My bike came with 35mm bars. I am thinking if changing to new bars and wonder whether I would be better off going for 31.8mm. I would need a new stem but not bothered by that, as have a few lying about
Why was 35mm invented? What's the benefit or disadvantage.
Anyone gone from 1 to other and can offer up some differences?
Tried both, same bike, feel exactly the same to me. Can't notice any difference at all.
Some early 35mm bars were a very harsh ride and turned a lot of people off them. Not sure if they've sorted it yet. I've got a nice collection of 31.8 bars and stems to use. The 35mm setup that came on the new bike had a huge, ugly stem and is on the shelf in the garage.
Why was 35mm invented? What’s the benefit or disadvantage.
It's the bike industry. The only way to keep selling the same things over and over again is to keep slightly changing them.
That's actually 1 thing I hate about my bike The large ugly stem. I will see if there are any 'neat' 35mm dia stems, as a good deal on a decent carbon bar in 35mm is available
My latest bike came with a 35mm bar/stem combo. I put this new standard down to everything getting a bit more beefy.
I've got Next-R carbon bars and a Unite stem and I've never thought it looks overly bulky.
It feels to me that 35mm has the potential to be better. But pretty much everyone just used it to make extra stiff bars. twas ever thus for mountain biking, it's always been a quest for more stiffs without ever asking if it might be enough stiffs.
For the same strength and stiffness, 35mm should be lighter. But show me the bar that delivers on that.
The 35 alu Renthal fatbar is lighter than the 31.8. Not too stiff either imo.
Just another standard nobody asked for, like pressfit bb's, 15mm axles and super boost, I'm surprised a new threaded bb size hasn't been introduced to wrap bigger bearings around 30mm axles. Wonder what's coming next.
They may look more appropriate on eebs, but otherwise it's one of the more pointless MTB innovations.
If you have a 31.8mm stem you like, I'd suggest sticking with what you know.
I bought a lovely new bike with very plush suspension but it felt really harsh through the bars. I kept reducing fork and tyre pressure until I realised it had 35mm bars fitted, the first ones I'd ridden.
They were developed to be stiffer (which is actually a bad thing here in my opinion) and lighter (but then a bigger stem). A strange step if you ask me, like going from 20mm to 15mm axles then adding oversized hub end caps.
I looked into it a bit - Loic Bruni runs 31.8 by choice for a bit of extra compliance. I'm sure that's the marginal gain I'm looking for to hit his kind of speed 😉
I didn't want to change stem as well so ended up with some OneUp 35mm carbon. They claim to be the best of both worlds - stiffness of 35 with compliance of 31.8. Ironic that innovation and progress is to make them feel like the 'old' standard.
Anyway, I'm extremely happy with the OneUps and they are super comfy. Just done a day at Bikepark Wales, mostly full top to bottom runs, and no hint of fatigue in the hands or feeling of chatter. They just blend into the background and best thing I can say is you aren't aware of them at all, in a good way.
Ironic that innovation and progress is to make them feel like the ‘old’ standard.
The same thing has happened to carbon rims. Make the stiffest wheels ever made, realise they feel awful, spend years developing carbon rims that feel like alloy, sell for 5 times the price of equivalent alloy rim.
35mm bars and stems are certainly cheaper 2nd hand . . . I'd say that was a benefit.
Is 25.4mm not a thing anymore then!? 🤣