Submitted by
b3rnard
a Cross Country Rider
from Los Angeles, CA, USA
Date Reviewed: January 10, 2009
Strengths: Very light-weight composite material. Very sturdy, gives you a really positive steering feel. In my opinion the composite material absorbs most of the vibration, or could a combination of that and the grips itself.
Weaknesses: In about a month-ish I found a stress fracture on the bar - the part where it tapers, the rise. It started off a few mm long and gradually became about 1/2 long.
Bottom Line:
It's definitely a very light piece and sturdy HB. Overall I am happy with it, EASTON replaced the defective bar immediately. It has a 10 year warranty, and that gives me some peace of mind in-case it breaks again :)
I am giving it a value of 4 Chilis, for its 10 year warranty. 3 Chilis overall because it broke within a month of use.
Damn that thing is light. I'd like something a little stiffer, though. That being the case, I probably should have gotten the 31.8 version, instead of the 25.4. Can't blame the bar for that!
Bike Setup: Norco full suspension with Bomber MCR1, Race Face crank and XTR drive train, Tune custom wheels with Hutchinson tires.
Overall Rating:
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Submitted by
David
a Weekend Warrior
from Petaluma, CA USA
Date Reviewed: October 22, 2006
Strengths: nice, light, sexy lookin.
Weaknesses: I heard rumors of them breaking, but it would seem you would have to be really using these bars for DH or serious freeriding and land bad to break em. I use em right so I would say none.
Bike Setup: '04 Marin Attack Trail, '07 Vanilla RLC, '04 Float RL, Hayes HFX9's, xt front Sram x9 Rear.
Overall Rating:
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Submitted by
Phill
a Cross Country Rider
from New Zealand
Date Reviewed: October 3, 2006
Strengths: Well made,nice length,strong,light weight.
Weaknesses: Uncomfortable bend!
Bottom Line:
My comments pertain to the 06 lo rise 31.8 dia EC70 carbon monkeylite bar. As stated in "strengths"most of what I have to say is positive. However (for reasons best known to Easton)on this particular bar(The 31.8) they have changed the upward bend to about double the standard 4 degrees making for a much less comfotable bend.The standard bend for their 1 inch monkeylite is 8 degrees rearward and 4degrees upward bend. The most annoying thing I find (apart from less comfort)is that no where on their website do they allude to this fact.Great bar shame about the bend!
Strengths: Stiff. Nice bend-angle. Light. Perfect width. Very tough, beat the snot out of these pups on the rigid SS. If they can takes hits from a rigid fork, they'll take anything a suspesion fork can throw at it.
Weaknesses: None. Well, it ain't cheap.
Bottom Line:
I liked this bar so much I got another for my 2nd SS. At first I didn't like the up sweep-bend. After a few rides I grew to love it. I have a hard time riding another bar. With a fat pair of OURYs these are the ticket for rigid SS riding.
Submitted by
Ralphie
a Weekend Warrior
from Yakima WA
Date Reviewed: August 21, 2006
Strengths: light and strong, vibration damping the real deal.
Weaknesses: was expensive, now cheap. Flexy compared to DH bars, stiffer than most XC bars.
Bottom Line:
Finally cracked these a few weeks ago. I had converted to a 5"/6" FS singlespeed. I used to have very powerful legs (800+ lb sled was workout wieght), and even though my muscle is nicely marbled now ;p I can still crakn like hell. Basically, I was pushing a 36/15 (yup 15! I was using my 9sp cog) singlespeed uphill. Ended up cracking both sides of the bar at the brake mount, underneath the bar. Otherwise, awesome bar. I believe this bar should be changed every 2-3 years, like most bars. I liked the fact that it cracked without snapping, I have seen aluminum bars snap along grain failure weak spots in the metal. Jagged metal to thoat= bad idea. 5 Chilis for an excellent product. (5 for value since you can buy them dirt cheap now)
Weaknesses: I wish there was an option for a slightly narrower version
Bottom Line:
These have been a great upgrade. Wasn't sure how much vibration and impact reduction I would really feel on a ride... but WOW, these things work. Your hands are always in contact with the handlebars and I found with my stock handlebar my shoulders and back were taking quite a beating. Reading the reviews it seemed that the jury was still out on exactly how much this handlebar would help... but boy have I felt the difference.
Makes my riding a whole lot less painful and a whole lot more fun. Have had no issue with swapping out grips or bar ends (Cane Creek locking and Ergo Control II), but I've let my LBS do those installs to make sure the tension is just right.
All in all these handlebars are fantastic and I would definitely recomned them.
Submitted by
Fred Sled
a Weekend Warrior
from Spawn Ranch, CA
Date Reviewed: July 14, 2005
Strengths: Super light, stiff, cool factor
Weaknesses: None
Bottom Line:
This bar right out of the box is just cool, the look and feel of it. Then when you mount it up and ride, the stiffness and control are perfection. The fact that they look bad ass clamped in a polished stem, doesn't hurt either. I have these on both of my bikes. The retail price on these is kind of extreme.
Bought these 4/22/99 and they have been a set and forget part ever since. I'm over 200lbs. and ride fairly aggro. These have survived 3 cracked frames (not the Bullit), North Star, Moab, Durango ect. and more crashes than I can recall. I'm replaceing these 24s w some 26s :)
Submitted by
Tony Grace
a Cross Country Rider
from Perth, WA,Australia
Date Reviewed: April 29, 2005
Strengths: Strong and light, some give to take some shock out when needed . Looks good on the bike.
Weaknesses: None yet
Bottom Line:
I purchased the bars as a combo with the Easton MG60 stem for US$55 a really good deal. When I got them I was worried about the strength of them and all that + the possible corrosion problems with MG60. I also weigh 100kgs or 220lbs. After reading all the comments I did not make one scratch on the bars fitting them and I have punished these bars over all sorts of XC terrain and some drops I never saw coming. They have been great highly recommend them.I run profiles bar ends on them and these have saved my hands and taken some knocks with no ill effects on the bars.
Similar Products Used: Other Easton, Titec & Giant
Bike Setup: Giant NRS 3 frame, Easton bars, stem & post, SRAM Rockets with XT Derailuers, MAG+, 04 Zoke Marathon SL 120's & CC Headset.
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Submitted by
Clay
a Cross Country Rider
from Austin, Tx, USA
Date Reviewed: February 13, 2005
Strengths: Unbelievably light handlebar. Perfect width and rise. It hasn't broken.
Weaknesses: It cost alot of money even on sale. Shows scratch marks pretty easy.
Bottom Line:
As the weight on my bike rose due to adding disc brakes and tubeless tires I swapped the OEM bar with the EC70 riser to see if I could lighten it up a little. The bar itself is very light but the part is so small I really couldn't see any difference. I like the bar more than the alum. because of the lack of flex. The LBS said that the EC90 was quite a bit wider and the rise was greater so I went with the EC70. I got a huge scratch on it trying to mount handlebar lights but it has survived some hits to trees and crashes. I recommend the bars. They just feel a little different under your hands.
Submitted by
Clem Hobbs
a Weekend Warrior
from Toronto, Ontario Canada
Date Reviewed: December 14, 2004
Strengths: Lightweight
Weaknesses: cracks easily
Bottom Line:
Nice lightweight bar with perfect sweep and feel to it, holds up well to crashes. For strictly, and I mean NO drops, xc type riding I would recommend it.
Unfortunately I've cracked two of them using different stems (two & four bolt designs). I received my second bar after getting the first replaced under warranty. Fast & efficient customer service. I've also seen other people experience the same problem, look up a thread in the Turner forum quite a while ago, includes pics.
Both bars started showing cracks along the top of the bar, to the inside of the first upsweep. At the time I was doing some drops & jumps but nothing more than 3-4ft or so. Rather than have the bar fail, the cracks spooked me enough to bail on it and I replaced it with an Easton aluminumn bar as I like the feel of their design.
If you're into any form of riding that involves drops or jumps I'd pass on these bars.
