look super cool! (got mine through ebay for £42 delivered then a fortnight later, crc, wiggle etc dropped the price to £45! typical)

    xtr cables are great too! so smooth and slick!
    Timmo.
    After all, I am Cornish!
    http://cornwallmtb.kk5.org/
    Cotic Soul, The bike of Legends!:wink: Yes, I Am a bike tart!
    http://www.bikeradar.com/forums/viewtop ... 1#16297481
  • Surf-Matt
    Surf-Matt Posts: 5,952
    Timmo - SLX chainset being fitted on Thursday too!
  • haha! nice one matt! although tbh, the milage your old kit has done you cant complain really!

    keep you eye on ebay as rings come up cheap (i got a brand new XT outer for £7) so you can keep the stylo as a spare!
    Timmo.
    After all, I am Cornish!
    http://cornwallmtb.kk5.org/
    Cotic Soul, The bike of Legends!:wink: Yes, I Am a bike tart!
    http://www.bikeradar.com/forums/viewtop ... 1#16297481
  • Surf-Matt
    Surf-Matt Posts: 5,952
    Timmo - good thinking! Will certainly do that.

    Really just needs a new middle ring and BB but I'm now convinced (Kyle helped me) that the part worn outer and inner ring will wear the chain out too quickly.

    Once the chainset is fitted, the bike will have cost me over £270 in one month - YIKES!! :shock: :cry: Oh well - I love it!
  • Thanks for the update Matt. brilliant price as well.


    I think there may be a request going in for a christmas pressie!
  • blimey matt! but then, divide it between the last time you had to replace those parts in years and i bet its not all that much! and Upgrades Rock! (should have spent out and gone for an Uber blingy gold chain hehehe!)
    Dont work out how much ity costs you to ride it every time though! ruins the experience! haha!
    Timmo.
    After all, I am Cornish!
    http://cornwallmtb.kk5.org/
    Cotic Soul, The bike of Legends!:wink: Yes, I Am a bike tart!
    http://www.bikeradar.com/forums/viewtop ... 1#16297481
  • You can get a set of FSA K-Force carbon risers (only OS clamp size though) from Merlin cycles for £45 gold coins..Had mine for about a year and a half and they are the mutts nuts..cant go wrong for £45..still in stock aswell.

    http://www.merlincycles.co.uk/?fn=produ ... egoryId=74



    It is a great price and I had seen them. My only concern is i would find them too short, they are only 630mm, do you find them too short?[/quote]
  • stu8975
    stu8975 Posts: 1,334
    Nope, they are spot on for me, flatties are too narrow for me, also tried my mates Easton EC70's (660mm) and felt like i was riding a harley. It all depends on what sort of riding you do, i do xc/marathon so comfy for all day rides.
  • Surf-Matt
    Surf-Matt Posts: 5,952
    Timmo - yep I know - all well worth it!

    And that sort of money gets spent every week on a certain riders (that we both know) bike :wink::lol:

    Can't wait to get the new chainset fitted. Using the Rockhopper Disk until Thursday - a great all rounder but not the same as my Stumpy!
  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Posts: 79,667
    its normally a slippery slope once you start upgrading but atleast your upgrades have come after wearing out the predecessors.

    wish i could be so disciplined
  • matt, that actually made me laugh out loud when i read that!
    classic matey!
    Timmo.
    After all, I am Cornish!
    http://cornwallmtb.kk5.org/
    Cotic Soul, The bike of Legends!:wink: Yes, I Am a bike tart!
    http://www.bikeradar.com/forums/viewtop ... 1#16297481
  • Surf-Matt
    Surf-Matt Posts: 5,952
    Sheeps - errrrm - the handlebars weren't worn but carbon looked nice :D
    The rest has all worn - except the seapost binder - I wanted a QR one and Hope happened to do a nice one...

    Timmo - :twisted: :lol::lol::lol:
  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Posts: 79,667
    well, im not really in any position to citicise!! :lol:
  • Surf-Matt
    Surf-Matt Posts: 5,952
    Okay, what started as a bit of chain wobbling and a look for a straight bars for Mrs Matt's bike has now turned into:

    New cassette (SRAM PG970)
    New chain (SRAM PC971)
    New front AND rear shifters (both X-7 to X-9 - X-9 is a HUGE improvement!)
    New gear cables (all XTR)
    New bars (not needed but it looked nice - BBB carbon straight oversized)
    New chainset (new SLX, triple chainring)

    YIKES! First proper test tomorrow morning...

    It's feeling VERY light though!
  • haha! nice matt! the cables and new mech's will make it super slick shifting! (when i did my cables, felt like the rear mech wasnt connected was so light on shifting!)
    hope you have a good ride! am hoping to get out tomorow but might have to wait in for the postie!:wink:
    Timmo.
    After all, I am Cornish!
    http://cornwallmtb.kk5.org/
    Cotic Soul, The bike of Legends!:wink: Yes, I Am a bike tart!
    http://www.bikeradar.com/forums/viewtop ... 1#16297481
  • BlackSpur
    BlackSpur Posts: 4,228
    Pics?
    "Melancholy is incompatible with bicycling." ~James E. Starrs
  • Surf-Matt
    Surf-Matt Posts: 5,952
    Tragically poor pic:

    I blame the camera - might try and get a better one soon!

    IMG_1045.jpg

    Just had it's first ride and:

    New chainset is superb - super smooth and noticeably stiffer than the Stylo.

    New shifters
    are a huge improvment over the X-7 - much more "metallic" and mechanical shift with heaps more precision. Think well made rifle compared to plastic water pistol!
    You lose the shift windows which I know is what "hardcore" MTBers all do but I do miss them ever so slightly!

    The other drivetrain stuff is the same as before but works perfectly.

    Carbon bars are excellent - really take out the buzz on little bumps. They also "grip" my light a lot better than on metal bars which is an unexpected bonus.

    All in all my Stumpy is not far off my ideal bike now - yes it could be lighter (although it feels very light to me) but it's also strong. Very happy with it!