|
|
|
| |
Submitted by
Burt
a Cross Country Rider
from Brantford, ON
Date Reviewed: May 12, 2003 | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$15.00 | | Purchased At: | McBride Cycle @Toronto Bike Show | | Strengths: | Light Weight 125gms
Looks like Carbon fibre
Nice flex to absorb vibration | | Weaknesses: | None yet | | Similar Products Used: | Titec Hellbent XC | | Bike Setup: | 2002 NRS 2 too many changes to list | | Bottom Line: | Actually only paid 10.00 CDN. I thought that these would either snap like a twig or be a hell of a deal. I didn't put barends on them to keep the weight down. Good flex to absorb the bumps. I would highly recommend them. I'm pissed that I didn't buy 2 for that price.
Save yourself the Easton headaches and look for a pair! | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
David
a Cross Country Rider
from Los Angeles, CA
Date Reviewed: January 30, 2003 | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Price Paid: |
$100.00 | | Purchased At: | LBS | | Strengths: | Strong, lightweight, durable | | Weaknesses: | None | | Similar Products Used: | nothing new for 6 years. | | Bike Setup: | 1996 Steelman Single Track, Marzocchi, XT/XTR | | Bottom Line: | A great handlebar, I put this on my my bike in 1996. A perfect xc component; strong, light and durable. This is one of the few products that I would definitely buy again with no qualms. Still shows no sign of cracks. Highly recommend. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Joe
a Racer
from Atlanta, Ga.
Date Reviewed: March 4, 2002 | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Price Paid: |
$110.00 | | Purchased At: | shop | | Strengths: | Light, durable | | Weaknesses: | None. Cost isn't a weakness, as I'd have worn out 3 aluminum bars by now. | | Similar Products Used: | It's been too long to remember | | Bike Setup: | 96 Trek OCLV, Manitou SX Carbon; Shimano, Thomson; Mavic/XTR wheels | | Bottom Line: | Wildly expensive, but worth it. I bought this bar in 1995, the same year I started doing about 15 XC races/year. The last four years have been in Expert class, and I've never given the bar a second thought. I've used them on three different frames, four different stems, with bar ends and without. I periodically inspect them for cracks, crunches, etc.; nothing. I clipped a tree hard enough to tear off a Control Tech stubby bar end; no damage to the bar. I'm not real hard on equipment (150lbs) but for a bar to have seven full racing seasons on it is remarkable. If it shatters tomorrow, I can't complain. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Gio
a
from Chicago
Date Reviewed: March 10, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | DP River Trails | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Purchased At: | Took off a used bike. | | Strengths: | Very light,some shock absorbtion. | | Weaknesses: | None. | | Similar Products Used: | None. | | Bike Setup: | 199? Trek Aluminum,LX/Grip-Shift,96' Judy w/Englund air cartridges. | | Bottom Line: | I have ridden on these bars for 5 years and have no complaints at all. I did use some 1 1/2" pieces of conduit in the bars to stiffen them when installing bar ends.(Scott 120gm.) The bar ends will slip when you crash, just loosen em up and adjust, and go. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
biknben
a Racer
from Robbinsville, NJ
Date Reviewed: December 9, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | porquipine rim | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Price Paid: |
$80.00 | | Purchased At: | LBS | | Strengths: | Light weight, shock absorbtion | | Weaknesses: | Finally broke them...but I'm not complaining | | Bike Setup: | GT I-Drive, Full XTR, etc. | | Bottom Line: | I used the LFX-2 (bar/barend combo) for nearly 3 years. Raced with it this past season. Deffinately the lightest setup you can find. Too bad Scott pulled out of the US.
Today I endoed and the bars broke at the bend. Finally, I'd been waiting for it to happen. Thankfully it wasn't catastophic. I got too far forward going over a big log and got dumped on my head. Wasn't expecting it and never let go of the bars. The extra force of my weight when the bar end dug into the ground was just enough to break the fiber just outside of where my hand goes. I was able to finish the ride. Just couldn't use the bar end. Am still really happy with the product. Lasted longer than any of my previous bar choices. Oh well!!!
I see an Easton CT2 bar in my future. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Mark
a Cross Country Rider
from Westchester, NY
Date Reviewed: April 6, 2000 | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Strengths: | Light, strong, shock absorbing | | Weaknesses: | None | | Similar Products Used: | Regular bar/barend combo | | Bottom Line: | I have had an LFX-2 (one piece bar/barend)for about four years and have never had a problem. I weigh about 180 lbs and ride pretty hard, and have taken my share of spills, and the bar is still going strong. There is some flex when riding on the ends of the barends, but does not cause a problem. Great setup, looks cool, and is the lightest setup around. Cost me about $75.00 mail order, which is way cheaper that a good bar/barend combo. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
craig bigelow
a Cross-Country Rider
from midland tx
Date Reviewed: July 3, 1999 | | Favorite Trail: |
caprock notrees | | Duration Product Used: |
more than 3 years | | Bottom Line: | had lfx-2 for around 6 yrs never let me down . crashed on it and bent the corners and it never did fail .was kinda worried about getting brake levers & shifters off when deciding to go to a riser but dident have to get out the hack saw. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Knute Aberhanson
a Racer
from Folsom, CA
Date Reviewed: May 9, 1999 | | Favorite Trail: |
Why give it away??!!! | | Duration Product Used: |
2 Years | | Strengths: |
The LIGHTEST bar/bar end combo you can get! | | Weaknesses: |
None for me so far. | | Similar Products Used: |
Misc Aluminum bars w/ ends | | Bike Setup: |
Ventana Marble Peak FS w/ long travel Judy - full XTR | | Bottom Line: | These are a GREAT one piece bar/barend combo! (SCOTT LFX-2) I'm sad to hear about some of the other reviews on these that have had breakages, I have had no problems what so ever... that means after lots of CRASHES, BANGS and BUMPS. I raced X-C for 2 seasons on these and LOVE them. They are light weight (165 grams... remember, that includes the bar ends!) and I find the outside curve comfy. I am sorry to hear that others have had breakage problems, I don't have an explanation (ask SCOTT?) I weight only 150 lbs, but I do WAIL down the nasty stuff. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Marky
a racer
from W-S, North Carolina
Date Reviewed: December 27, 1998 | | Bottom Line: |
Just an update on my LFX-2 bars after my original review in September of 1997. These bars are still going strong!! Survived a few minor crashes, enough to scuff them up at least. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Matt Bingaham
a weekend warrior
from London, Ontario, Canada
Date Reviewed: September 16, 1998 | | Bottom Line: |
I got this here bar as a replacement for an LF about 2 and half years ago and no problems. Until I went into a downhill race a couple of weeks ago and crashed hard and I managed to break it (under my gripshift). I ride pretty hard and aggresive and tend to bail quite a bit. Other bars have bent or broke sooner so I guess its pretty good. But at the same time when your spending 100 bucks (in canada probably 250) it should be bombproof! | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Oregon C.O.K.T. member
a cross-country rider
from Corvallis
Date Reviewed: September 7, 1998 | | Bottom Line: |
4 stars because they aren't the LXF-2s::They are almost as comfortable except for the barend edges under my palms. About as comforting with regard to possibly breaking at the wrong time, as the LXF-2s. My bud Koby-san has ridden with me less now that I have the LXFs, than with the LXF-2s. My handlebar recommendation to him was: the LXF-2s...My LXF-2s? Well, they snapped like a twig. JRA. Clean, flat trail, stretching in the big ring, loosening my back and
S P L A T! Right on my face, one shoe on, one shoe off and still in the clip, right barend still in my hand. After removing bar from bike and examining it, I found no scratches or nicks on the right side. I always had cork tape from the grip on out to the end. Once I asked, Scott gladly and quickly replaced the LXF-2 with the LXF and a pair of barends. I would still buy the LXF-2 if it weighed 250 grams but lived up to the promise of thermoplastic durability. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Fast Freddy
a cross-country rider
from Ohio
Date Reviewed: August 11, 1998 | | Bottom Line: |
I have a set of these on my Super V and I have gone over these things atleast 5 times now and even bent a stock Coda Bar End on them. They still have not shown any signs of weakness. These are pretty tough. I weigh 210 lbs and ride pretty hard - even race now and then. I feared they'd break off and kill me but it hasn't happened yet. 500 off road miles so far... and they haven't been easy. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Koby-san
a weekend warrior
from Austin, TX
Date Reviewed: June 20, 1998 | | Bottom Line: |
I actually write this with great regret. First I would like to sat that I have gotten absolutely first rate warrentee service from the Scott guys. I hunted all over to find the LFX2 after Scott left the US. After finding a pair (with the help of Scott US) I rode them for about 2 months pretty hard and was very happy with the bar. My first set died on a normal climbing endo. They were promptly and cheerfully replaced. About 3 hours on the trail and my second set broke the same way. Both times I snapped the bar end off the handle bar and could ride out. Both time, snapped like a twig would be a fitting description. I think that I will be riding 3 piece bars from now on (separate bar ends) for stress relief at that joint. I will miss the vibration damping and lightness of the bar. I have riding buddys who seem to be getting good servie from their LFX2s. It is a good product, just not for me. | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
jim
a racer
from usa
Date Reviewed: June 19, 1998 | | Bottom Line: |
i've had two of these handlebars in the past year. The first one i put about a half a centimeter thick scratch in, no big deal, right. I paid the 20 bucks to get a new one, and everything was fine. Well, this past week while i was in moab i crashed on slickrock (the trail). My barend was way out of wack, and i thought i had just bent or loosend the barend. So i finished the ride (not using my barends) and when i got back to my hotel i took off the barend and i notices that the whole end of my handle had cracked!!!! I had to buy a whole new handle bar, just so i could ride for the rest of that week!!! Talk about pissing me off. I thought that this handlebar was bombproof. That's a bunch of bullshit. I have a friend that has broken this handlebar too. I have lost total trust in this product. Hell, the crappy avenir bar that i bought has stood up to more punishment than my bombproof Scott LFX bar ever could. I guess if you don't ever ride this handle bar would be good, because it does look cool, and is pretty light. If you never crash, this bar might be pretty good too, but lets face it; if you ride, your going to fall, so this bar isn't worth it no matter what. I never thought i would give out one flaming turd, but there is a first time for everything | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Steve Z
a racer
from St. Cloud, Minnesota
Date Reviewed: March 15, 1998 | | Bottom Line: |
I've raced a whole hard season on the LFX-2s. Unless you are a heavy rider or a downhiller, I wouldn't worry about breakage. Moulded in bar ends do make swapping shifters/brake levers a true chore and can result in a little scraping at the bends. Still, these are good, tuff bars. And the lightest out there. You couldn't ask for more. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Jeff
a cross-country rider
from Atlanta, GA
Date Reviewed: February 10, 1998 | | Bottom Line: |
My roommate designed and prototyped the LFX for Scott originally (they subcontracted out to the company he used to work for). Best damn bar I have ever used. Absolutely bomb-proof. Scott didn't follow his QA recommendations when they took it into production, and that's why you see failures here and there. I wouldn't buy one off the shelf knowing what I know, but if you get a good one, they'll last forever... | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Darrin Valdez
a cross-country rider
from Davison, Michigan
Date Reviewed: December 25, 1997 | | Bottom Line: |
The bars are extremely light & rigid. I dont use bar ends. If I did I might have reservations in using these bars. I am impressed with the bar position and the overall quality. I have not crashed with the bars yet but I my weight is 190 pounds. That alone pretty brutal on any bars. The bars look cool on my Cannondale Super-V Raven 2000. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Andy
a weekend warrior
from Canada
Date Reviewed: November 18, 1997 | | Bottom Line: |
This is a very light handlebar. I've never had any problems with it(If they don't break on ya, you're doin fine). They are a little flexier than any aluminum bar but that is where the added shock absorption comes from. I've crashed good and hard on them numerous times and still no problem. For all of the trendy image posers it looks pretty cool too. ;) | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Sven
a racer
from Norway
Date Reviewed: November 6, 1997 | | Bottom Line: |
Have used the LFX-2 all year with a couple good wipeouts and bar end snags on trees no problems great ride this bar is the whip - any questions - Bueller? | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
jack
a weekend warrior
from Nashville
Date Reviewed: October 17, 1997 | | Bottom Line: |
I've been riding Scott AT2 LF's, both alum and carbon, for several years and really liked them, mainly because they saved so much weight. Today, I took a quick 30 min ride on my new Azonic DH bar and I'm ditching the Scott. The DH bar is more comfortable and I feel more in control of where the front wheel is going. I was blasting the single-track with a lot more confidence. The Scotts were just too narrow (I've used 22.5 and 22.) | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Marky
a racer
from Brockville, Ont, Can
Date Reviewed: September 10, 1997 | | Bottom Line: |
Wicked bars! Super light (190 g for LFX-2) and very comfortable hand positions. Don't worry about new bars slipping in the stem, they have modified new ones to prevent slippage. Despite the high price they are still worth it! | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
brendon
a
from sf, ca
Date Reviewed: September 5, 1997 | | Bottom Line: |
Initially, I was scared that I'd break 'em.....I tweak them hard on the bar ends when I climb and they have done very well...great way to save over 150 grams for less than $100. Only downside....It's a bitch to get your shifter/levers on!!! | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Craig
a cross-country rider
from York, PA
Date Reviewed: July 24, 1997 | | Bottom Line: |
I got the LF-X when I got my Scott Pro Racing. You can't beat the weight and, near as I can tell, the thing is bombproof. It soaks up the ripples and looks cool as hell. Since I dropped lots of cash on the bike, the shop gave me the bar for half-price, which is probably the only way I'd ever own a $100 handlebar. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Aicher Clan Member
a
from Earth
Date Reviewed: July 1, 1997 | | Bottom Line: |
THE LF-x2 is the greatest handlebar/bar end combo I have ever tried, not only does the thermoplastic rule, but the name thermoplastic sounds strong anyway.
question. Do you care about your ride?
answer No- don't ride.
answer yes- get a SCOTT THERMOPLASTIC LF-x2 handlebar. Because someday you'll be dead. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
T-Man
a cross-country rider
from West Lafayette, IN
Date Reviewed: May 7, 1997 | | Bottom Line: |
Personally, I would opt for the Black Magic over the LFX handlebar. I bought the LFX before I read the reviews here about the LFX breaking. I rode mine for about 1 month and I thought I would never break it. It is a tough bar considering it ludicrous low weight. I did eventually break the bar, crash hit the bar end which tweaked the handlebar. Overall, the LFX is a good handlebar, but be cautious with the use of barends, they can cause trouble with cracking the bar. Scott is very good about replacing them at no charge though. I got a new replacement within two days. My local LBS also helped out, so they made it
a somewhat less painful experience of breaking a $100 handlebar. I probably would tell people to buy the Black MAgic instead though. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Sean Lavigne
a weekend warrior
from Drexel University
Date Reviewed: April 30, 1997 | | Bottom Line: |
This is for the Scott Black Magic bars. They kick ass! Thats all I have to say about that. What I really wanted to talk about is the myth that Carbon Fibers of Thermoplastics may catastrophicaly fail. Both materials in there nature will not snap, but they will crack. If you notice a crack, just like any other bike part, you stop riding on it! As a matter of fact, most thermoplastic bars parts can be ridden past failure cause they are composites. There is a good reason why Nasa and the U.S. Armed Forces use thermoplastics and Carbon Fiber in many of there designs, and thats because they work! So dont fully believe the horror stories about these materials, and just buy one and try it out. You wont be dissapointed. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Todd Parker
a cross-country rider
from Calgary, AB. Canada
Date Reviewed: February 14, 1997 | | Bottom Line: |
I also bought the cheaper Black Magics as I am 6'2 and weigh 185 lbs. I figured that the slightly heavier bar would be stronger. The only problem I have had in the six months I've had them is when I replaced my bar ends the alloy reinforcing plug bonded in the end of the bar fell out. No real problem though, I just epoxied it back in an cinched down my bar ends real tight and it hasn't budget since. The bar dampens vibrations extremely well, and has survived a few crashes with nay' a scratch. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Enigma
a cross-country rider
from Seattle
Date Reviewed: January 30, 1997 | | Bottom Line: |
I got the cheaper black magic bar, and to my surprise I have not had to worry about it at all since I bought it 6 months ago. Even several crashes haven't hurt it. I was mildly aprehansive at first about this Thermoplastic over alloy at first, but what can I say, it works. Do your self a favor and dont get the LFX, dont worry about the thirty grams. Take the Forty dollers you save and buy yourself a pair of Salsa's rasta skewers. Two pretty parts for the price or one. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Zeke McDaniel
a cross-country rider
from W.Lafayette, IN
Date Reviewed: December 11, 1996 | | Bottom Line: |
I bought the less expensive (~$40) heavier (~145g) Black Magic bar.What can be said? The bar is not stoopid-lite(TM), is functional, has
a lifetime warranty, and looks good. I am 170lbs, and have not noticed
any flex either up or down hill, and have not had the previously mentioned
slipping problems, either at the stem or barends. Overall, I am very
pleased with the bars.I rate them as 4 chilis only because I cannot fathom how many more chicks
I could get, and hills I could climb, with a 5 chili bar. That's a damn
good handlebar. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Justin Hoppmann
a cross-country rider
from Gainesville, Fl.
Date Reviewed: December 7, 1996 | | Bottom Line: |
In July I bought the relatively inexpensive Black magic handlebar. Within two weeks cracks began to appear where the internal aluminum flange meets raw plastic. After five months of waiting for Scott`s
R&D guys to warranty it, my local shop got fed up and raged. Scott could not replace it until 2/97 due to a production backorder.
They instead offered to replace it with the more expensive LFX. I`ve ridden it twice since installation and am thusfar happy.
The LFX dampens the ride much more than any alloy bar I`ve ridden. Although I would never shell out the cash for this bar, if you can get it
as a warranty its worth it. I give the bar a rating of four, simply because of my apprehention of thermoplastic, Scott get a rating of two for
their customer support. They were hard to reach and a pain in the ass to deal with. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
ricky d
a cross-country rider
from lanham, MD
Date Reviewed: December 7, 1996 | | Bottom Line: |
I've been using the LF-X for the last 8 months and I've crashed pretty hard a couple of times. It replaced my Answer hyperlite because the area where the bar-ends clamped onto (on the Answer) bent in when i did an endo. I've done the same on the lfx (accidentally) but looks good so far! I like 'em. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Ted
a cross-country rider
from PA
Date Reviewed: November 5, 1996 | | Bottom Line: |
CF is a very scary material. I saw a guy at a race get his bike off
his car, put the front wheel on, and push down on the handlebars to
check that everything was assembled. His Scott CF bars SNAPPED clean
through about 4 inches in from the right end. The break occured at
a place on the bar covered by the grip.After the failure, I looked to see if there had been any scratches that
may have caused the breakage.....It looked brand new. The racer claimed
that he'd only had the bars for 2 weeks and had never crashed.Maybe it was a fluke, but I've heard and seen too many carbon fiber
horror stories to ever recommend a CF handlebar. Imagine what would
have happend if the bars had broken during the race! | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Dave Wilhelmy
a weekend warrior
from San Diego, CA
Date Reviewed: October 30, 1996 | | Bottom Line: |
I've had one of these since about January. To me (155 pound weakling) it doesn't seem very flexy at all even when I'm on the bar ends. The only con I've noticed is that on my cro-moly GT double-bolt stem, you have to really torque the bolts down hard to keep it from rotating. I've also had the bar-ends shift a couple of times but I'm leery of over-tightening the cinch bolts on those so maybe I didn't have them tight enough to begin with? The bar has made it through numerous crashes with no trauma except for the afore-mentioned traveling bar-ends. They get an extra star for their crash-replacement policy even though I haven't had to use it yet. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Dale Peterson
a cross-country rider
from Fairfax, California
Date Reviewed: October 29, 1996 | | Bottom Line: |
This is a nice bar except for a few things: Although its width at the barends is adequate, the curverature from the straight to the barend is pretty much useless in terms of grabbing onto, thus it narrows your grip while not using the barends. The most major problem that I had with this bar, however, was this: No matter how tight I clamped my stem (a Salsa stem) onto it, you could still pivot the bar in the stem, which is a major problem for downhill. I guess I could try a stem with a wider handlebar clamp, but that is kind of a hassle. I'm planning on returning it and getting an old-fashioned aluminium bar.... :) | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Murray Morris
a cross-country rider
from Woodinville, WA 98072
Date Reviewed: October 19, 1996 | | Bottom Line: |
I replaced an AL bar on my Proflex with the LFX2 with bar ends and it is an excellent bar. I do downhill as well as XC and my bike takes a pounding. That is the reason I went with thermoplastic for the strength. It does have some flex on the outer portion of the bar (mostly when riding on the ends) but is pretty stiff on on the normal inner grip area. It took me a few rides to get used to the difference in stiffness from my AL bar but I really like it now and don't care for my other bikes bars. It wasn't too expensive at about $75 mail order either. I would rate it 5 stars except it was a pain to get my grips on due to the bend for the bar ends. A straight bar would negate this problem. It does look very nice with the long GT grips I added though. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Monkey Man
a cross-country rider
from Santa Fe, NM
Date Reviewed: October 17, 1996 | | Bottom Line: |
Re: Scott LFX2
I have the LFX2 (barends and bar, I unit) and wanna bring it out of the hall of
shame. I have never had any problem with ANY handlebar, EVER and these are no
exception. They are light as hell (165 g for the bar and ends) and being plastic, absorb some of the shock that my Judy won't. 4 stars for being over $100. otherwise, 5. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
EAST RIDER
a weekend warrior
from SINGAPORE
Date Reviewed: October 17, 1996 | | Bottom Line: |
My friend's LFX bar broke off while going down a stair. LIGHT AS PAPER , BREAK LIKE PAPER. Had to sent back for a replacment. (NO star if i was given a chance, any CHEAP handle bar would have last longer.) | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Don Seib
a racer
from Melrose, MA
Date Reviewed: June 14, 1996 | | Bottom Line: |
I have had the LFX bar for about three months now and have crushed the end
due to an endo once. The bar is fairly strong (combination thermoplastic and
carbond fiber). It's also very light 120 grams. Took the bar back to my LBS and
they replaced it with a new one no questions asked. They told me that Scott has
never refused to replace a bar even when the damage is result of crashes. This
isn't the first bar I pretzled because of a bar end pinching the end in a
crash, but it is the first time I not had a problem trying to warranty it. The
bar is also very compliant in rought terrain. | | Overall Rating: |
| |
|
Photo Caption Contest
(sponsored by Maxxis)
|
Enter here
|
|
|
$ 99.00
