Has anyone tried these carbon handlebars or have an opinon?

daniel_b

Evening all,

I would like to lay my hands on a flat top wing style carbon bar at what I deem to be a reasonable cost.
I appreciate that is relative, but for my own personal wallet, the absolute very maximum I could spend is £150 - preferably less.

What constantly annoys me is that I find a nice looking set of carbon bars, and they have to ruin it (imo) by putting red graphics all over it, my bike will have no red on it, so I either want white, or preferably a limited or very small amount of logo-age.

I bought a HK special flat top handebar a while back, that I may end up fitting to my Scott CR1, but I have also been idly looking around for any other options.

I did like the look of the Easton EC90 Aero, but for some reason it only comes in red - all red, not red graphics, a solid red finish :shock: (Merlin have them for £125)

So that has gone out of the window - and then after trawling through hundreds of 'Carbon handlebars' on the bay of e, I found this one:
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Keirin-Road-Handle-Bars-Ergonomic-Full-Carbon-Drop-Bars-440mm-44cm-/131013804748?pt=UK_sportsleisure_cycling_bikeparts_SR&hash=item1e810802cc


Now I am trying to ignore the fact it says Keirin - there's nothing that makes it not road usable is there?

And although the seller is apparently UK based, and perhaps they are, I am assuming they get them shipped in from HK.

I have mailed them to find out if the measurements are edge to edge, or centre to centre.

So on the off chance, has anyone on here got a set, or if not would others avoid these with a bargepole OR suggest some branded bars that are devoid of red :evil:

smidsy

Divided opinion on the benefit and indeed safety of carbon bars.

I am in the waste of monmey camp. Some nice ally bars out there which are just as stiff and less 'buzzy'.

Deda and Ritchey are the dogs for finishing kit.

StillGoing

I have carbon FSA Plasma integrated compact bars and stem. Personally I find them very comfortable on the tops. I changed from Ally Pro bars and in my opinion suffer less vibration through the hands. They aren't the cheapest out there, but having seen some £150 compact bars at the show, I wouldn't put my trust in them. The feel and finish wasn't to the same standard as the FSA ones.

BillyMansell

Don't worry about the Keirin name as from both from the picture and description they're not keirin bars.

Also, from the description they do appear to be UK stock. If they were a reseller importing the goods to order they'd be in breach of Ebay selling rules.

Can't comment on those bars (although do use a branded carbon variety myself).

trek_dan

I managed to get some Deda Presa bars from Ribble for £100, couldn't see the point in taking a punt on Ebay when branded stuff wasn't that much more. Not sure if they're still available for £100 or not, but they are very good. Does have a small red logo though

me-109

Can't find the thread now but on the site classifieds the other day I came across someone selling what turned out to be copied Zipp Vuka bars. £30 has to be worth a punt.

daniel_b

Thankyou for those replies,

Smidsy: Appreciate the potential fruitlessness of carbon bars, but as this will be for my 'best' bike, and it has a carbon frame, carbon seatpost, and carbon stem, rightly or wrongly I want to finish it off with a nice set of carbon bars.

Philthy3: I too would have loved to have gotten some FSA bars, but they LOVE red don't they, the only other option is the hard to get hold of green stripe editions, but they are in excess of £150.

Billymansell: Interesting to know that about UK stock, wasn't aware of that rule - they have still to get back to me re the measurement being c-c or edge to edge sadly, but the more I look at them the more I like them.
Think I also like the fact it is just plain carbon with no logos.

Trek dan - you bagged a good deal on those Deda's - Ribble still have big sizes, but only in white, and also they do not appear to be a wing style bar which I am after.

Me-109: I've seen the Zipp fakes, but I'd struggle to have any kit purporting to be something it isn't on my bike - I'd just feel a bit weird about it - happy to go unbranded, and realise it may well be made in the same factory!

Gutted a few months ago to miss out on some Ritchey WCS carbon flatbars that Merlin had on sale for £70 - frustratingly they insist on keeping them listed on their website despite them being an end of line run out some months ago :evil:
These: http://www.merlincycles.com/bike-shop/road-parts/handlebars-stems/handlebars-road/ritchey-wcs-carbon-streem-bars.html

They were even the right width at 40cm

If anyone sees any carbon flat bar bargains, please do PM me

Ian.B

Daniel B wrote:

Gutted a few months ago to miss out on some Ritchey WCS carbon flatbars that Merlin had on sale for £70 - frustratingly they insist on keeping them listed on their website despite them being an end of line run out some months ago :evil:
These: http://www.merlincycles.com/bike-shop/road-parts/handlebars-stems/handlebars-road/ritchey-wcs-carbon-streem-bars.html

They were even the right width at 40cm

They're in stock at CRC, albeit not at that price but still (just) within your budget. Can you put up with the red bit in the WCS logo?

bernithebiker

Syntace.

adamfo

I bought an Easton EC70 SL UD carbon Handlebar recently from Wiggle. £80 if you sign up for their news letter. It's more comfortable than the standard Cannondale alloy bar and has no buzz.
By running the cabling along the front of the bar before taping you do get a flat top effect.

http://www.wiggle.co.uk/easton-ec70-sl-road-handlebar/

mfin

Ian.B wrote:

Daniel B wrote:

Gutted a few months ago to miss out on some Ritchey WCS carbon flatbars that Merlin had on sale for £70 - frustratingly they insist on keeping them listed on their website despite them being an end of line run out some months ago :evil:
These: http://www.merlincycles.com/bike-shop/road-parts/handlebars-stems/handlebars-road/ritchey-wcs-carbon-streem-bars.html

They were even the right width at 40cm

They're in stock at CRC, albeit not at that price but still (just) within your budget. Can you put up with the red bit in the WCS logo?

Good bars the Streem, have ridden them, if they measure up well for you then they're not a bad buy at all.

Ben6899

Like this?

http://starleybikes.com/components/bars ... -js-works/

itboffin

I had the 3T ones much like that on my Ribble and to be honest I think they flexed more, they can't have been fakes either seeing as i bought them from Wiggle.

I still have them but choose to switch back to 3T alu most because of the reach, no flex now.

daniel_b

I am getting less and less enamoured with the ebay ones I posted at the top - firstly I think it has a recess on top of the bar for cabling, here as I want to leave them untaped, and secondly my 2 attempts to e-mail them through ebay for size information, have met with absolutely no reply, and when I try the e-mail in their contact details, it bounces back - amazes me how some people manage to do business.

Ian.B wrote:

They're in stock at CRC, albeit not at that price but still (just) within your budget. Can you put up with the red bit in the WCS logo?

Cheers Ian, looks like from reading the reviews the 40 would actually be too narrow - a narrow escape one might say!

Ben6899 wrote:

Like this?

http://starleybikes.com/components/bars ... -js-works/

That's a stonking looking set of bars - would never have found them, food for thought, thankyou, and I am loving the matte finish.... Do you use these bars yourself?


ITB - Have found these on a German site for £150: http://www.wiggle.co.uk/3t-ergonova-team-carbon-handlebar-black-series/

Are those the kind you are talking about?

They are not a full 'wing' style though I think.

izza

I used to have a set of Pro Lite Ravenna bars. They had flat top, finger fitting ridges on the front, inset groove for cabling on the underside and looked very similar to the original post.

I found they were very comfortable in terms of shape and come in under your budget.

thegreatdivide

FSA Team bars are on sale at Wiggle http://www.wiggle.co.uk/fsa-team-issue- ... handlebar/

I run them on my Foil and, like the SLK bars, the tops are flat with a really shallow drop - so you can slam that stem ;-)

It's an alu/carbon mix so it's the best of both worlds.

Ben6899

Daniel B wrote:

That's a stonking looking set of bars - would never have found them, food for thought, thankyou, and I am loving the matte finish.... Do you use these bars yourself?

Yes, I use these bars. They are very comfortable - the flat section just behind where the hood would be is a nice little additional option for keeping the wrists happy.

daniel_b

izza wrote:

I used to have a set of Pro Lite Ravenna bars. They had flat top, finger fitting ridges on the front, inset groove for cabling on the underside and looked very similar to the original post.

I found they were very comfortable in terms of shape and come in under your budget.

These are £100 at JE James......

thegreatdivide wrote:

FSA Team bars are on sale at Wiggle http://www.wiggle.co.uk/fsa-team-issue- ... handlebar/

I run them on my Foil and, like the SLK bars, the tops are flat with a really shallow drop - so you can slam that stem ;-)

It's an alu/carbon mix so it's the best of both worlds.

Does Team mean no red graphics.......?
Do you have a pic you can post or send to me of them fitted on your bike - how much have you wrapped tape wise?

thegreatdivide

thegreatdivide wrote:

FSA Team bars are on sale at Wiggle http://www.wiggle.co.uk/fsa-team-issue- ... handlebar/

I run them on my Foil and, like the SLK bars, the tops are flat with a really shallow drop - so you can slam that stem ;-)

It's an alu/carbon mix so it's the best of both worlds.

Does Team mean no red graphics.......?
Do you have a pic you can post or send to me of them fitted on your bike - how much have you wrapped tape wise?[/quote]

No net at home as I've just moved house so can't post a pic, however I can confirm there are no red graphics. My Foil is black with bits of white so I spent an age trying to find the right bars.

Better image here...

http://www.bikerumor.com/2010/05/20/upd ... conomical/

thegreatdivide

Also - you can prob wrap half the bar or all of the bar - I like a good grip (matron!) so mine are fully wrapped.

daniel_b

Thanks for all the replies guys, this has been such a useful thread for me

Loads of makes I have never heard of in some cases or even considered, and thank goodness I started it otherwise I may have ended up with those ebay ones at the top!

At the mo my hot favourites are the Starley bars which I think look rather lush in terms of design.
Ben has kindly offered to take some piccies for me and send them over next week.
My only 'concern' is that they are a matte finish of sorts, and although my frame is matte as well, my hard sought FSA carbon seatpost and very hard sought FSA carbon stem are both glossy carbon finish

Vandiesel

Brilliant thread

itboffin

Dan have you posted a pick of the Scott yet?

daniel_b

itboffin wrote:

Dan have you posted a pick of the Scott yet?

haha, no not yet Stephen, it's still in bits, I pretty much have everything organised now, the only bit I wasn't 100% happy with was the bars, which this thread may well sort, but it may throw up further issues with my stem and seatpost afterwards!

The thing I am currently missing is the time to put it together, but I have some time off over Christmas, so will start assembling it then I reckon.

I know, hang my head in shame

daniel_b

Just a quick update from my trawling.

The Starleys are still my favourites I think, but I have found these elsewhere which I think are still decent deals?

€179 3T ergonova Team Black stealth http://www.4thebike.de/komponenten/lenker/rennrad/7157/3t-rennrad-lenker-ergo-nova-team-black-stealth


A previous poster mentioned Syntace, and managed to find these for a good price - nice profile from above:
€139 Syntace Racelite 2 http://www.bike-components.de/products/info/p11896_Racelite2-Carbon-OS-Lenker---Auslaufmodell-.html


€164 - Engage Apsis Ergo Carbon
http://www.thebikeshop.de/epages/62303450.sf/de_DE/?ObjectPath=/Shops/62303450/Products/ENH3ERG/SubProducts/ENH2ERG-0002&ViewAction=ViewProduct


I quite like the Syntace Racelite CDR as well:


I'm beginning to sway towards compacts, as I am a smallish rider, and from reading up notice it brings the drops up a bit, making it less of a 'drop' to them, and potentially more accessible.

Does anyone have any views on the Syntace CDR bars above?
I found a BR review here: http://www.bikeradar.com/road/gear/category/components/handlebars/handlebars-road/product/review-syntace-racelite-carbon-cdr-bar-f149-stem-13-47325/

bails1310

I'm no expert in any way but I went for these http://www.bikeradar.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=40044&t=12905904&p=18509996&hilit=kuota+kharma#p18509996
They made a big difference in the way the bike feels to me and I think they look quite nice too!