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Handlebar that's rated as "XC" use... how much abuse can it take?

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Steven11

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Discussion starter · #1 ·
Hi,

I'm thinking about upgrading my current handlebar. I'm eyeing this one:

TUNE Flatbar Turnstange Lowriser 2.0 UD Carbon 31,8 x 750 mm | 9° Bac, 192,23 € (r2-bike.com)

It has size & shape I'm looking after, but I'm iffy about weight & strength. At 140 grams, it's remarkably light (perhaps too light? 🧐). It's rated for "XC use".

"XC" means a variety of things nowadays, and the trails I tend to ride contain technical sections, albeit short, of what would count as enduro if they were longer. I don't do proper jumps, but there are occasional drops that put the bike in the air for a moment, with subsequent impact on landing. Same thing holds for rough terrain when rode fast (a lot of stress eaten by components).

The doubt here is how much abuse can a 140 grams handlebar handle (no pun intended). I'm also not exactly light, weighing around 88 kg at the moment (194 lbs). The handlebar linked is rated up to 100 kg -- not that above my current weight.

Question here is whether the word XC is meant in the traditional sense or in the modern day one...

This would be my first carbon handlebar. I have heard that present day carbon can be fully trusted, but again this handlebar is basically twice as light as many other ones...

Any experience/opinion?
Thank you!
 
#2 ·
There are other bars that share similar (if not the same) dimensions. If you are "iffy", why go with this bar? EFBe for XC rates it for "jumps and drops up to 60cm" and "rough trails", (EFBE. The ultimate reference test: TRI-TEST®)so only you can really say if this will meet the type of riding you'll be doing. For reference, "condition 4" is rated for "downhill grades on rough trails which require advanced technical riding skills, at speeds less than 40 km/h. Jumps and drops up to 120 cm. Examples: All-Mountain, Trail MTB".
 
Discussion starter · #3 ·
Perhaps iffy was the wrong word, I am not native. But yeah, the point is that I am searching for the right balance between a bar that's not overly stiff and a bar that doesn't break in half when riding roughly.

Going for a DH bar would mean I wouldn't have to worry about the strength factor, but I am afraid it would feel stiffer than my present bar in aluminium.

I'd say I am between Conditions 3 and 4 of the standard rating. Present day XC races tend to include short sections of what may fall into 4 as well, so I am not sure what manufacturers have in mind when they say XC.
 
#4 ·
The 'rated' weights have a healthy amount of headroom. That's '100kg in the worst possible conditions we tested for'. I wouldn't stress about it.
 
#5 ·
Steven11 said:
Perhaps iffy was the wrong word, I am not native. But yeah, the point is that I am searching for the right balance between a bar that's not overly stiff and a bar that doesn't break in half when riding roughly.

Going for a DH bar would mean I wouldn't have to worry about the strength factor, but I am afraid it would feel stiffer than my present bar in aluminium.

I'd say I am between Conditions 3 and 4 of the standard rating. Present day XC races tend to include short sections of what may fall into 4 as well, so I am not sure what manufacturers have in mind when they say XC.
Click to expand...
Completely understand....I'm sure my Italian would NOT translate well! :ROFLMAO: @schnee has a good point as well.
 
#7 ·
Steven11 said:
Thanks. Makes sense. Weight concern was minor compared to the roughness of the terrain though. Everyone thinks something different when they think "rough". 😅
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I think durability was more of a concern years ago, when there was a 'weight war' in marketing. Carbon parts have now had decades of research, insurance companies have decades of data, etc. so now is safer than it was when everyone was still learning.

I used to ride with someone who did carbon engineering for a living 10-12-ish years ago, and even then his opinion was 'since you're a clydesdale, just avoid brands that everyone fawns over on weightweenies.com and you'll be fine.'

The XC bar is probably going to be much more comfortable than something engineered for Enduro.
 
#10 ·
Usage ratings are a little ambiguous. I go by weight. 180 to 200g is trail/enduro. 200 and up is DH. 40g under trail/enduro will be quite thin. Even 180g is pretty thin. Because carbon is so strong you dont' need to worry about riding aggressively with them but because they are so thing a shallow nick will cut relatively deep compromising them. If you think you can go years without nicking them I woudlnt' worry. If you think you'll get a nick in a year or two factor that in. Equipment failure is no joke. I would retire 140g bars with anything past a scratch in the clear coat. I would also make sure my torque wrench is calibrated perfectly because you can compromise such thin carbon pretty easily.
 
Discussion starter · #11 ·
slimat99 said:
Usage ratings are a little ambiguous. I go by weight. 180 to 200g is trail/enduro. 200 and up is DH. 40g under trail/enduro will be quite thin. Even 180g is pretty thin. Because carbon is so strong you dont' need to worry about riding aggressively with them but because they are so thing a shallow nick will cut relatively deep compromising them. If you think you can go years without nicking them I woudlnt' worry. If you think you'll get a nick in a year or two factor that in. Equipment failure is no joke. I would retire 140g bars with anything past a scratch in the clear coat. I would also make sure my torque wrench is calibrated perfectly because you can compromise such thin carbon pretty easily.
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Thank you, makes sense to think in terms of weight. I also find ratings ambiguous because an "X feet drop" can mean a lot of different things depending on speed and how the landing is.
 
#12 ·
I think the fear of "XC rated" parts breaking is overblown. It (usually) takes a hell of an impact to break any handlebar, like the kind of impact that you're probably not riding away from anyway. I can't argue with the fact that it does occasionally happen, but those random breaks seem to happen with all types of bars.

slim brings up a good point about carbon layup and durability - that's the big difference imo
 
#13 ·
Steven11 said:
Any experience/opinion?
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Ask tune. Nobody here will know for what loads they designed this bar and how they tested it.
Their website says "Not suitable for downhill-use".
 
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#14 ·
If I weighed 194 pounds, a 140-gram bar would be about perfect for beating the gophers in my yard to death. If I were a serious weight weenie XC racer with 4% body fat, I'd bet my dental health on it too.
Otherwise, I'd get a One Up or PNW that have some flex.
 
#16 ·
Steven11 said:
Thank you, makes sense to think in terms of weight. I also find ratings ambiguous because an "X feet drop" can mean a lot of different things depending on speed and how the landing is.
Click to expand...
You are a larger rider, I would be more hesitant at your weight than mine (I’m 150lbs). What might be marketed as a xc piece of gear might work for me in an enduro situation…
 
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