Advantages Of A Flat Bar

Very intrested to know what are the advantages of a flat bar
over the standard riser type

Lower front end- big in the DH world as forks are longer and higher.

More space to hang clutter?

Also it all depends on whether you add spacers below/above to the actual height.

Mine. As you can see, this had some spacers when the pic was taken, although they've gone now. Personally I rather prefer the look of a flat bar, and this one is as heavily swept and wide as most risers. I could get it slightly lower than I could a riser, if that was what was wanted. And, being both rather 90s and not very 'core I prefer the look. 🙂

In theory you can build it stronger for a given weight too. I still prefer the look of a riser on the right bike though.

makes you feel proper old skool?

Lighter, stronger, usually cheaper for the same quality (Keith Bontrager wuz wrong here!)
Most MTB's, these days have far too high front ends anyway, indeed, the other day I saw a rider with risers mounted UPSIDE DOWN!, like a penny farthing, to get the front a bit lower on his bike!.

i've had a hankering to try some. i really want some flat carbons with somewhere between 9 or 11 deg sweep. haven't had chance to find some to try yet though. my carbon risers are starting to look tired 🙁

Pinches where is the sweep on the flat bars.

well flat bars are flat, e.g zero rise, all handlebars have sweep, read the spec of a set, ALL handlebars normally have a sweep of 4-5deg.

rise is a completely different measurement to sweep.

so ner.

I think Salsa do exactly the bar you're looking for pinches!

Salsa

They look nicer and fit between trees better (presuming that you get proper ones and not the comedy wide ones 😉

Lighter, stronger, usually cheaper for the same quality

Carbon risers are pretty light. Never broken a handlebar, don't need it to be stronger, don't want a cheap component in this application, thanks

Fashion – Turn to the left
Fashion – Turn to the right
We are the goon squad
And we're coming to town
Beep-beep – Beep-beep

my Mum's bought me a pair of the same Truvativ bars that feature on Bigdummy's bike. 700mm wide with 10deg sweep. The front end of my xl trance is way too high, even with the stem flipped, so really looking forward to getting them on.

All those things I mentioned are simply useful side effects of losing the shopper bars( and cheaper doesn't always mean cheap)
The main reason that flats improve things is because the front end is lowered, you'll be able to actually pedal up stuff! and as you'll have more weight on the front wheel it may improve your cornering too!
Having a less sit-up-and beg position is better for the spine, so you may find your pedalling action is more efficient.

I'm still in the mid-90s xc race position – don't know nuffink else. 8)

What's all this 700mm wide 10 deg. sweep nonesense?

Real flat bars are well under 600mm wide with a 3 or 5 deg. sweep.

Come on guys if you're gonna do it, do it right. 🙂

I can recommend Salsa Moto-bars – nice flat, swept and wide and next year you can cut them down to 400mm 😉

And bar ends don't look gash on 'em!

standard "XC race" flat bars come in at about 580.

All things being equal the shorter the stem the more rise in stem or bars you need. On a 50mm stem I'd much rather have 0 rise with riser bars than a 45 degree stem and flat bars or too many spacers. So it is aesthetics but it depends on what sort of bike. 100mm stems with riser bars look rubbish.

I've flatties, a straight 125mm stem and Onza bar ends. 8)

Tried risers …. nah!!

600mm sounds wide – I think my EC90 bar is only 560mm!

My love of the flat bar comes from a youth spent ogling mid 90s Cannondales and Kleins that I couldn't afford, rather than any real performance benefit!

Presently using 580mm flat bars. I fancy some 600mm wide though to allow for bar ends. Anyone know who makes a 600mm flat bar?

I thought I'd leave it to some of the rest of youse to mention 'the bar end' issue as a good thing too.
I'm glad you did. 😉

Main advantage of a flat bar- the beer glasses don't slide to one end.

@ starseven

There are loads of 600mm flat bar manufacturers, for example RaceFace, FSA, Truvativ, ControlTech, KCNC – take your pick in either 25.4mm or 31.8mm…..

Yup, got to confess i fitted some 685mm wide flat bars (well, 710 but cut them down) just so I could run bar ends on them. I've now got a mega-mountain tourer with wide bar handling but with a climbing position that works and bar ends.

go for a spin on my original clockwork now n again, x-lite flat and very narrow bars (and onza bar ends), scary, dont know how i used to go so quick on it !

Kipper, I don't have any trouble climbing or cornering, thanks all the same, you have your fashion, I'll have mine…

pinches – Member

well flat bars are flat, e.g zero rise, all handlebars have sweep,

not quite true…

😉

I quite fancy some of these. Problem is my Pitch is already hardish to get the front end up as it is so flat bars might* make that worse.

*Can anybody confirm this or have I made it up?

don't want a cheap component in this application, thanks

Why not? Just because they're cheap don't mean they're weak: Just a bit heavier. I've only ever paid more than £20 for bars the once (EA70s, £45) and they are no different in use to the OE Spesh and £17 Truvative bars I'm using on my bikes now.

quite fancy some of these. Problem is my Pitch is already hardish to get the front end up as it is so flat bars might* make that worse.

*Can anybody confirm this or have I made it up?

Pitches may be hard to wheelie because they are so loooong! Although I don't have too much problem with it.
And FFS don't put flat bars on one. That's a bit of a wild mismatch. Remember, it's not an XC bike….. 🙂
I thought the standard ones were fine on mine, but just a tad narrow, so I swapped them for some FSA Maximus bars, which are about 710mm. They are a perfect match for the bike.
I played around with stem length on mine as well (40mm & 60mm) and it didn't improve the bike at all, so I stuck with the standard one. I think Spesh have made a good job of setting them up, TBH. 🙂

The bar in the link is no xc bar Peter!

I am umming and arring whether I need a wider bar or not. Ive got a 70mm syncros stem that puts the bars in a good place as well as plenty of spacers that I can move around but I am unsure if I should get a wider bar or not. I know a flat bar would make sense if I boosted my forks up to 170mm that might even make the bar height lower than it is now.

Better position for climbing and faster somehow, again prolly to do with riding position. Disadvantages, minor handling degradation and not so easy to get the front up, but that can be remedied with a shorter stem.

Can be cropped more easily too if you are small.

west kipper – Member

……………………..
Having a less sit-up-and beg position is better for the spine, so you may find your pedalling action is more efficient.

I am unconvinced its better for your spine – I certainly find a more upright position better for my back and it would appear to keep your back more in natural alignment.

A low bar you tend to loose the lumbar concave curve and exaggerate the cervical concave curve

The bar in the link is no xc bar Peter!

I am umming and arring whether I need a wider bar or not. Ive got a 70mm syncros stem that puts the bars in a good place as well as plenty of spacers that I can move around but I am unsure if I should get a wider bar or not. I know a flat bar would make sense if I boosted my forks up to 170mm that might even make the bar height lower than it is now.

Fair enough. 🙂

You are aware Pitches are only rated up to 160mm aren't you? Probably won't make too much difference tho…..

Such guff talked about this subject.
Does anyone actually measure the distance from ground-to-grips?
Or just assume their bars must be lower/higher/wider/narrower this year cos someone said it on the internet?

Why not? Just because they're cheap don't mean they're weak: Just a bit heavier

This may be true, it also may be true that the manufacture process isn't as rigorous, and the QC process isn't happening, or that they use cheaper materials…Hey, it's a personal thing, we all have choices.