Nothing wrong with my OEM ones, but I wanted to try one of the bars which people like for comfort, and I fancied a prettier stem. Didn't have a problem with the geometry of my current ones, so I just picked ones I liked when some good deals came up (Spank Vibrocore 35 bar, Unite stem) despite some small differences which I didn't beforehand expect to be meaningful. Not fitted anything yet, but I'm wondering if these will make a noticeable difference to how the bike feels.
The new stem is 42.5mm (only other option is 35mm), the current one 40mm. I guess this is a length that Burgtec and Unite do to satisfy both riders wanting 40mm and those wanting 45mm. My amateur calculations show it'll put the bar 2mm forward and 1mm higher.
The new bar is 25mm rise (no other options) and 8deg backsweep, the current one is 20mm and 9deg. My amateur calculations show that after removing a 5mm spacer from under the stem to compensate, the bar will be 2mm forward. Plus a bit more due to less backsweep, which I eyeball as 2mm.
So overall I probably have 6mm forward and 2mm up. Would that likely be a noticeable difference? If it is, I'm expecting that it'll pull me forward both seated and stood, slow down the steering due to increasing the effective stem length (from the grips' centres) from 27mm to 33mm, and put my wrists at a slightly different angle.
Is this basically nothing, worth trying one at a time first, or better just get something else? In the former cases, perhaps watch out in the classifieds for them in a few weeks 🙂
Your bars could actually have different amounts of reach. Looking at spank bars there is 20mm of difference between three different versions. All with the same backsweep.
Reach or rise? I'd forgotten there were three versions of the 35mm bars, these have rises of 25/40/60mm.
Never tried the 35mm bars but the vibrocore definitely makes a positive difference. I’ve just purchased another set of Spank Oozy 31.8mm to replace my OEM ones. Different rise and sweep but I’ll just tweak until they’re comfortable. I think you might be overthinking it all a bit tbh.
Fair point. Could probably get back close to what I paid (discounted) for these if I don't like them after a few rides. I'll probably fit the bars first, as the stem is just bling.
I think you might be overthinking it all a bit tbh.
This. Fit, ride, adjust as necessary. I bet you won’t even notice a difference, with the changes you are taking about.
If you want to set them up to be as close as possible - fix a length of string to the middle of the grips using an elastic bands wrapped around the grip at each end of the bar. Then take out the headset preload bolt and swap it temporarily for a longer one. Now wind the bolt out until it is level with the string (use a ruler etc flat on top of the bolt to bridge the gap). You can then compare the length of the bolt needed for the effective bar rise, and the length from the middle of the bolt to the string for effective bar sweep/stem length. If you alter the roll of the bars you should be able to get the length the same if it's only a few mm difference.
Yes I like my handlebars setup the same across my bikes...