Bar width. What you running?

Discuss light weight issues concerning mountain bikes & parts.

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nickf
Posts: 1428
Joined: Sat Mar 06, 2010 10:34 pm

by nickf

What's everyone riding these days? I like my bars around 640-650mm wide. I think that's carrying over from the old days. XC riding through twisty forested southeast trails. 700+ I think I would be hitting trees all day.

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LeDuke
Posts: 2022
Joined: Sun Oct 07, 2012 2:39 am
Location: Front Range, CO

by LeDuke

740mm. Never hit trees, because the added leverage gives me a wee bit more control.


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nickf
Posts: 1428
Joined: Sat Mar 06, 2010 10:34 pm

by nickf

I'm more in the fitting through trees camp.

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LeDuke
Posts: 2022
Joined: Sun Oct 07, 2012 2:39 am
Location: Front Range, CO

by LeDuke

I had no problems fitting between trees with 740s in GA, upstate NY, western VA and now CO.


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nickf
Posts: 1428
Joined: Sat Mar 06, 2010 10:34 pm

by nickf

LeDuke wrote:
Fri Nov 02, 2018 3:43 pm
I had no problems fitting between trees with 740s in GA, upstate NY, western VA and now CO.


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What degree sweep are you running?

morganb
Posts: 732
Joined: Wed Mar 15, 2017 5:30 pm

by morganb

When I first started riding I ran 720mm because that what was popular and came on bikes. Someone gave me a set of 600mm bars to try and all the sudden I picked up 2mph in my average speed. I ended up settling on 650mm and that's what I have run on all of my MTBs since. I find the narrower bars make the bike feel more reactive and I'm more comfortable and have an easier time getting over big logs and getting the front end up in general. Its also very tight and twisty where I ride and its rare to see high speeds. I've hit mid 30s (mph) racing but that's not for an extended time.

AJS914
Posts: 5397
Joined: Tue Jan 28, 2014 6:52 pm

by AJS914

I bought a bike that came with 75cm bars. They were hurting my hands and neck. I cut 10cm off and it is way better.

boots2000
Posts: 1393
Joined: Mon Oct 15, 2007 9:28 pm

by boots2000

Right now I am using 700mm bars- I am not sure if I don't like the width, or if I need an even shorter stem (already went shorter).
Riding them tomorrow- If I still don't like them tomorrow, I will cut them down a bit.

stoney
Posts: 474
Joined: Wed Jun 08, 2011 11:26 am

by stoney

I'm using 700mm bars...which is the width my hands measure outside to outside for a comfortable pushup position for me.

boots2000
Posts: 1393
Joined: Mon Oct 15, 2007 9:28 pm

by boots2000

I tested my 700mm bars with a 90mm stem yeaterday- 1cm less than usual.

I liked it on the 1st climb, but my back ached after 2 hours- The shorter stem makes me round my back in some situations- Causes stress after a couple hours.
I am going back to 670-680mm bars and 100mm stem- Seesm like a small change but it works better for me.

boots2000 wrote:
Fri Nov 02, 2018 11:54 pm
Right now I am using 700mm bars- I am not sure if I don't like the width, or if I need an even shorter stem (already went shorter).
Riding them tomorrow- If I still don't like them tomorrow, I will cut them down a bit.

bas
Posts: 218
Joined: Thu Jun 30, 2016 3:58 am

by bas

700mm. Tried 720 but with a 100mm stem the steering feels too slow.
Have also tried a 90mm stem with the 720’s but felt too cramped when climbing.
If you need to run a “long “ stem I think you also need slightly narrower bars to compensate.
If I wasn’t racing and didn’t care about going up quickly 720/90 was probably best for control on the descents


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Slammed
Posts: 171
Joined: Sun Feb 01, 2015 12:32 am

by Slammed

Riding 750s right now with a 110 stem. The bars seem a little too wide so I'll probably cut them to 730 or 720.

mattr
Posts: 4671
Joined: Fri May 25, 2007 6:43 pm
Location: The Grim North.

by mattr

Mine are all between 620 (old XC retro race bike) to 700 (trail bike), both XC bikes are on 685.
There's a few bits round here where longer than that will lead to hang ups on tree gaps.
I've tried wider bars/shorter stem, it's shit. My arms aren't long enough.
Last edited by mattr on Mon Nov 19, 2018 5:45 am, edited 1 time in total.

RocketRacing
Posts: 964
Joined: Thu May 10, 2018 2:43 am

by RocketRacing

680 on my xc, 710 or so on my fatties. Getting through trees is th priority of our narrow forresr trail rides.

Zac36100
Posts: 22
Joined: Mon Oct 17, 2016 10:08 am
Location: ITALY - VICENZA

by Zac36100

1.76 tall, 44 shoulder
size 42 road bar
size 660 mtb bar

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