Wider bars

sandy771
sandy771 Posts: 368
edited April 2012 in MTB general
I have recently shortened the stem on my trance to 70mm and have read that wider bars may negate some of the twitchyness? that this has introduced, but have fancied trying wider bars anyway just to see what they are like. I can't find any I can borrow so I will need to just go for it and see whether I like them.

Current bars are giant connect 680mm and thought that about 730 might be a good start. The problem is though I just dont know what length, rise up sweep or back sweep to go for. I appreciate that this is subjective but wondered what the collective wisdom of the forum might be :)

Typical riding I guess includes cross country and a bit of bumpy downhill. I am also about 17st with all my kit so strong would be nice :)

Obviously as I am just playing I don't want to spend too much at this stage.

These have been recommended by a chap in the LBS at £28

http://superstar.tibolts.co.uk/product_ ... cts_id=531

Comments

  • Charcoal
    Charcoal Posts: 18
    Here's some very cheap bars if you just want to see how slighly longer bars affect your ride without investing too much into it: Funn bars
    Genesis Altitude 30
    FOR SALE: GT Avalanche 1.0 2011
  • benpinnick
    benpinnick Posts: 4,148
    These in lo-rise are the best shape in my opinion, so a benchmark to work from.
    A Flock of Birds
    + some other bikes.
  • sandy771
    sandy771 Posts: 368
    benpinnick wrote:
    These in lo-rise are the best shape in my opinion, so a benchmark to work from.

    Thanks Ben - but which in lo-rise?
  • benpinnick
    benpinnick Posts: 4,148
    Doh. http://www.merlincycles.co.uk/Bike+Shop ... LU-BAR.htm

    Ben
    A Flock of Birds
    + some other bikes.
  • benpinnick
    benpinnick Posts: 4,148
    BTW, the 711mm Haven bar is probably the best alu 'trail' bar around. Its a little narrower than your desired, but TBH I think 730 is over the top as you'll be clipping trees all over the place!
    A Flock of Birds
    + some other bikes.
  • anj132
    anj132 Posts: 299
    You could just start off with wider bars and move the grips inwards if it feels to long and then cut them down afterwards (SS look like they have cut marks) and £28 seems a good price as well, although you still might have that tree problem. :D Sometimes working on extremes helps find that ideal middle ground. I got a Sunline v1 745 high riser bar for £25 and I am happy with it.
  • lochussie
    lochussie Posts: 276
    You might as well go v wide and cut them down. I run 760 without many tree probs.
  • t0pc4t
    t0pc4t Posts: 947
    I went for 760mm warheads with 20mm rise on the anthem and they're gurt lush, you can always cut them down if you find them too much
    Whether you're a king or a little street sweeper, sooner or later you'll dance with the reaper.

    Cube Curve 2009
    Giant Anthem X4

    FCN=6
  • sandy771
    sandy771 Posts: 368
    Thanks all

    Have gone fro the superstars in my original post. Had already considered strating wide and whittling away until i get something I like. Time will well.
  • bartimaeus
    bartimaeus Posts: 1,812
    Definitely start wide and see how you go. I have Sunline 745s on my GT and having ridden with them for a few rides I'm keeping them as they are. I originally thought I would go cut them to 720 or so. I then put some eXotic 750s on my Anthem... intending to cut them to 720. At the moment it looks like I'll be taking 1cm off each side... but probably no more. The wide bars should make the Trance even better downhill, and you will soon get used to the more positive steering.
    Vitus Sentier VR+ (2018) GT Grade AL 105 (2016)
    Giant Anthem X4 (2010) GT Avalanche 1.0 (2010)
    Kingley Vale and QECP Trail Collective - QECP Trail Building
  • garylythgoe
    garylythgoe Posts: 10
    I went from Easton EA50 bars (685mm wide) to Sunline V2 bars (745mm wide) and I cannot recommend it enough.

    I seem to have far more control over the bike now, and the cockpit position (along with the stubby Sunline stem) has really improved.
  • sandy771
    sandy771 Posts: 368
    Wider bars (780mm) arrived and fitted ready for a run out tonight. Decided to leave them at 780 to start with on the basis that icant stick anything back on that I have cut off. I'll see whether i love 'em or hate 'em and hack a bit off as appropriate. A little pedal around the village after fitting felt nice though.

    I am thinking that as i am built like the proverbial brick shithouse that wider bars would make more sense given my shoulder width - we'll see
  • miss notax
    miss notax Posts: 2,572
    Wow 780 bars :shock:

    Totally subjective I guess isn't it - my shoulders are narrow, and i'm not sure I could reach anything wider than my not-very-wide 685 bars :lol:
    Life is not measured by the number of breaths you take, but by the number of moments that take your breath away....

    Riding a gorgeous ano orange Turner Burner!

    Sponsor the CC2CC at http://www.justgiving.com/cc2cc
  • sandy771
    sandy771 Posts: 368
    Yes 780 does seem a bit OTT and I was initially thinking about 740 but I dont want to chop a bit off and then find I like them wider.
  • Chunkers1980
    Chunkers1980 Posts: 8,035
    Some one does some 1,000s
  • sandy771
    sandy771 Posts: 368
    Had a bit of fun tonight even if it was curtailed before it went dark (tried to jump a bit of granite by using my left crank arm to bounce off it). Did managed to get a couple of nice downhills in and wider bars felt nicer but hands/wrists did feel a little tired/achey. The new bars *seem* a little flatter than the giant connect ones, but that might just be the shape (havent checked spec). may be I just need to get used to them and it is just down to a slightly different riding position.

    Will try again Sunday

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