Strengths: Good looking (in gold)
wide for a flat bar
Weaknesses: I bent them (!)
Bottom Line:
Good bar, originally bought because they were on offer, but during one of my worse crashes involving a tree, I put quite a noticeable, but not too bad, bend into the bar. Switched to a set of hussfelt risers, again on offer... the difference is night and day- the risers feel much better. If you're wanting a wide flat bar and don't plan to crash too much (lol), and maybe a couple of small jumps, then they'll do you proud. If you're doing more extreme stuff, then you're a fool if you don't have a decent riser bar (just like I was!)
Bike Setup: "XTR,Marzzocchi-Marathon-S,SantaCruz-Superlight,FSA-carbon cranks"
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Submitted by
REEK
a Weekend Warrior
from Baltimore MD
Date Reviewed: August 17, 2004
Strengths: Extra wide, very strong
Weaknesses: only 3 deg bend
Bottom Line:
Great bar for XC riding with a little extra width for control. I've always hated flat bars because they were narrow and I don't want a riser bar. I almost thought I should ride without a handle bar. But then I discovered these not-well-advertised wide flat bars. The extra width is exactly what I wanted.
My Azonic, like other azonic bars, has held up nicely! Plus a 5 year warrantee. too bad it only comes in a 3 deg bend. I like my Flat tracker bar a little better. Not for the rise but the 9 deg back sweep. But over all, I'm glad I bought this bar.
Bike Setup: Schwinn Rocket 88, Marzocchi MX comp 100 mm, XTR/Race Face
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Submitted by
Andrew
from NYC
Date Reviewed: June 15, 2002
Strengths: Light and beefy
Weaknesses: maybe the price
Bottom Line:
Let me set the record straight... Most of the guys below are reviewing Azonic's Double Wall Riser bar. An AWESOME bar to be sure (I've owned them, as well), however this page is dedicated to their FLAT brother ;-)
These babies have a mere 3 degree bend and NO RISE. For hardcore xc and trailriding, from what I've seen they can't be beat. Totally raceworthy, too. For freeride or downhill, look at the Azonic DW Riser bar, which I believe is also reviewed on this site... Definitely buy if you're looking for the best in FLAT aluminum xc bars!
Bike Setup: Fisher hardtail, Manitou forx, with Bontrager, Shimano, Selle Italia, Time, and Kore components, WTB and Intense tires
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Submitted by
Chris
a Weekend Warrior
from Ottawa
Date Reviewed: February 28, 2002
Strengths: Lite, for a double wall'd bar Detailed degree markings, lenght markings and came with end plugs. Price was unbeatable.
Weaknesses: Color? I have the so called red bar, I'm sorry but it's pink. Same as the Race Face red anodized bar though. If I had seen the red before orderring I would have gone with the polished. Position? It seems most flat bars have a 3 degree bend but I think thge standard should be at least 5. My rists are just a little too streched outwards unless I'm leening into the bar.
Bottom Line:
It's a good bar in the weight and strengh department. As for color and degree bend, I suggest polished oe black unless you like pink. I myself haven't seen the blue. I'd never pay the suggested retail on this bar but for the price I paid. I have no reason to remove points.
Similar Products Used: Protaper, hyperlite. My old BMX ape hangers. No name low riser with an 8 degree bend.
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Submitted by
ivan
a Downhiller
from nyc, brooklyn
Date Reviewed: October 15, 2001
Strengths: good sweep, 2.5 in rise, strong
Weaknesses: not enopugh clearance for my levers and shifters my bar is only 25 in wide(that's y it cost me onlt $20.00 at mt lbs) but the width is fine for my type of riding
Bottom Line:
i would not pay moe than 50 bucks for this bar but for th emoney i paid for it i's great
Similar Products Used: Specialized Special rise, Specialized Low Rise
Bike Setup: 00' Spec. Enduro Comp, MRP long travel kit w/ helix, Z1 QR20 Dropoff, Hayes 8-fnt/6-rear, DH crank, atomic whls
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Submitted by
Hank Sola
a Weekend Warrior
from Newton, MA
Date Reviewed: April 15, 2001
Strengths: Wide (yes this is good - give it a chance) strong (at least they look it) Light! and they look great on a beefy bike
Weaknesses: CANNOT MOVE LEVERS AND SHIFTERS IN!!!!!! This is the ONLY reason I am selling them.
Bottom Line:
These bars made me fall in love with WIDE bars. It took a while to get used to them, but the CONTROL on wheelies and drops is unbelievable!
The outer wall does not allow me to move my shifters (shimano) away from the grips and they would constantly rub my hands - very annoying!
I finally found another WIDE bar - Bontrager Crow Bar XXX DH. These are just as wide, and they allow me to move my levers and shifters in more. They are considerably heavier (some of the heaviest bars I have seen) but they are only $29.95! WIDE BARS RULE!
Weaknesses: -A wee bit pricey...($65 original price for HANDLEBARS?!Ouch)
Bottom Line:
I wouldn't have gotten this bar without a discount,since $65 is a LOT for a part that I could bend within the space of a month(I weigh 200 lbs and I am a complete hammerhead!I break a lot of stuff).
That said,I LOVE THIS BAR!It was my first riser bar.After riding with this thing I'll never go back to flats!It's survived a year of stairs,curbs,6-foot drops,and some BRUTAL crashes,and it's STILL not bent!
If you have some extra money lying around,this is a great bar to get!5 chilies!
Similar Products Used: Titec Hellbent DH,Koski XC Riser(bent),Specialized+Kore flat bars
Bike Setup: S.C Chameleon
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Submitted by
Greg Carmichael
a Cross Country Rider
from Issaquah, WA
Date Reviewed: April 4, 2001
Strengths: Wide Stiff Perfect Rise/Sweep
Weaknesses: NONE
Bottom Line:
I've tried several bars over the last couple of years and this is by far the most sweet. This is the ultimate freeride/jumping/do anything bar. More comfortable than any bar I've ever used and less upward sweep than the Azonic PDW bar which caused a lot of strain in my wrist. Lots of different companies blowing out Azonic bars on the internet, get one now...
Bike Setup: 14.5" Giant 860,maguras,middleburn RS7 cranks,SUP ceramic rims, kujo DH, XTR short cage,fatty rigid forks, race face stem
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Submitted by
GNU
a Downhiller
from Adelaide, Australia
Date Reviewed: June 21, 2000
Strengths: Its really wide for great control, is really light and can withstand smashing into trees. Good rise and sweep and doesnt take to long to get used to
Weaknesses: There are no weaknesses to this bar, but a few more colours could be handy
Bottom Line:
Moto Moto Moto, if you like the feeling of really wide moto style light weight bars these are for you. Youve got great control when you go for phat air and they wont break when you stack big time. Its great how they have added markings on the centre of the bar to measure how far you want to set it forward or back and its just right to fit in most bolt on headstems with out the need for a spacer or over tightening. Go buy em!!!
Bike Setup: Santa Cruz Superlight, XTR, SID SL, FOX Float RC, Hope XC4s
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Submitted by
Ben
a Weekend Warrior
from england
Date Reviewed: May 5, 2000
Strengths: strenght (though i can't say durability cos i've only had them a while) great sweep angle, really comfortable. width
Weaknesses: haven't found any yet.
Bottom Line:
These are good bars. The 2.5 inch rise is perhaps too much, took a while to get used to, but with a short stem with very little rise it matters less. The width also took a while to get used to, but now i have it is fantastic. apart from in the trees, previoulsy do-able gaps now become somewhat more difficult with an extra 2 inches on each end of the bar.