[Closed] Flat Bars - Alu or carbon?

carbon bars are stronger but also more easily broken by over zealous use of an allen key. ( this is not to say alu bars aren't affected, you end up cripping alu and cracking carbon.)

The last few bars i have had have been carbon and they seem to be less harsh than Alu bars, i run 580mm bars by the way.

[i]but also more easily broken by over zealous use of an allen key[/i]

Or you could buy a torque wrench / torque key instead...

http://www.evanscycles.com/products/ritchey/5nm-torque-key-for-carbon-bars-and-stems-ec017614?utm_source=froogle&utm_medium=froogle&utm_campaign=froogle

Not through want of trying I'm yet to damage a bar with over-tightening......got a nice torque wrench with my new bike so hopefully wont bust one that way.

I'm looking at Ritchey WCS flats as a benchmark, both 580mm.....

Carbon - 135g and EUR99.00
Alu - 140g and EUR37.00

....but harsh you say....

I found Easton Carbon bars better than Bontrager. I have used bar ends on both types and after a spill, the thick laquer on the Bonty's cracks and means that the bar ends will no longer grip, having essentially removed/reamed the outer layer of laquer.
The only answer was to cut off the affected area of the bars. After a few spills I ended up with REALLY skinny bars - perhaps the answer is to stay upright a bit more.
This didn't happen with the Easton bars as they don't seem to have this very thick layer of laquer - hence the recommendation for them.

Check out Mount Zoom carbon bars, lighter and cheaper than the Ritcheys. Bar end compatible too.

I personally had problems fitting bar ends to Easton bars, even ones deemed 'acceptable' by Easton on their EC70s. Would avoid if you're using bar ends.

Thanks, question is aluminium or carbon? Are alu bars noticeably more harsh than carbon? Am going to do some long, long rides this summer, comfort is important but if I can for once not just go for the most expensive option I will.

i notice it, but how much is my head and how much is real? how much difference grips make etc.

http://www.actionsports.de/gb/Components/Handlebars/Handlebars-MTB/Ritchey-WCS-Carbon-Lenker-318mm::8959.html

cheaper here !!

I recommend the KCNC stuff - [url= https://clee-cycles.co.uk/cc/catalog/product_info.php/cPath/40_36/products_id/42?osCsid=mvpul8i4p55iggq77029girf97 ]Scandium bars[/url] 135g, [url= https://clee-cycles.co.uk/cc/catalog/product_info.php/cPath/40_38/products_id/115?osCsid=mvpul8i4p55iggq77029girf97 ]bar ends[/url] 46g. Beautifully made, and very good value. With a pair of Odi Attack grips you have a seriously light and pretty comfy set of bars.

Thats another good German mail order firm radoggair, I thought Bike24.de were hard to beat.

Still undecided on alu v carbon, at EUR79 maybe I just get carbon.

Action Sports are very good. Carbon all the way.

I have the KCNC flat bars linked to above, mine are quoted as 133g on the end of the bar but actually weigh in at 130g. You can get them even cheaper on XCRacer - they're £40 delivered. I got mine second hand in VGC for £20, which was an absolute bargain. Bare in mind also that they're 600mm not the traditional 580mm (as the Ritchey's are), so you have a bit of leeway should you want to run bar ends or just cut them down anyway (in which case they'll be even lighter). So they're slightly lighter and much better value than the Ritchey's, only issue is to what extent carbon bars take the sting out, which is something I can't comment on as I've never owned a pair.

Thanks for that link to Actionsports radoggair, EUR102 delivered got me those Ritchey WCS Flat Carbons and matching Short SL barends.

I'm not in the market for a new groupset but they have some pretty good deals on SLX and XT. Cant wait for GBP/EUR to get back to 1.5, riding bikes might even be affordable again.....

I accept your thanks 🙂