carbon bars and stem upgrade?

Pro's: light weight (if you get proper Carbon bars, not Carbon wrap stuff), reduction of trail buzz, looks pimp as****

Con's: could snap without warning (regular inspection of parts is worthwhile)

I've got a pair of Easton EA70 Monkeylite carbon bars on my ex demo Orange 5, no problems at all so far.

I use a carbon bar and post on a rigid hardtail and the increase in comfort is unbelievable, well worth it. Im a big bloke and was worried about using them, but have held up to a year of abuse in the Peak District so far.

I would also add that it depends on your weight and type of riding. If you are quite heavy or plan on doing much downhill or freeride type stuff, then stick with a aluminium bar.
If you are reasonably light and just do regular xc then Carbon bars are great.

Personally I wouldnt bother with a carbon stem as there are many good light aluminium ones out there.

Carbon bars have been known to snap.

As said above, carbon bars can flex a little bit, but I dont see that as a bad thing as a good bar will be comfortable and take minor bumps out of the trail.

I have the RF Deus bars and stem.Aluminium but the bars are only 210g,tnice shape and they were only £60 with stem at crc,and no worries about carbon failure.
Alumnium bars can be cut down on buzzz if tey are butted in the right places.

CF bars dampen trail buzz meaning less wrist fatigue.

I want to try some reynolds 9 series steel bars...

Not all carbon is light, and not all carbon is weak, some carbon bars are built for big hits or downhill and weigh more than an XC metal bar, but are stronger, just like some alumiunium bars are lighter than others. And just like with metal bars, use the wrong part and you're likely to damage it- an awful lot of "broke my carbon bars" stories start out with road parts on XC bikes, or XC parts on bigger hitting bikes, or random ebay parts. And I reckon a lot more include, at some point in the run-up, seatpost clamps or stem bolts overtightened.

ednino wrote:

I don't see the point in buying carbon bars when KCNC scandium stem and bars are cheaper and considerably lighter.

That website claims the 1" risers are 239g measured, that's not lighter than an equivalent carbon bar :? My aluminium monkeys weigh about the same, my carbon ones weigh barely half that. I think you're comparing with a heavy-built carbon bar, maybe?

I'm happy with the MonkeyLite SL, vlight! (635mm with the OS stem).
It doesn't have that final cosmetic carbon wrap that appeals so much tho!