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Submitted by
Core_Shot
a
from Boulder, CO
Date Reviewed: August 2, 2007 | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Purchased At: | Shop Employee Purchase | | Strengths: | Kinda light (j/k), strong | | Weaknesses: | a wee bit flexy | | Similar Products Used: | Race Face Deus, stock bar | | Bike Setup: | Stumpy, full XT, easton and thomson | | Bottom Line: | 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! | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Stefan Aichele
a Cross Country Rider
from Waterloo, ON, CANADA
Date Reviewed: February 19, 2007 | | Favoriate Trail: | Frankenstein | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$85.00 | | Purchased At: | web cyclery | | Strengths: | Strong design, cool look, light! | | Weaknesses: | None | | Similar Products Used: | The flight bar | | Bike Setup: | Norco full suspension with Bomber MCR1, Race Face crank and XTR drive train, Tune custom wheels with Hutchinson tires. | | Bottom Line: | Can't beat Easton! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
David
a Weekend Warrior
from Petaluma, CA USA
Date Reviewed: October 22, 2006 | | Favoriate Trail: | Annadel | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$70.00 | | Purchased At: | eBay | | 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. | | Similar Products Used: | FSA DH200 | | Bike Setup: | '04 Marin Attack Trail, '07 Vanilla RLC, '04 Float RL, Hayes HFX9's, xt front Sram x9 Rear. | | Bottom Line: | Be good to them and they be great to you. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Phill
a Cross Country Rider
from New Zealand
Date Reviewed: October 3, 2006 | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$100.00 | | Strengths: | Well made,nice length,strong,light weight. | | Weaknesses: | Uncomfortable bend! | | Similar Products Used: | About four or five other Easton bars of various rises. | | Bike Setup: | Motolite,Hugi/Mavic 717,Thomson,XT/X9. | | 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! | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Mike
a
from pa
Date Reviewed: August 22, 2006 | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | 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. | | Similar Products Used: | EA70 | | Bike Setup: | Rigid SS | | 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. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Ralphie
a Weekend Warrior
from Yakima WA
Date Reviewed: August 21, 2006 | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Price Paid: |
$110.00 | | Purchased At: | local shop | | Strengths: | light and strong, vibration damping the real deal. | | Weaknesses: | was expensive, now cheap. Flexy compared to DH bars, stiffer than most XC bars. | | Similar Products Used: | alu and steel bars | | Bike Setup: | Titus Supermoto, FOX, Thompson | | 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) | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Basil Chua
a Cross Country Rider
from Singapore
Date Reviewed: June 28, 2006 | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$80.00 | | Strengths: | Lightweight and balanced weighted feel. | | Similar Products Used: | Alu stock bars | | Bike Setup: | Giant XTC Team | | Bottom Line: | Myth: It reduces trail vibrations and makes your XC ride enjoyable.
Fact: True.
Myth: The balanced feel offers you improved control.
Fact: True.
Myth: It's pricey.
Fact: True. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Jeffs888
a Cross Country Rider
from Atlanta, GA, USA
Date Reviewed: March 26, 2006 | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$49.00 | | Purchased At: | Pricepoint | | Strengths: | vibration dampening properties, light weight | | Weaknesses: | I wish there was an option for a slightly narrower version | | Similar Products Used: | NA | | Bike Setup: | Specialized Rockhopper '05 | | 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. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Fred Sled
a Weekend Warrior
from Spawn Ranch, CA
Date Reviewed: July 14, 2005 | | Favoriate Trail: | Your Mom | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Price Paid: |
$65.00 | | Purchased At: | Ebay | | Strengths: | Super light, stiff, cool factor | | Weaknesses: | None | | Similar Products Used: | Typical aluminum bars, riser and flat | | Bike Setup: | Jamis Dakar, XC/Trail setup | | 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. | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Some_Dude
a Weekend Warrior
from Santa Rosa CA
Date Reviewed: June 3, 2005 | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$60.00 | | Purchased At: | CBO | | Strengths: | Light
Strong
Flexes enough on little stuff
| | Weaknesses: | none | | Similar Products Used: | Titec Hellbent | | Bike Setup: | 2003 SC bullit, Pike Team Air, Hayes 8", XTR, 5th Ele, Race Face Northshore | | Bottom Line: | Great bar. This thing has taken a few crashes into trees at 15+ MPH and keeps on ticking. It is a great bar. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Peter
a
from Houston, TX
Date Reviewed: May 14, 2005 | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Price Paid: |
$90.00 | | Strengths: | Weight, durabilty | | Weaknesses: | N/A | | Similar Products Used: | aluminum | | Bike Setup: | Bullit | | Bottom Line: | 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 :) | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Tony Grace
a Cross Country Rider
from Perth, WA,Australia
Date Reviewed: April 29, 2005 | | Favoriate Trail: | Goat Track | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$55.00 | | Purchased At: | PricePoint | | Strengths: | Strong and light, some give to take some shock out when needed . Looks good on the bike. | | Weaknesses: | None yet | | 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. | | 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. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Clay
a Cross Country Rider
from Austin, Tx, USA
Date Reviewed: February 13, 2005 | | Favoriate Trail: | Rocky Hill Ranch | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$70.00 | | Purchased At: | Price Point | | 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.
| | Similar Products Used: | Titec Alum riser bar. | | Bike Setup: | Haro werx | | 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. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Clem Hobbs
a Weekend Warrior
from Toronto, Ontario Canada
Date Reviewed: December 14, 2004 | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Strengths: | Lightweight | | Weaknesses: | cracks easily | | Similar Products Used: | various aluminum bars | | Bike Setup: | Turner RFX Z1fr -Shimano Hydros, XT shifting, RF rings & cranks, Singletrack wheels | | 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. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Metz
a Cross Country Rider
from Singapore
Date Reviewed: November 5, 2004 | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$160.00 | | Strengths: | Skin Light, Dampens Vibrations and it lks darn kewl. | | Weaknesses: | None. | | Similar Products Used: | Easton EA70 High Rise, Answer Protaper. | | Bike Setup: | Scott Comp Racing 04, Full XTR, SID Race 04 | | Bottom Line: | For those of you weight weenies who like your MTB's to loose that few grams. Get it. U will feel that vibration dampening in this bar is prior to wad ur freakin riding on. The dampenings on speed bumps are gd. For those of you who got these bars cracked, bent, broken, dented, spiritually possessed or wat-so-ever.. i think u've either clamped it 2 hard and ur clamp-point is not exactly center OR ur they way u ride simply sucks. Professional MTB racers have used these bars for competition on the same bike even for training. They dont seem to have probs with it. If ur getting more aggressive on ur style of riding(etc, Downhill)..dun freakin use this bar..get Alu. If u tell me, u bent, break, dent this bar while riding on rd..i'll tell u, Ur Simply Crap. 4 Chilis Each..not really outstanding. But a great product from Easton. Cheers, | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Michael
a Cross Country Rider
from Boulder, CO
Date Reviewed: November 3, 2004 | | Favoriate Trail: | all of them | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$80.00 | | Purchased At: | jenson | | Strengths: | Weight, stiffness, durability, dampening of road vibration | | Weaknesses: | price | | Similar Products Used: | titec | | Bike Setup: | Burner, Marta SLs, MX comp w/ETA, King hubs, headset, X317 hoops, CX Ray spokes, this bar, Ultegra cogs, XT shifters, XTR derailleurs, Turbine LPs, freeride BB, Rocket Stealth saddle, WTB grips, Titec Ti seatpost, Z-Max tires, Ultralight tubes | | Bottom Line: | I bought this bar because of the hype surrounding it, because I wanted to shave a little weight, because of the hype about the vibration absorption. All that being said, I do like my bar a lot. At the same time I don't find it to be a wisest purchase on my bike.
Unlike road cycling, mountain biking has very little high frequency low amplitude vibration (tarmac/black top caused vibration), so unless I ride my bike around town, the vibration dampening is hard to notice. The extra headache when installing it in the stem and when installing brake levers and shifters isn't worth it either. The wight savings can be counted in grams over a good aluminum bar at a premium price hike.
Finally, I do have to give it some props on durability. I've taken some nasty hits, which shattered my shifters, ripped patches of skin off my body, and the bar seems nearly unfazed. It is also a lot stiffer than my old titec aluminum handlebars.
The bottom line is, if you got the dough, go get one, if you don't, you really ain't missing much. Spend the money you save on good spokes (like Sapim CX Ray) or rims, because the only part of your bike where the weight really plays a role is your wheels. And the further from the center of wheel rotation the more crucial weight saving is. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
won suh
a
from mammoth lakes
Date Reviewed: August 4, 2004 | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Strengths: | Dampens vibration without loosing feel. Superlight | | Weaknesses: | Can snap, can be noisy. Pricey | | Similar Products Used: | All sorts of aluminum bars | | Bike Setup: | SC Heckler w/ Fox Vanilla Fork, 5th element air, avid juicys and xt parts | | Bottom Line: | This bar dampens vibration like no aluminum bar I've ever ridden and yet is responsive. I have the luxury of being a light rider so breakage is not as much a factor. Do not use this bar if you are anywhere near 2 bills or ride real heavy on your bike (you know who you are). Otherwise, any cross country/trail rider will appreciate this handlebar. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Al
a Cross Country Rider
from mpls
Date Reviewed: July 31, 2004 | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Strengths: | Light, Durable, Absorbs Vibrations | | Weaknesses: | Price | | Bike Setup: | SC Superlight | | Bottom Line: | The bars came stock on my 01' Supelight. This is the 4th year of service with no issues. Like everyone else I was paranoid about the durability of the bars. But, since getting the bike, I've changed everything on the bars (myself): brake levers, shifters, grips and even squeezed the angled riser bars through the small opening of a one piece stem without incident.
On trail they've survived a few nice crashes, one was a bar dig that bent my Avid brake lever. The carbon composite bar is very stiff and is good at absorbing the high frequency vibrations the front shock can't.
I got mine stock, but if ever building a high end xc bike would be tops on my parts list. Retail is around a $100, could get 3 pr of aluminum bars on sale, so I have to dock ol' Easton a star on price otherwise 5 overall.
| | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Craig
a Cross Country Rider
from LA
Date Reviewed: May 11, 2004 | | Favoriate Trail: | anyone anywhere | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Purchased At: | $100.00 | | Strengths: | Absorbs a lot of vibration downhill. They are LIGHT. They have helped take me to another level. I have crashed a couple of times with them so far with no apparent damage. | | Weaknesses: | None so far. They take a little time getting used to as far as body geometry. | | Bike Setup: | Nothing fancy. | | Bottom Line: | Let the Easton dealer install them. They're worth the money. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
pete
a Cross Country Rider
from santa rosa
Date Reviewed: April 23, 2004 | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Purchased At: | LBS | | Strengths: | Smooths out high frequency bumps, Strength and Customer Support | | Weaknesses: | None | | Similar Products Used: | Bontrager 118 Ti | | Bike Setup: | SoulCraft Option 3, XTR, CK headset/hubs, Mavic rims... | | Bottom Line: | These handlebars are sweet. And what makes them sweeter is the "no-hassle" customer service at Easton. After almost 2 years of riding, my first pair of riser bars had developed a hairline crack about an inch right from the stem. I wasn't sure if it was safe or not to ride it so I called Easton and they told me to mail it in and they would check it out. Ten days later, I had a new pair of handlebars delivered to my house. I'm happy with Easton. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Grant
a
from Anaheim Hills, ca
Date Reviewed: March 12, 2004 | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Strengths: | Light and strong. Looks if you are into that. Vibration dampening. | | Weaknesses: | None. | | Bottom Line: | I've been running Easton Carbons for a number of years on a number of bikes. I love 'em. At first I was nervous and had lengthy conversations with Easton regarding their testing and strength rating. While impressed, I was still skeptical.
No longer.
I have them on two bikes and have stacked up on both, not to mention the other bikes I have sold and the bars are still holding. On my last bike build I was swapping the bars from one to another. I noticed "scarring" on the surface of the bar from where the brake lever rotated in a crash. To be safe I replaced them.
Out of curiosity, I tood this "damaged" bar out back and decided to have some fun. I smacked it into a concrete slab, nothing happened. I took it to a cinderblock wall and it still held. Then I started slamming it on the edge of a cinderblock and still couldn't get a complete break. Yes, I fractured it a bit with about the tenth blow, but that was abmormal abuse.
Long and short of it is that these bars are great. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Jared
a
from St George UT
Date Reviewed: February 11, 2004 | | Favoriate Trail: | Gooseberry Mesa, JEM | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Price Paid: |
$100.00 | | Purchased At: | Bicycles Unlimited | | Strengths: | Best Bars In the world, Hello Lifetime warenty!!! | | Weaknesses: | None that I know of | | Similar Products Used: | DO I really have to list that | | Bike Setup: | Cannondale Gemini 1000 lefty max ti, sycrose ti post, tarrantula 2x9 cranks, xtr bb, WTB saddle, Time ATAC pedals. | | Bottom Line: | I have had my bars for four years now. They have been on 4 different bikes. I am an aggresive rider who does everything from XC to Downhill racing. I regularly jump off stuff. Mine haven't broken and never once have I taken a torque wrench to my bike. Oh well but I guess that is just me these guys must be real hard core. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
rocky
a Racer
from north vernon,IN
Date Reviewed: January 23, 2004 | | Favoriate Trail: | anything in WNC | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Strengths: | looks, great bend | | Weaknesses: | break without crashing | | Similar Products Used: | whatever | | Bike Setup: | sugar2+ with thompson stem | | Bottom Line: | I broke wo sets of these in one year! they are crap. I don't know why people give these good marks??I inspected my bars(three different pairs) and found that they are .4mm out of round at the stem area, this causes uneven clamping pressures and forms lateral stress risers in the bar, plus they are not a one piece wound carbon fiber but rather a sheet that is bonded together (look inside and you will see where it is pinched together) this is where mine cracked (the weakest spot )
bottom line, if never get more than two miles from the trailhead and are a slave to fashion then buy these but if you do epics or race and need dependable bars go for something else.
I will say that easton customer service was great to me and replaced my bars twice no questions asked, so for that and the fact that there aluminum products are top quality I will give one chille
| Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Doug Rose
a Weekend Warrior
from Lavington
Date Reviewed: December 31, 2003 | | Favoriate Trail: | dirt | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Strengths: | weight,looks | | Weaknesses: | care needed for long life | | Bike Setup: | modified Trek Fuel 90, 2001 model | | Bottom Line: | I am 182cm tall and weigh 90kgs. I am not an overly aggressive rider and do not go looking for big drop offs. I purchased my bike for light weight and comfort which is why I added these bars. After 6 months of trail riding and racing, I have been pleased with these bars. I had them fitted by a bike mechanic. Took a while to get used to the extra width and flex but I can live with that. Last couple of rides they have started to creak which is very annoying, I dont know if this is a tension problem or the start of something more dramatic. I will take my bike back to my mechanic and see what he has to say. Would I buy another set?, at this stage yes, as long as I can get rid of the creak!! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Mike
a Racer
from Central PA
Date Reviewed: December 30, 2003 | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Purchased At: | 109. | | Strengths: | Bars are nice | | Weaknesses: | bars cracked in three months without a crash. | | Bike Setup: | Tweeked Jekyll | | Bottom Line: | The warranty service is terrible in my opinion. It has been a month and a half, finally got a new set of bars, but they mailed me some low rise, instead of the high risers I had. I sent them back.
Over a month and a half now, and still without bars.
I would go for some aluminum bars next time. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
MJ Rose
a Cross Country Rider
from Tracy, CA
Date Reviewed: December 11, 2003 | | Favoriate Trail: | Flume Trail | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Price Paid: |
$120.00 | | Purchased At: | Livermore Cyclery | | Strengths: | Strong, Light, Looks great | | Weaknesses: | None that I have experienced | | Similar Products Used: | Other high quality riser and flat bars. Including: Easton Monkey Bar, Titec Hell Bent, Ritchey flat, OEM bars. | | Bike Setup: | 2003 Cannondale Jekyll, Manitou Black, XTR. | | Bottom Line: | I have been riding the Monkey Lite Carbon for over two years now and have had ZERO problems with it. In fact, it has been mounted on at least 4 bikes so far, has been through countless stems, shifters, and brake upgrades, and has had all sorts of stuff mounted to it (speedo, lights, bell, GPS). Its light weight and bump absorbing properties make it all worth the extra money you pay for it. And after two years of harsh riding, the logos on the bar still look like new. I ride ALOT and I am not a lightweight person (6' - 205#) - I have been very happy with its performance and would recommend it to anyone. As far as overtightening parts on the bar, if you just use common mechanical sense and don't overtighten - there should not be an issue with it cracking. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
James m
a
from Vancouver, BC, Canada
Date Reviewed: December 8, 2003 | | Duration Product Used: | Tested or demo'ed only | | Price Paid: |
$120.00 | | Purchased At: | LBS | | Strengths: | None | | Weaknesses: | Snapped after first ride | | Similar Products Used: | Crowbars | | Bike Setup: | 2003 Kona Scab With Monsters and 8" Hayes Hydros and XTR DriveTrain | | Bottom Line: | Despite getting the forks tourqued down to the right tightness, They snapped after the first ride on me. Theyre peices of crap and i dont recommend then to anyone | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Jason
a Weekend Warrior
from Singapore
Date Reviewed: November 11, 2003 | | Favoriate Trail: | The one nearby | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$70.00 | | Purchased At: | LBS | | Strengths: | Light, Looks Good, Vibration Damping. | | Weaknesses: | Warnings about cracks and scratches causes paranoia and anxiety during installation and riding. | | Similar Products Used: | EC90 Composite XC bars, Titec Ringleader(6061s). | | Bottom Line: | Seems to hold up well in the rough and hairy stuff. Feels good when you speed over the little bumps as its vibration damping is pretty good.
The only problem I had is the paranoia, induced by the warnings for scratches and overtightening during installation(same paranoia I had with the EC90 Bars) I didn't have a problems with the EC90 Bars those were great, but as i don't own i torque wrench, I made sure I was careful not to overtighten the stem clamps and brake levers with the monkeylites.
Riding around my neighbourhood for a test run proved that all i did was undertighten the stem clamp. the bars rotated when i tried to loft the front wheel. So i tightened them and went for test rides until they wouldn't rotate. It turned out I was an idiot. when i took it to a reasonably harsh trail, the seemed 'un-rotatble' right up to the part where I was coming down a rough slope pretty quick tried to jumps of a rock, but the bars rotated, the front wheel didn't lift off the rock and just dug in and I was thrown over the bars. Lucky i wasn't going very quick as it was a really wet slippery day and managed to land on my feet and come off running.
I did take the bar off and check it for cracks and stress marks, but it looked alright.
I'm quite sure once I tighten it properly the bar will perform.
So considering that you have to be so so careful not to overtighten or undertighten the stem clamps on the bar, if you don't have a torque wrench or don't get you're LBS to do it. Also the worry of scratches affecting its durability adds to the down side of the bar. On the up side they felt and performed great right up to the part where I crashed(my fault). Seeing as I can't blame the bar for my own incompetence, I give it 4 chillis, would have been a 5 if i owned a torque wrench which would invoke confidence in the installation and didn't have to be so paranoid about overtightening or undertightening.
Forseeing that I will probably replace the bar if I crash hard, or crack it(as you should if you crack any bar) and the cost of buying another one...well, the value rating drops a little to 3 chillis | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Lee
a Weekend Warrior
from Irvine, CA
Date Reviewed: October 26, 2003 | | Favoriate Trail: | San Juan | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$100.00 | | Purchased At: | speedgoat | | Strengths: | vibration dampening
sweet looks
super light | | Weaknesses: | fragile | | Bike Setup: | Ellsworth ID | | Bottom Line: | This bar is incredibly strong, but is far too fragile for rough mountain biking. If you have access to a torque wrench and almost never crash, then this is the perfect bar for you since it provides such a smooth ride with the vibration dampening. The bar is considerably lighter, but the dapening is its primary benefit. Unfortunately for me, on a technical section of trail one side of the handlebar snapped off with my odi grip. I'm not sure whether the bar was weakened from a previous crash or overtightening the grips. The value only got 2 chilis because this bar ought to be replaced after any potentially compromising crash for a piece of mind. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
M. Jones
a Weekend Warrior
from Knoxville, TN
Date Reviewed: October 23, 2003 | | Favoriate Trail: | Haw Ridge | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Price Paid: |
$90.00 | | Purchased At: | Local Bike Shop | | Strengths: | Light weight, stylie looks, comfortable sweep | | Weaknesses: | Light weight, fragile, dangerous | | Similar Products Used: | Azonic double wall riser, Profile carbon riser, Syncros riser, Easton Monkey Light DH | | Bike Setup: | Mongoose Ti hardtail, XT/XTR components, Psylo SL fork, Bontrager race modified disc wheels, Hayes hydraulic discs, American Classic Ti seat post, Chris King Headset, etc. | | Bottom Line: | I had ridden these bars for maybe two years before they completely broke off on my hand. Up to that I was pleased with them. I could never tell that they damped trail vibrations but they were light and looked quite stylish. A couple of days prior to the failure I had done a fairly epic ride with some long, rutted, rocky descents. Thank God they didn't fail that day! Half way into the next ride the right side of the bar snapped off in my hand. I was climbing at the time so I didn't crash or experience any injury. Had this happened on the previous ride I wouldn't have been so fortunate. The bar broke at the brake lever clamp. I was confused at first and thought the grip slipped off in my hand. It took me second to process what had happened. We stopped and zip |
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$ 110.00
