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Submitted by
schlim
a Cross Country Rider
from Hayden, ID
Date Reviewed: October 5, 2008 | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Price Paid: |
$40.00 | | Purchased At: | Blue Sky | | Strengths: | Great rise and angle, strong, no flex, good width for control, nice shot-peen finish, comparatively lightweight. | | Weaknesses: | None found! | | Similar Products Used: | Salsa Pro Moto flat, Easton superlight, Truvativ XR riser, Bontrager riser. | | Bike Setup: | Turner Six Pack. Titus Racer X. | | Bottom Line: | This is a great bar. The rise and angle are just right for wrist comfort and bike control. I wouldn't run anything else on a full suspension bike. Best handlebar ever. | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
alex
a Cross Country Rider
from santa monica, CA, USA
Date Reviewed: February 16, 2008 | | Favorite Trail: | cherokee national forrest | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Price Paid: |
$50.00 | | Purchased At: | price point | | Strengths: | This is the best looking handlebar. Period. Finish is the best. No colors, no cheap decals (at least not on my black one), and no lame carbon fiber snapolio. Strong enough to bash through any window. | | Weaknesses: | Someone else already said it, if ride a lot, rain, dry, hot...the grips just love to pop off. I am going to try a little tape underliner for my new oury's. Other than that...bad ass. | | Similar Products Used: | All of them. | | Bike Setup: | TREK 990, black everything, orig. XT everything, salsa sk/answer rocker/thom stem/king head/real crings/spd 747/8 sp/specialized hemispheres/nasty fasty crashy no problems | | Bottom Line: | Sorry Easton and Race Face and whoever else you are, this one kicks your butt. If you really care that much about a couple of grams, or want to just go to the store and stay on the sidewalk at 10mph...dont waste your money. If you want to take off on 10-15 stairs, or feel like you might get run over in Koreatown and do a knee/hand plant on some girls hood, smashing it nose down (hope you have a good stem too...), or just feel like curb hopping or jumping logs instead of climbing them; well I hate the sound of carbon fiber crunching shortly followed by bones (especially my nose...yeah...9X)...so here she is. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
chris
a Weekend Warrior
from concord, ma, usa
Date Reviewed: July 6, 2007 | | Favorite Trail: | great glen, nh | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$47.00 | | Purchased At: | jensonusa.com | | Strengths: | looks, stength, stability due to wideness | | Weaknesses: | some cool logos get covered up by grips | | Similar Products Used: | stock handlebar, crowbar on old bike | | Bike Setup: | 2006 k2 attack 2.0, protaper, avid levers, sun rims and deore hub in back, SX-5 shifters, X-7 rear der. | | Bottom Line: | best 47 dollars i've ever spent on my bike. it may seem like 47 dollars is a lot for a new handle bar, but the wideness of the 27 inch one gives you so much more stability and balance, and you can pop your front wheel up a lot higher, probably because you get better leverage or something. it was a snap to install and seems like it will last forever!! If you're at all interested in becoming more stable on your bike, DO YOURSELF A FAVOR BY GETTING THESE HANDLE BARS. i strongly suggest getting these handle bars in the 27-inch size because they are so stable. even if your current handle bars are in fine shape, these ones really improve your skills....
also, get them at jansonusa.com bacause they are cheap there.................. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Gungadin
a Weekend Warrior
from Nevada
Date Reviewed: October 29, 2006 | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$70.00 | | Strengths: | Rigid, Looks Very Cool, Huge leverage advantage with 27" bars. | | Weaknesses: | None | | Similar Products Used: | Cannondale Fire, Monkey Lites, Botranger | | Bottom Line: | These bars are great because they are really stiff, but very lite. I ride at dessert trails, so tress are not an issue. Thus, I opted for the 27" bars. The extra leverage is amazing and far more comfortable than the 25" that I was using. Great bars for the money. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Morgan Fleming
a
from Apex, NC USA
Date Reviewed: December 31, 2005 | | Favorite Trail: | Lake Crabtree | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$35.00 | | Purchased At: | JensonUSA.com | | Strengths: | These handlebars are really comfortable, they are strong and the 2" bars have a nice bend to them. They look great, and they were only $35 when purchased from JensonUSA. | | Weaknesses: | The 2" risers came at a 27" width, which was a little to wide for my tastes. But I cut an inch of both sides and fixed that problem in 5 minutes. | | Similar Products Used: | Bontrager Crowbar OS | | Bottom Line: | If you want a nice set of handlebars at a great price, these seem like the best choice to me. They are light, strong and come in gold, black and titanium color. They also come in multiple clampsizes and rise heights. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Michael
a Downhiller
from Toronto
Date Reviewed: December 10, 2005 | | Favorite Trail: | Highway- Blue Mountain | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$25.00 | | Purchased At: | Cambria Bike | | Strengths: | Extremely light and very stiff as well. Rise and sweep are perfect. | | Weaknesses: | At the price I paid, I do not think there are any weaknesses. Overall, at full price, the bars are worth every penny | | Similar Products Used: | Axiom stock bars & Funn | | Bike Setup: | Norco Shore, Diabolus stem, Pro Tapers, Double Track rims, everything else stock. | | Bottom Line: | This is a great bar. Super strong. I dont exactly know how these other people are bending them like crazy. Maybe its the the torque you put on the bolts of your stems. Follow the setup and you should be good. Dont reef as hard as you can. Pro Tapers are sweet. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
David
a
from pinhole
Date Reviewed: September 26, 2005 | | Favorite Trail: | Downieville, Oathill Mine | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Purchased At: | Sunshine Bike, Fairfax Ca. | | Strengths: | Xcelent bend, strong, light. | | Similar Products Used: | Azonic risers | | Bike Setup: | Versus Blitz versuscycles.com Manitou, RaceFace, Fox DH5.0, WTB | | Bottom Line: | Very light bar, excelent bend. Cut 1/2 inch off ends to get between trees a bit better. Same bar on 2nd bike in almost 2 years without a problem, just like Grom at Sunshine said it would be. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Kris
a Weekend Warrior
from Wyoming, USA
Date Reviewed: July 20, 2005 | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Strengths: | Best fit in the business. This bend is the the most comfortable out there. I have the Pro Taper XC with 1" of rise and have no problems at all. | | Weaknesses: | All the bone heads that buy it, wreck on it, and blame the handlebar for their ineptitude. | | Similar Products Used: | Maxm, Race Face. | | Bike Setup: | Like you care! | | Bottom Line: | The Pro Taper XC bar is the most comfortable XC bar I have ever used. I just recently made the switch from flat bars and bar-ends and wonder why I never changed. The bend on this bar provides a very natural and comfortable riding position. I am a big guy that rides hard and wrecks hard. I have yet to damage these bars. They are a 7000 series aluminum bar, there is nothing tougher unless you get Cr-Mo. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Fernando Marcos
a Weekend Warrior
from Algarve, Portugal
Date Reviewed: April 10, 2005 | | Favorite Trail: | Sintra | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$100.00 | | Purchased At: | A local store | | Strengths: | Good looks, weight, geometry | | Weaknesses: | That's the point, too weak for a dh riser bar | | Similar Products Used: | Ritchey WCS, RF Diabolus | | Bike Setup: | Coyote Dual frame, MZ MX Comp, Full Diabolus, XTR, Hope Mono Mini, Dee Max | | Bottom Line: | I bought the oversized version to match with my diabolus stem, hoping it would outlast my frame.
Just after 5 rides, in a crash in the dirts, it bent like butter, despite all my other components are intact.
Moved into a Diabolus, hoping it will last longer than the protaper.
If you're looking for a lightweight part, it's ok, but if you want a bar that keeps crashing and still straight, look elsewhere. | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
chuck brand
a Cross Country Rider
from Fairmont WV
Date Reviewed: February 10, 2004 | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$60.00 | | Purchased At: | primo bike 'n sport | | Strengths: | a good selection of sizes expecially cause i need a wider bar with a small amount of sweep. sturdy, and good looking` | | Weaknesses: | none yet we will see if i can break this one | | Similar Products Used: | race face low riser | | Bike Setup: | fisher sugar 2+ w/disc | | Bottom Line: | great looking and as i said before i can breathe now cause i have a wide enough bar now | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
steve pete
a Downhiller
from U.K
Date Reviewed: November 28, 2003 | | Favorite Trail: | Any thing big | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$65.00 | | Purchased At: | k-mart bike branch | | Strengths: | handle grips slipped on nice
| | Weaknesses: | -scratch easily
-bend easily, snap when forced back
-look cheap and nasty
| | Similar Products Used: | X-lite fatty | | Bike Setup: | Orange patriot | | Bottom Line: | if you are looking for a bar for your little girls bicycle so as she can drop off curbs with minimal bendin then definatly go for something stronger.
i was just testing the product because the sponsors wanted to promote the item but, the first drop i took was a little 4 foot an they right angled.when i bent them back they simple snapped. i told my sponsors i would not put my name to such a product!! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Dave
a Cross Country Rider
from Sunnyvale, CA, USA
Date Reviewed: July 21, 2003 | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$45.00 | | Purchased At: | on-line | | Strengths: | Seems to be strong and well manufactured | | Weaknesses: | none | | Similar Products Used: | Bontrager flat bar | | Bike Setup: | 2000 Sugar 2 | | Bottom Line: | I have converted from flat to 1” riser a few months ago, and I find the new position to be superior. Don’t expect too much, it’s only one inch difference, but it does put you in a better position for technical trails. I have a 2000 Sugar 2 with a very long top tube (if I’m not mistaken it’s 24.5”), so the riser ease somewhat on my back, but my position is still fairly low, and I never experienced problem with lifting the front tire.
The Answer seems to be well manufactured and of high quality. Initially I thought I would buy a carbon bar, but I don’t trust this material in a critical component such as the handlebar. You need to be very careful with carbon whenever you mount something on it (shifters, levers, etc.) and you never know when the material gives up - it just snaps on you. The Aluminum might be slightly heavier, but you’ll never have a second thought on the trail. Save the weight somewhere else (especially in rotating parts).
If you are looking to refresh your bike with a new component that will also affect your riding, riser bar is a good candidate, and not that expensive too.
| | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Seth
a Cross Country Rider
from Washington DC
Date Reviewed: July 16, 2003 | | Favorite Trail: | Robert E Lee Memorial Park | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$45.00 | | Purchased At: | performancebike.com | | Strengths: | Got it for an amazing price on sale although I was planning on buying them anyway. Fairly lightweight and very strong (I weigh almost 200 lbs and they can support me pretty well). They have a decent rise, which I particularly like since I am on a 21" frame. They are in a comfortable position and have not bent like my last handlebar. The damping is good, but not enough to make me feel uneasy | | Weaknesses: | Havent found any yet. | | Similar Products Used: | Stock schwinn alimunum handlebars | | Bike Setup: | Schwinn Mesa (aluminum) with Shimano Deore Discs, Alexrims, Shimano XT drivetrain | | Bottom Line: | A great set of handlebars for anybody who wants light weight, high strength, and durability. Today, some old guy opened his car door right infront of me and I hit it at around 20 mph. The handlebars didnt budge, though I cant say the same for the rest of my bike. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Jeff
a Cross Country Rider
from Centennial,CO,USA
Date Reviewed: March 23, 2003 | | Favorite Trail: | Apex, White Ranch | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Purchased At: | Treads (where I wrench) | | Strengths: | Rocking sweet bar. good rise and really stiff | | Weaknesses: | funny sweep. Is there such thing as too stiff? | | Similar Products Used: | Ritchey Forcelite, Spec flatbar, Bontrager Crowbar | | Bike Setup: | Magical Specialized M2 | | Bottom Line: | Buy it best bar for the money! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Brian
a Weekend Warrior
from Iowa
Date Reviewed: January 19, 2003 | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$40.00 | | Purchased At: | Bike world (where I wrench) | | Strengths: | angles(rise and sweep), durable finish, strength to weight ratio. | | Weaknesses: | for me they were too wide stock so i cut about a half inch off each side. | | Similar Products Used: | cheapies, bontragers, easton, kore, icon | | Bike Setup: | '03 rainier setup for fr with azonic, answer, avid, shimano, primo, manitou, mavic | | Bottom Line: | This is a sweet bar to ride. So far I haven't felt any give at all and my gold finish is still lookin' good. Goes perfectly with my Azonic shorty stem. I would definitely recommend this bar to anyone unless they think 250g. is too much. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Hadrian
a Downhiller
from Newtown, CT
Date Reviewed: January 11, 2003 | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Strengths: | Strong
Stiff
Sweet geometry | | Weaknesses: | Could use stronger paint? | | Bottom Line: | Well built. Mine doesn't have those stickers some people are talking about, it's all painted straight on. Paint is a little weak but what does that matter. It has a sweet feel. Good bar for the $. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Robert Fish
a Weekend Warrior
from Simi Valley, Ca. USA
Date Reviewed: November 8, 2002 | | Favorite Trail: | Cheeseboro | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Price Paid: |
$64.00 | | Purchased At: | Simi Cycling Center | | Strengths: | Strength and durability, manly width, weight, quality finish and appearance. | | Weaknesses: | Stickers did not last long. (who really cares?) | | Similar Products Used: | Various flat bars, cheapo risers. | | Bike Setup: | '98 Cannondale Super V, Psylo fork, Fox air shock, FSA triple bearing bottom bracket (square), Coda crankset, Shimano XT f&r deraillers & shifters (8 speed), Shimano xt disk hubs/Sun Ryno Lite rims, Panaracer Fire XC Pro tires, Shimano Deore Mech. disk front/LX V-Rear, Avid Speed dial 7 levers, Shimano 646 pedals, Cane Creek C2 headset. | | Bottom Line: | Durable product that has stood up to the test of time. Wide bars give great control. Excellent vibration damping without being "flexy". Major improvement over narrow, flat bars. Not the least expensive, but worth the price. Buy and forget product. 5 and 5. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Aaron
a Cross Country Rider
from Austin, TX
Date Reviewed: August 10, 2002 | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$37.00 | | Purchased At: | online | | Strengths: | I think the handlebar itself is a pretty damn big strength | | Weaknesses: | not applicable | | Similar Products Used: | stock flat crap, Ritchey Rizer comp (strong but very heavy) | | Bottom Line: | I dont like flat bars and bar ends so the stockers were tossed for some Ritchey rizers. Those made my hands go numb and they were very heavy. Its a great DH/FR bar though. So wanting to switch to a lighter bar to lighten my rig and to try to stop the numbing hands, I found these. I think what drew me to this model is that it was nearly half off retail and it was in my opinion close enough in weight to many flat bars. These bars are awesome, light and stiff and no numb hands. This is all I will ever need in a handlebar. Ive known Answer for making great motorcycle bars so I figured I could trust them for bikes too. This is the perfect bar for recreational XC riders who like to blow their money on components which greatly outclass the bikes in which they are installed. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Aaron
a
from Singpore
Date Reviewed: May 14, 2002 | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Strengths: | i only go for gold. dun ask me. | | Weaknesses: | is there any? i m juz obsessed with the gold | | Similar Products Used: | azonic dbl wall | | Bike Setup: | i m not proud | | Bottom Line: | if u like gold, go get one.
mine is the old stickered version which IMHO looks better than the newer etched on type.
if protaper come in black only , i would hav ignore it totally.
be it for poser or for the true XC in u. get it !!! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
joel cote landry
a Weekend Warrior
from granby quebec canada
Date Reviewed: March 28, 2002 | | Favorite Trail: | bomerang | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$50.00 | | Purchased At: | one of y freind | | Strengths: | it rules everybody sais its the bomb , look awsom like the name anwser , color rules , its strong like hell , never breaks , fits in every potence , and never gets loose | | Weaknesses: | stiker goes off when you buy it , color too , it looks thin at the edge , a bit flexy inthe midle but doesent seems to bother , insted of having 4 inch if travel i have 5 hahaha
| | Similar Products Used: | easton monkey , titec all models , race face , proflie tomac
azonic , radical , specialized , kona dh , and kona free ride | | Bike Setup: | kona roast 2k small , jrt , kujo dh , intense dh 2.5 , ditcch witch 26 , kk disc , hayes dh , race face lp dh dh dh dh dh , race face bb dh , xtr , .... | | Bottom Line: | wel if you want an sick handle bar , buy it but if you wana a fu..ing good handle bar .. buy it !!!!!!!
its all i have to say !!!!!!!!! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Bo Toichi
a Weekend Warrior
from Maui
Date Reviewed: March 8, 2002 | | Favorite Trail: | to yo mamas house | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$60.00 | | Purchased At: | pricepoint | | Strengths: | quality, durability, strength | | Weaknesses: | none | | Similar Products Used: | Koski straight bar, Titec Hellbent riser | | Bike Setup: | DBR XR-4 frame, Avid disks, Z1 MCR, Vanilla R, XT/LX group. | | Bottom Line: | I never noticed that my bars were flexing until I got the ProTapers. They are a quality product that I would recommend to anyone. They are probably the last handlebars I will ever need to buy. Well worth the money. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Alex
a Cross Country Rider
from CH, NC
Date Reviewed: February 28, 2002 | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$49.00 | | Purchased At: | Franklin street cycles | | Strengths: | The bar is STRONG | | Weaknesses: | I become overconfident and start to do stupid stuff | | Similar Products Used: | titec straight bar | | Bike Setup: | GT lightning, w/platforms | | Bottom Line: | I was hesitant to put a riser bar on my bike. I thought that it would affect my climbing ability. It did... they climb better than my straight bars w/ bar ends. I crashed a bunch and they are still on my bike, unbent. I couldn't say the same for myself. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
John Burmeister
a
from Cheboygan, Michigan, USA
Date Reviewed: February 23, 2002 | | Favorite Trail: | Petoskey Convict Trail | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$70.00 | | Purchased At: | Jenson USA | | Strengths: | They have a great look and are a virtually unbendable handlebar, Very lightweight , There protapers all the moto-crossers have'em | | Weaknesses: | The price is a bit steep | | Similar Products Used: | Nashbar riserbar | | Bike Setup: | Jamis Dakar Sport-Odi lockon grips-LX rear derailer chain-disc breaks and rims-raceface crank-XT front derailer | | Bottom Line: | A GREEEEEEEEAAAAAAT Handlebar, YOur an all around rider and you dont worry bout budget but you worry about quality and style | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Silver23
a Weekend Warrior
from Amsterdam
Date Reviewed: December 16, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | Lago di Garda in Italy | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$60.00 | |
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$ 70.00
