Strengths: Strength, quality, feel basically they are the handlebar equiverlant of a Thompson seatpost
Weaknesses: None
Bottom Line:
Performs better than any other bar, it's a default product and all others need to make the grade...which they don't! Feel, strength, quality etc etc - get some.
Similar Products Used: Easton EA 70 carbon - good but no cigar!
Bike Setup: Rockshox Lyric coil u-turn, formula mega, hope hoops on dt 4.2, maxxis ardent, thompson layback (i'm 6'4"), SRAM XO/X9, DMR flats, monkeylight DH bars - stuff that survives the muck and grit and UK winters in the peaks!
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Submitted by
William Fold
a Downhiller
from Rock City, USA
Date Reviewed: May 21, 2009
Strengths: light weight, dampens trail vibration, good angles
Weaknesses: flimsy, finicky, fails easily
Bottom Line:
great bar for anyone who rides very gently and values bling over durability. a minor brush with a small sapling pushed my left (front) brake lever enough to make it rotate on the bar. when I got home there was a huge blister under the brake lever clamp. I phoned Easton and was told that the bar had failed and needed to be replaced.
on other alu bars I've had the same thing happen and all I had to do was re-orient the brake lever or shifter pod. apparently this "DH" bar can't handle a minor low-grade bit of lever rotation.
seems more like a leg-shaving weight weenie part to me. I'm going back to aluminum bars.
Strengths: Had it for ages and basically forgot about it, kind of like a King headset or Thompson post. It has outlasted 2 frames and some hard crashes and it's still going! Got them cheap at a shop that panics when their stock lasts into August and drops their pants.
Weaknesses: No indicator of the life left in it, at least (some) aluminium bars start to bend before they fail. I've seen people beat the crap out of these bars and they are still going and I've yet to hear of a failure with the DH version, but it's got to fail at some point, right?
Bottom Line:
Great Bars!! I'm over 200lbs and they have lasted. I am getting a bit wary due to their age and use but they still look good, no major scratches or dings, but at what point is it time to swap them out for a new set?
Strengths: Crazy strong and ridiculously light for the strength.
Weaknesses: If you don't like scratches, they will show some wear. Mine have earned every one. I chalk it up to battle scars They are pricey, I got special pricing from where I worked at the time so I got a screamin deal but for the regular joe w/out conections they're a kick in the pocket book.
Bottom Line:
I have abused these for three years. I weigh about 185 and ride agressively including a north shore style park on our land with many drops, jumps, and trials ranging from 1' to 5+ feet tall most with flat landings that the bar is subjected to almost daily. Never a whimper or a whine. Easton makes the best carbon products in the world...I only wish they weren't priced as such. I could not fathom breaking these bars. Four chillis if you have to pay retail if you get a bargain five, quality a resounding 6 chillis
Similar Products Used: titec, thompson, other easton, specialized, kalloy, etc
Bike Setup: FSR with MRP 6" FR kit, Z1, Sram, truvativ, rynos, factory DH's
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Submitted by
Jeremy
a Downhiller
from Mountain View, CA
Date Reviewed: July 15, 2005
Strengths: Light, strong. Used on a trials bike for over two years, and still going strong.
Weaknesses: Expensive.
Bottom Line:
Sweet bar. Couldn't recommend it more highly. It's lighter than anything nearing its strength, and it's still stiff as balls. In normal trials use, I've dropped the thing on all kinds of rocks and things, and the bar is holding up perfectly. Carbon is prone to impacts, but the outer resin layer on this bar is so hard/thick that it protects the weave really well. If you've got the money, and are looking for a wide, stiff, light, bling bar for your trials/DJ/DH rig, look no further.
Similar Products Used: Monkey bar, Azonic DH bars of some kind, hellbents, Tryall trials bar.
Bike Setup: BT trials bike, 26" SS. Thomson stem.
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Submitted by
Thomas Colson
a Cross Country Rider
from Raleigh
Date Reviewed: June 20, 2005
Strengths: This bar is orgasmic. I've been riding flatties for ever, this is my first riser bar. Put it on one hour before a 30 mile enduro...felt extremely comfortable. The resonance from washboard trail vibrations is gone at the bar ends, no longer are my wrists and hand numb at the end of 4 hours.
Weaknesses: need to have lobs cut and install bar to keep the warranty. If you cut this bar your self, or torque it wrong.....
Submitted by
Brian
a Weekend Warrior
from Clarksville, TN, USA
Date Reviewed: January 2, 2004
Strengths: It has enough flex to smooth out the small bumps but stiff enough that you don't really notice it that much. It also looks cool. It is about 2 inches wider than my old bars but I could tell much difference.
Weaknesses: It is a little expensive. You have to be really careful when mounting it. Don't overtighten the screws.
Bike Setup: 2003 Trek Liquid 30, Full XTR, Shimano 959 pedals, Easton EA70 stem.
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Submitted by
Adam
a Weekend Warrior
from Encino,ca
Date Reviewed: December 24, 2003
Strengths: strong, wide, stiff
Weaknesses: could use a little more rise
Bottom Line:
At 230 pounds I tend to be hard on stuff. I thought about trying this product for months but didn't want to spend the money thinking what a waste if I break it. I then saw my friend do a 20 foot drop in PV. He crashed and bent his Manitou Dorado upper crown but his handlebar survived. I don't do stuff like that. So far so good. It also smooths out the smaller bumps.
Bike Setup: 5 Spot, Hayes 8", crossmax xl, sram triggers, chris king headset, 03 XTR crankset, odi lock on's
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Submitted by
Alex
a Weekend Warrior
from AB, Canada
Date Reviewed: February 13, 2003
Strengths: lite, flyin the easton logo, stiff, carbon fiber, loox mighty cool... did i mention lite?
Weaknesses: there goes my rent, decals peel off like nobody's business
Bottom Line:
If you hav the green, get this bar! It'll last you a lifetime, n keep on truckin. If u can survive all the impacts of trials, n some dirt jumpin, the bar is for u. It kinda reminds me of all chris king products w/ the lifetime guarantee against failure! it'll prolly loast longer than me n my bike. I haven't tried the Scandium DH, but i've heard that's just as good n a wee bit cheaper. it's i think a smiggin heavier, but saves about 50 bux.
