Have previously been put off carbon bars by the old horror stories of sudden catastrophic failure – but I'm guessing (er..hoping!) that quality & manufacturing techniques have moved on in the last few years.

Eastons with CNT look like the obvious choice, but I'm not that keen on their shape, so have been looking at FSA and RaceFace – not sure what their reputation for carbon bars is like though – Can anyone enlighten please?

I have 3 sets of carbon bars – Easton, FSA and Pro. They're handlebars. You bolt stuff on them and use them to steer your bike.

Only ever used Easton, but in 8+ years or so of using them, I've never so much as dented one. Only bits of carbon I've seen busted were seat posts, and TBH I've seen plenty of bust seat posts of all sorts of materials not to think that carbon was necessarily the reason…

Buy with confidence form well known names

I use them all the time, on my road bike, and my Heckkler.

The only reason I've changed is that you can't (AFAIK) Get realy wide flat bars, like the Nukeproof Warheads I've started to use.

Never had any issues- and I'm no lightweight jeycore rider…

Azonic, Bontrager and Easton here, no worries at all. Used to have an Answer but didn't survive the pipe cutter.

Got Easton CNT on one bike and Race Face on two bikes.

All had a lot of abuse and have been faultless so far…

Take care to inspect them for damage regularly, not just the bits you can see but also under grips and clamps and use a torque wrench for peace of mind and you'll be fine.

I'm also pretty convinced that they are more comfortable than alu bars, based on relative levels of hand pain – nowadays it doesn't bother me but it used to.

No problems at all & they look good!
I woulnd't buy cheap ones, as really don't like the idea of cheap carbon.
I'm running Bontrager on one bike & Raceface on another & never had any problems.

Never had any issues- and I'm no lightweight jeycore rider…

That's what I like to hear 🙂 Last time I looked at carbon bars, they were all narrow xc racer type stuff – which isn't really my style.

Teetoosugars trusts carbon sooo much he is getting a carbon cx frame. not JUST bars.

Take care to inspect them for damage regularly, not just the bits you can see but also under grips and clamps and use a torque wrench for peace of mind and you'll be fine.

I'm also pretty convinced that they are more comfortable than alu bars, based on relative levels of hand pain – nowadays it doesn't bother me but it used to.

Ta for the advice, I'll dig the torque wrench out. Seem to remember reading/hearing someone else who said they're more comfortable for their stiffness than a alu bar – this is exactly what I'm after if possible; something that's stiff & wide enough for a bit of trail wrestling, but not a real palm buzzer.

>93kg of stupidity, riding Bonty Carbon bars, stem and seatpost…..(there are other bits connecting them…..) no worries, never think about it at all…. 😀

I'd avoiding them too, but plumped for a pair of Easton DH's last week – wanted over 700mm wide – and while 222g which are heavier than the XC ones they have a lifetime warrenty.

Rode today, feel good.

Iv had no problems with my easton carbon bars nice and light but very strong 🙂

busted carbon although most of the breaks are from crashes, many are arguably from incorrect fitting

Yep I've used Easton, Bontrager, New Ultimate, Race Face, Ritchey, MaxM, FSA, the MaxM ones cracked, but they were shocking and all cracked, not a sniff of trouble with any of the others.

RaceFace Next No problems so far

been on the same pair of bontrager race X lites since 2006 with no problems, although they are looking a bit "tired" now.

Titec on my fuel ex, no problems whatsoever, and they were only 35 quid newoff eBay – over half price!

Can you recycle carbon?