Home > Biking > Mountain bike handlebars types - typical answers and questions

Mountain bike handlebars types - typical answers and questions

How do I choose mountain bike handlebars?

How to choose your MTB handlebar
  1. First make sure that the diameter at the center of the handlebar, where you tighten your stem, is actually 31.8 mm as 95% of the current MTBs are.
  2. A 'Riser', a rise, which is very common in DH, allows to raise your handlebar to rebalance your weight to the rear.





Ah the humble handlebar, so simple and yet so decisive. What do all these numbers mean? All those sweeps, up and back. Stay tuned as we guide you through Handlebar 101.

Handlebar Geometry - Now That Has Nothing To Do With Your Favorite Pub However, Geometry Can Get Complicated After A Visit To Your Local Inn When it comes to handlebar geometry, there are two main numbers to consider: rise and sweep. The rise is essentially the difference in height between the center of the handlebars where it attaches to the stem and the center of the 22.2mm diameter right after the taper and transition bend.

Mountain bike handlebars are typically configured with zero rise, up to 100 mils, roughly four inches. After the climb, the next thing we need to think about is the sweep of the bars. There are two measurements for the sweep: Up Sweep and Back Sweep.



Up sweep is the vertical angle of the bars on the handle. The upward sweep does not affect the overall rise of the bars. The back sweep refers to the angle that the handlebars swivel back towards the bike.

This angle can range from zero degrees for a completely straight handlebar to 45 degrees for a specialty handlebar like the Jones coupling rod. Fortunately, mountain bike handlebars are only available in one width at the handle: 22.2 mm, which means that the handles are interchangeable with every handlebar on the market.

With the stem clamp, that's a different story. The most common diameter is still 31.8 millimeters.



An oversized 35 millimeter standard was recently introduced by Easton that promised even more strength and rigidity. For some years now, the handlebar width trend has only been one thing - WIDER! The wider, the better. Now this actually applies to most modern day riders and widebars slow down steering input for extra control, especially when combined with a short stem.

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They can even make it easier to breathe on the climbs. Remember to breathe deeply with your arms closed as opposed to one with your arms wide open. Now it is important to have a bar that is wide, but not too wide.

If you have short arms you may not want the widest bars available even if you are a super aggressive gravity rider. These days there are mountain bike handlebars in widths from less than 600 millimeters all the way up to 840 millimeters or more, but keep in mind that you can still reduce them later as a binary question. We even run our aluminum alloy because you're not rich and don't trust carbon.



Or maybe you ride carbon, knowing that fear of handlebar failure is unfounded and you like a bit of shiny black bling. But these two options are not all that is available in the market. Titanium and steel handlebars are also an offer for the discerning and unusual driver.

Regardless of this, each of these four materials offers a different amount of these key properties: strength, flex, weight and vibration dampening. Correct assembly with the correct torque is crucial for all handlebars. If in doubt, contact your local bicycle dealer and have one of the handlebars checked or adjusted.

And finally there is the shape. Most mountain bikes use a standard straight handlebar, but these days some mountain bikers are experimenting with other shapes such as the Jones H handlebars and rude style handlebars, but most of these options are based on extreme use cases like bike packaging and ultra endurance riding. In general, these types of handlebars treat comfort versus trail handling.

So there you have it. The 101 introduction to mountain bike handlebars. If you liked this article, don't forget to like and subscribe to us so that you don't miss any new content from single tracks and tell us in the comments which handlebars and widths you ride.

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What are the types of handlebars?

Types of handlebar
  • Drop.
  • Bullhorn.
  • Bullmoose.
  • Flat.
  • Riser.
  • Triathlon or aero bars.
  • BMX.
  • Upright or North Road.

What type of handlebars do mountain bikes have?

In terms of mountain bike gear, are two basic types of handlebars commonly found for off-road riding: flat bars and riser bars. Flat bars are not perfectly straight; they have a slight bend ranging from three to 11 degrees on each side of the clamping area for the stem.29 июл. 2016 г.

What are the best MTB handlebars?

Best MTB handlebars
  • ENVE M6 MTB handlebar.
  • Thomson Elite Trail Aluminum handlebar.
  • One Up Carbon handlebar.
  • Race Face Next 35 handlebar.
  • Deity Skyline 787 handlebar.
  • Renthal Fatbar V2 handlebar.
  • Spank Spike 800 Vibrocore handlebar. Dampened alloy bars.
  • Chromag OSX. Classic bar with plenty of color options.

Are wider handlebars better?

Every Rider is Different

Handlebar width is subjective and largely based on personal preference, but in general, riders who are taller, heavier, and have broader shoulders will likely need wider handlebars. The opposite can be said of riders with narrower shoulders and shorter arms.
29 сент. 2020 г.

How do I know what width handlebars to buy?

Reach: Horizontal distance from the center of the handlebar top to the center of the furthest extension of the bend, where brake hoods are mounted. A reach of less than 80mm is short; 80-85mm is medium; 85mm or more is considered long. Width: Most companies measure a bar's width between the center of each drop.21 нояб. 2019 г.

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How do I choose handlebars?

The rule of thumb when selecting the correct handlebar width is to measure the distance between the two bony bits on your shoulders - in more scientific terms the distance between your two acromioclavicular (AC) joints. This measurement gives you a baseline - if it's 38cm, look for 38cm bars - and so on.

Can I put upright handlebars on a mountain bike?

“You need to maintain a healthy spinal position – that's always important, no matter what bike you're on.” Sport-oriented road and mountain bikes predominate in North American shops – but even a mountain or road bike can be turned into an upright, provided the correct parts are available.11 окт. 2012 г.

Are wider mountain bike handlebars better?

Like bodies, not all bikes are the same. Making the switch to a narrower handlebar will wake up the front end of your bike making it more twitchy and easier to maneuver; while a wider bar will increase the stability of your front end and provide a calmer feel than before.29 сент. 2020 г.

Are my handlebars too wide?

Notice the high elbows and shrugged shoulders? If you are most comfortable on your bars in this position, it's quite possible they are too wide. Optimal shoulder mechanics will be present with a more externally rotated humerus (elbows down slightly).

What is the benefit of wide handlebars?

The main feature of a wider bar is the increased leverage it gives riders. This means steering inputs require less force, but you need greater movement when driving. It also makes it easier to resist trail feedback. All of this conspires to give you much more control over the bike.16 июн. 2012 г.

What kind of handlebars do you use on a mountain bike?

Bicycle Handlebars come in various types designed for specific kinds of riding. As such, some are more suitable for use on mountain bikes, while others are more apt for road bikes. We’ve listed the main types of handlebars below: A flat bicycle handlebar style is the most popular and bicycle handlebar types found many bikes.

Which is better drop or flat handlebars on a bike?

Flat bars are popular for commuting due to the ease of navigating through traffic with a plethora of different hand positions, whereas drop handlebars are much more suited to increased speeds whilst offering increased hand positions. If you ride bikes for touring, then you can choose flat bars.

What kind of handlebars do I need for a fixie bike?

There is a wide range of different handlebars available for a fixie bike. The most popular option, however, is the choice of drop handlebars. Mountain bike handlebars are most commonly butterfly handlebars, flat mountain handlebars or drop handlebars. 1.

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