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Riser bars--what's the deal?

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xcguy

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Discussion starter · #1 ·
I've never put riser bars on any bike I've ever owned. I like my bars to be about 3/4" below my saddle height and with the flat bars I run that's easy to attain.

I seem to be in the tiny minority, though. Every bike I see pictured on this and most other forums have riser bars (maybe I'm exaggerating) so I have to ask...what's the deal? Is it purely to raise your bars 3/4 or more inches? Is there some other benefit with having your bars higher than your saddle other than a more upright riding position (a condition I wouldn't describe as a benefit). Doesn't climbing with your bars so high suck? Or is it all about the descending without being so far forward like I am with my flat bars? I could see riser bars when I'm descending but I just can't see them for all the climbing that I do.:skep:
 
#2 ·
It actually has nothing to do with the rise - that can mostly be accomplished with steerer tube height and stem rise. Riser bars, however, typically have more sweep than given flat bars. Many riders prefer that for an easier on the wrist riding position. A lot of that has changed recently, though, and there are now a handful of flat bars with generous sweep. It's all about finding a comfortable riding position. Stem, bars, head tube lengh, steerer tube height are all contributing factors.
 
Discussion starter · #6 ·
xc guys--I get it

Homebrew said:
Width, sweep, and most importantly cool moto style points. Flat bars for for xc guys...oh wait...not that there's anything wrong with that. :thumbsup:
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Yeah, I see the moto look, how cool and all...but I never thought about the sweep factor (or sheep factor either!). Guess I'll have to check out how the sweep feels with my compromised right wrist. Probably a higher bar position might just put less pressure on it and I'd just get used to the higher position. I'd have to take out all the spacers that are currently below my flat bars to keep the same height (with a modest 3/4" rise) which would look almost as uncool as me raising my flat bars on the steer tube and having a mile of spacers below.

Decisions decisions--sweep sheep moto cool--which of these?:idea:
 
#7 ·
not sure what the sheep are talking about.....dont need a riser bar for a bend/sweep...my latest lame bike runs 27" flat bars with a 10 deg sweep, though gotta admit, on the Turner I like dem risers bars!
 
Discussion starter · #9 ·
I'm going to accept that you're being serious

Dusty Bottoms said:
In all seriousness....

What is considered acceptable drop down range from saddle to bar?
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and answer--1" for me has always been the minimum. It's all about my comfort and how the bars feel in relation to my body when climbing the steep stuff here in Colorado. When I see bars at or above the saddle all I think is DH. Discuss.
 
#10 ·
it depends on the suspension curve posted by the manufacturer....which of course impacts the sag which is really how one should compare the saddle to bar relative positioning
 
Discussion starter · #11 ·
I almost brought that up but

Faux Part Deux said:
it depends on the suspension curve posted by the manufacturer....which of course impacts the sag which is really how one should compare the saddle to bar relative positioning
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my shock and fork both sag about 1/2" so--same same, at least in my case. I remember seeing a group of riders unloading at Sovereign. One guy had some kinda DH specific ride. His seat was so low his knees were almost hitting his chin and I swear to gawd he had something like a 3-4 inch sag! So at that point his saddle was about 6 inches below his bars, at least. Someone in his group said doncha want to raise your saddle just a bit? He looked very perplexed at the speaker and said "...what for?"
 
#12 ·
xcguy said:
Yeah, I see the moto look, how cool and all...but I never thought about the sweep factor (or sheep factor either!). Guess I'll have to check out how the sweep feels with my compromised right wrist. Probably a higher bar position might just put less pressure on it and I'd just get used to the higher position. I'd have to take out all the spacers that are currently below my flat bars to keep the same height (with a modest 3/4" rise) which would look almost as uncool as me raising my flat bars on the steer tube and having a mile of spacers below.

Decisions decisions--sweep sheep moto cool--which of these?:idea:
Click to expand...
If your wrists are bad, you should give On One Mary bars a spin. I think Dave has some at Redstone.

_MK
 
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#13 ·
Actually seat height is only an issue if you pedal your bike. I just stare at mine and clean it with Lemon Pledge.

I have these on my co-muter - pretty comfy but not for the Spot or Burner.
 

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#14 ·
xcguy said:
Yeah, I see the moto look, how cool and all...but I never thought about the sweep factor (or sheep factor either!). Guess I'll have to check out how the sweep feels with my compromised right wrist. Probably a higher bar position might just put less pressure on it and I'd just get used to the higher position. I'd have to take out all the spacers that are currently below my flat bars to keep the same height (with a modest 3/4" rise) which would look almost as uncool as me raising my flat bars on the steer tube and having a mile of spacers below.

Decisions decisions--sweep sheep moto cool--which of these?:idea:
Click to expand...
How about a compromise? I'm running the 17 degree sweep Salsa Pro Moto flat bars on my Spot. The extra bend helps keep the tendonitis at bay. They're also 710mm or almost 28" wide. I get more sweep and width than most risers and my wrist and elbow are relatively pain-free. With a 17 degree rise stem I can get the bar to a comfortable height without the bike looking too goofy.

I used to belong to the old stretched out long-n-low NORBA XC school of bike fit. The bars on my Spot have been slowly moving in, up, and out. I'm liking the bars about an inch lower than the saddle, a lot closer, and wider.

HH
 
#15 ·
cutthroat said:
Actually seat height is only an issue if you pedal your bike. I just stare at mine and clean it with Lemon Pledge.

I have these on my co-muter - pretty comfy but not for the Spot or Burner.
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Lemon Pledge? Is that what I need to be doing? I have been using Honda Clean/Polish, but if the Lemon Pledge is what I need for quality stare time, then that is what I need.
 
#17 ·
I don't think I've ever polished a bike in my life, though the stare time wasn't bad when I had a one bedroom apartment where the only place to put the bike was right in front of the fireplace.

I'm in the non-riser crowd myself, and have similar reactions to the setups on most bikes since I'm most comfortable with bars at least an inch below the saddle too. It's probably just as well; I've been toying with the idea of getting a new bike lately and my wallet does better when my reaction to the ride is dominated by the lack of space between the saddle and bars. :thumbsup: If I ever get to serious shopping I'll have to take to bringing hex keys along and move the stem so it's under all them spacers. Maybe flip the stem too. The ~2.5 inch drop on current bike may be a bit much though; I've been doing some longer rides lately and have been having some wrist and lower back pain after six hours or so in the saddle.
 
#18 ·
if motocross bikes started running flat bars w/ backsweep, you'd soon see within a year or two every hucker or all-mountain bike sporting bars like this...........I believe it's a moto thing, nothing else.........

However, doing a clicker with a On-One Mary bar [love it on my SS] is definitely weird feeling!
 
#20 ·
xcguy said:
I'd have to take out all the spacers that are currently below my flat bars to keep the same height (with a modest 3/4" rise) which would look almost as uncool as me raising my flat bars on the steer tube and having a mile of spacers below.
Click to expand...
I would rather have the risers than the spacers. I only have a very small spacer (1/8"?) since my large Spot has a pretty tall head tube. Risers came on a bike I bought about 7 years ago and I've stuck with them ever since. I've adapted my riding and now it's just normal (and everyone else is weird :p ). But ride what you like and like what you ride.
 
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