Cutting handlebars

ross_mcculloch

I ride a Brodie Loki (below)...the handlebars are a bit too wide for a lot of the trail/forest riding I do.

http://www.progressive-bikes.co.uk/2008/loki.html

HANDLE BAR: Syncros Bulk 2014 Al • 31.8mm x w 720mm x r 20mm

How easy is it to trim them down or am I better just buying some narrower handlebars?

HandjobDan

Just need a pipe cutter from halfords or similar that does steel, or allloy depending what your bars are, measure where you want to cut them, then check it with your riding gear all in place to make sure, then cut using said tool.

Or a hacksaw and a pipe cutting guide.

When you say too wide, do you mean for your liking or hitting obstacles?

lawl

Hello mate easy! I love riding with thin bars so I cut my MTB bars down Easton EA70 monkey bars, just get a decent hacksaw blade in your hacksaw and go for it

The top tip is to move your brake levers and gears in first and try riding like it then cut if happy

darren555

Quick and tidy job with a pipe cutter and a bit of emery cloth to finish

ross_mcculloch

Bit of both...can't get between trees grouped closely together and I also find that tehe slightest movement on those wide handlebards turns the bike too wildly. I'm guessing narrower bars should help sort out both?

setspeed

ross_mcculloch wrote:

Bit of both...can't get between trees grouped closely together and I also find that tehe slightest movement on those wide handlebards turns the bike too wildly. I'm guessing narrower bars should help sort out both?

If you cut your handlebars down your bike's handling will become MORE twitchy, ie a smaller movement will have a bigger effect on the amount the front wheel moves.

ross_mcculloch

I've found my riding a bit more awkward since having the wider bars...perhaps it's just me!

setspeed

All personal preference! Like lawl says above, try moving your controls/grips inboard a bit and see how you get on. You may also find that a slightly longer stem will slow the handling down as well.
Ultimately, if youre used to and are more comfortable with a narrower bar then thats what you should go with :-)

ex-pat scot

Try before you cut.

Cut with a plumber's pipecutter (from Wickes etc) rather than hacksaw.

File the cut ends smooth.

Consider taking a wee bit off first and a more extreme cut later- the handling gets twitchy.

.blitz

ross_mcculloch wrote:

How easy is it to trim them down or am I better just buying some narrower handlebars?

Easy peasy - it's not like the ends have to be level or anything. Just use a fine-bladed hacksaw and mark the cut with masking tape.

As for the 'best' width, I have some 710 bars on my Rize and I've clipped more than a few trees, but even so I sometimes find myself riding with my hands on the end of the grips. At the other end of the scale, I once cut a 620 flat bar down to 580 and that was fine. As said above, it's all down to personal preference. A wide bar opens your chest more and seems to improve breathing but it can make the bike feel like a barge in the twisties.

ross_mcculloch

.blitz wrote:

As said above, it's all down to personal preference. A wide bar opens your chest more and seems to improve breathing but it can make the bike feel like a barge in the twisties.

That's true, I actually like the wide bars on big open sections and downhill but in the twisty narrow trails it can be a pest...decisions, decisions!

Tommy1234

ross_mcculloch wrote:

.blitz wrote:

As said above, it's all down to personal preference. A wide bar opens your chest more and seems to improve breathing but it can make the bike feel like a barge in the twisties.

That's true, I actually like the wide bars on big open sections and downhill but in the twisty narrow trails it can be a pest...decisions, decisions!

Sooner someone invents adjustible handlebars the better.