Strengths: Light, Strong, Purrrrrrdy. Paint is soft to guard against chipping.
Weaknesses: One of it's strengths is also its weakness. Since the paint is soft, anything you clamp on there will deface the paint easily.
Bottom Line:
This was the 2010 model. I liked everything about the bar except for the softness of the paint. Once you clamp something on there, you better hope that's where you really want it because if you move it, there will be an impression in the paint. If the clamp has sharp edges it may tear into the paint. This doesn't happen on bars with a harder paint finish but those bars can chip easily.
Submitted by
JOwens14
a Cross Country Rider
from Lynchburg, VA
Date Reviewed: April 8, 2010
Strengths: Super lightweight for an aluminum bar, yet completely rigid with no flex. I've put it through some pretty hairy tests and it has shown no signs of flex.
Weaknesses: None
Bottom Line:
Great bar for the money. Won't flex on you like many carbon bars and can be run for a variety of riding styles. Mine were too long for my use, but they're easy enough to cut down. I went w/ the oversized clamp diameter, but I'd imagine the 25.4 would be built with the same precision.
Great bar. I bought the 31.8 version of this by accident. At first I thought that was a little bit on the large side considering the fact that I have a XC bike. However, I decided to keep it. It's not too overweight and this way it can survive any crashes without bending or taking too much damage. That, and I also bought lighter bar ends and with that weight savings, the EA70 monkeybars equipped with Ritchey Wcs-SL bar ends weigh less than my original ea30 flatbar with dimension bar ends.
Oh, one last thing, I bought the 30mm rise. Also referred to as the "mid rise". 30mm is equal to 1.18 inches.
Similar Products Used: EA30 Flatbar, other generic riser handlebars
Bike Setup: Jamis Dragon Comp
Easton EA70 monkeybars 30mm rise, Ritchey Wcs-Sl Bar Ends, Easton EA50 stem, Easton EA70 seatpost with 2 bolts for adjustment. Lizard Skin chain stay protector, Shimano pedals, Shimano LX crank set, Cateye Enduro 8 computer
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Submitted by
john1970
a Weekend Warrior
from Boston MA
Date Reviewed: February 9, 2010
Strengths: Much more comfortable that the standard bar that came on my 2009 Dawg Deluxe. Personlly I prefer a more upright riding position and the angles on the bars fit me perfectly. At Jenson's price of $28 it was a steal.
Weaknesses: None
Bottom Line:
A very comfortable bar if one is looking for a more upright riding position.
Submitted by
Kealoha
a Weekend Warrior
from Honolulu, HI
Date Reviewed: July 7, 2009
Strengths: Relatively lightweight, great bend, perfect width
Weaknesses: None
Bottom Line:
I fell in love with this bar on the first ride! This review is for the 2008 mid-rise version and is 27 inches wide with a 31.8 clamp section. It's 2 inches wider than my cut down enduro bar and that alone has made a difference. Handling is not twitchy anymore and now I can place my brake levers and shifters further in (Or grips further out...depends how you look at it)on the bar for optimal fit and single finger braking. Totally changes the feel of the bike for the better. Will buy another for my other bike for sure! Should fit the bill for all MTB riders out there...buy it, you won't be disappointed!
Submitted by
fisher_rider05
a Cross Country Rider
from Welaka, Florida, USA
Date Reviewed: April 20, 2009
Strengths: very stiff, controls great
Weaknesses: bar is too wide
Bottom Line:
This is a very responsive handlebar with very little flex. I bent my last handle bar and decided to get this one. If you flip the bike upside down you can see the flex difference between the two handlebars. Great product.
A thousand times better then my stock handlebar that I bent in one fell swoop. These Monkey rise feel like they will stand the test of time. I gained a phenomenal amount of control after adding them and they have given me a new sense of confidence. I had no idea the extra length would make such a difference. I was skeptical of Easton, never buying a bike component made from them before. But know I’m sold.
Submitted by
Bubbolo
a Weekend Warrior
from Florence, Italy
Date Reviewed: March 19, 2008
Strengths: Great value, perfect ergonomic. I like the mid rise height. It's stiff and strong but quite light, great handlebar !
Weaknesses: Rugged finish... ?
Bottom Line:
I like this handlebar, it's light but stiff. Perfect match with the Thomson X4 stem. Buy it if you need a great handlebar for your full suspended bike.
Bike Setup: SC Heckler, fox 32 rlc, full xtr, thomson, mavic st
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Submitted by
Tyrel
a Weekend Warrior
from Coeur d alene, Idaho
Date Reviewed: December 9, 2007
Strengths: Black in color, nice rise(high rise about 1.5"), STRONG, LIGHT!
Weaknesses: NONE
Bottom Line:
If you want a bar that is light enough for a wieght weenie cross country rider, yet strong enough for the most fearless freerider, THIS IS YOUR HANDLEBAR! I have owned Four different bikes that I have used this bar on for both of those reasons as well as it looks RAD!
Bike Setup: Black Market Riot frame "Raw", Red Profile SE cranks, Profile Titanium spindal, Red Dangerboy pedale, Odyssey MDS 25t sprocket, KHE halflink chain, FSA Impact sealed Headset, Thomson X4 50mm stem, Ea70 high rise bars, Bmx Odi grips, Red lock ons, Dangerboy Skull caps, Juicy 7's with Red Dangerboy Shorty levers, Hope head doctor, Rock shox PIKE team, Profile Red seat collar, Thomson Post, Odyssey SR saddle, KHE Geisha Freecoaster hub 11t, Atomlab trailpimp 36h rims, Red Atomlab Torx nipples, Black DT swiss spokes, Atomlab Aircorp 20mm front hub, Maxxis Larson tt 2.35 tires, red shrader valve covers! SICK BIKE!
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Submitted by
Cole
a Downhiller
from vancouver
Date Reviewed: November 2, 2007
Strengths: very strong and ridiculously light
Weaknesses: NONE
Bottom Line:
These are the best handlebars hands down (except maybe easton CNT bars) I run them on both my dh bike and on my dirt jumper. they have survived many crashes to still be straight. The pair on my dh bike is 2 years old and is still going strong. If you are looking to save weight look no further than these, they are truly light enough for cross country, yet strong enough for dh. If you are looking for new handle bars look no further than theses! you wont be disappointed.
Similar Products Used: crowbars, kona bars, axiom bars (all bent)
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Submitted by
John Hoath
a Cross Country Rider
from Exeter, Devon, UK
Date Reviewed: May 31, 2007
Strengths: Look bad ass. Light as hell. Stiff.
Weaknesses: None
Bottom Line:
Incredable product. Can't beat it, unless you want to go to CNT, which I don't cos I don't dig the carbon vibe. These bars have to be one of the best bike parts I have ever bought. BUY SOME! You won't regret it. I think its also worth pointing out that they are T6 heat treated which means they won't bend in a hurry, unlike alot of bonty and truativ bars.
Similar Products Used: Bonty Earls, Specialized and Marin OEMs, Club Roost and Azonic Bars
Bike Setup: 1996 Kona Hot w/RS Dukes
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Submitted by
Jay
a Cross Country Rider
from Manchester
Date Reviewed: February 20, 2007
Strengths: I have the 31.8 version, it is stiff, light, tough, perfect width and sweep.
To the Canadian donut 2nd down below, rate the bar for what it is or go out an buy a CF bar if thats what you want. 'Could be carbon fiber I suppose' ??????
Submitted by
Aaron
a Cross Country Rider
from Folsom
Date Reviewed: July 23, 2006
Strengths: Width, rise and angles, stiff
Weaknesses: None
Bottom Line:
Fantastic upgrade, especially for a singlespeed bike. The width and bends in this bar put you in a perfect position while seated, and give you the added leverage needed while out of the saddle. This handlebar made riding the singlespeed a lot easier, and fun!
Similar Products Used: RaceFace, Titec Hellbent XC
Bike Setup: 2005 Biachi G.U.S.S.; stock except added Chris King front hub, Easton EA50 stem, RaceFace Prodigy seatpost, WTB Laser V saddle
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Submitted by
Dave99
a Downhiller
from Ottawa Canada
Date Reviewed: May 14, 2006
Strengths: Somewhat light, nice wide bars, great sweep-back angle and geometry to load the front-end in corners, great feeling pulling back into wheelies, seems pretty tough so far
Weaknesses: Could be carbon fibre I suppose . . . but then they'd be sketchy and really expensive. They also tend to jam between trees on tight XC singletrack because they're so friggin' wide!
Bottom Line:
These handlebars rock! I rode some Titec Hellbents for three years and never realized how much the handlebars can improve your ride. These feel so much better and beg to pushed hard into corners. It's as if you can feel your weight loading the front-end . . . it's a great feeling connecting with your bike. They also facilitate wheelies and bunny hopping. Never would have thought the handlebars were worth spending good money until I tried them. They're worth paying extra money over the more generic stuff.
Similar Products Used: Titec Hellbent, Kona XC risers from the late 90s, Specialized Demo bars, Easton EA50 Monkeybars
Bike Setup: Santa Cruz Heckler with Sherman Flick Plus, Kona Cinder Cone with Vanilla 125R
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Submitted by
Tom
from New York
Date Reviewed: March 23, 2006
Strengths: Strong, lightweight
Weaknesses: none that I have noticed
Bottom Line:
This bike rides pretty light, but is set up to take a beating. These bars fit right in with the program. I actually had this bike set up single speed for a while. These bars are awesome for wrestling a single speed uphill. I had Ea50s on another bike. EA70s the same bars, only lighter and more expensive. I was afraid these might flex too much, but it hasn't been a problem. If you want to save a few bucks the 31.8 EA50s are also excellent.
Bike Setup: Banshee Morphine, Sun Rhynos, HFX-9s, Race Face Evolve DH cranks, Fox Talas, Maxxis Swamp Things, Thompson seat post and stem, FSA Pig Pro headset, Crank Bros Mallet Ms, Race Face Chain guide up front - no front derailleur, XT rear derailleur, Oury Lock on grips, Bonz one finger brake trigger levers.