REVIEWS DEALS BIKESHOPS TRAILS

bars: how wide is too wide?

1652 Views 14 Replies 14 Participants Last post by neverwalk, Jun 28, 2009

dexterq20

Discussion Starter · Jun 27, 2009

Need some feedback from y'all please.

Just threw some 30.8" Truvativ bars on my DH bike and rode them for the first time today. They're awesome.

However, when I jump on my trail bike now, the 27" bars feel WAY too narrow. Already planning on putting some 28" bars on the trail bike, but I'm worried they'll still feel really narrow compared to the DH bike's bars (almost 3" narrower).

So my questions are:

are 29" bars too wide for a 6-inch travel trail/all-mountain bike? (I'm thinking yes, mainly because it'll be hard to squeeze thru some spots on my local trails)

should I just chop the DH bike's bars to 30" and run the 28" bars on the trail bike to reduce the differences in width?

Any and all feedback is welcome. Gracias.

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08nwsula

· #2 · Jun 27, 2009

no such thing as too wide, it's all about comfort. you may look like an idiot however.

nmpearson

· #3 · Jun 27, 2009

a local slopestyle/dj pro runs 30's on every bike, including his dj bike and he can throw barspins perfectly still. just go with what's comfortable

climbingbubba

· #4 · Jun 27, 2009

i run the deity dirty 30's on my DH bike and just bought some for my up coming AM build. probably going to chop them down to 28.5 though.

I agree, going from 30 to 27 is weird. i would go with 28 or 29 for your am bike.

I thought 30 was way wide but one of the skinniest tree sections at a local resort used to seem narrow with 27" bars but i ran 30 last time i rode it and it felt the same.

Flystagg

· #5 · Jun 27, 2009

I think about 40" would be too wide

Lelandjt

· #6 · Jun 27, 2009

My FR bike has narrower bars than my DH. When riding fast, twisting trails with trees on the inside of every corner I can tell that I have to take a slightly wider line on the DH to avoid clipping the bar on the inside tree when leaning.

Iceman2058

· #7 · Jun 27, 2009

dexterq20 said:
Need some feedback from y'all please.

Just threw some 30.8" Truvativ bars on my DH bike and rode them for the first time today. They're awesome.

However, when I jump on my trail bike now, the 27" bars feel WAY too narrow. Already planning on putting some 28" bars on the trail bike, but I'm worried they'll still feel really narrow compared to the DH bike's bars (almost 3" narrower).

So my questions are:

are 29" bars too wide for a 6-inch travel trail/all-mountain bike? (I'm thinking yes, mainly because it'll be hard to squeeze thru some spots on my local trails)

should I just chop the DH bike's bars to 30" and run the 28" bars on the trail bike to reduce the differences in width?

Any and all feedback is welcome. Gracias.

First, 28 inch will not feel that narrow on a trailbike, you'll probably get used to them again each time you hop on the bike in about 30 seconds.

Second, 29 inch on the trailbike is probably still OK - I see more and more people who like to ride aagreesively with DH-style wide and low bars on their trailbikes.

Third, if 29 inch on the trail bike is NOT OK because of a tree here and there - do you care? I think running wide bars on a trail bike only really becomes an issue if you expect any kind of longer-duration pedalling performance and such. Unless all your trails are mazes of treetrunks and tight ravines...

Fourth - it's not like running "only" a 30 inch bar on the DH bike is actually narrow, if you want to chop it a little. A couple of years ago everybody would have laughed...

Fifth - I just bought a the Spank Spike 777 bars (30mm rise) for my new all-purpose FR/DH/trail rig....and I'll be DAMNED if I know what length I'm gonna run it at, so whatever you do don't listen to me... (that's always good advice no matter what)...

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jtd

· #8 · Jun 27, 2009

I run 29" bars on my trail bike and love it. At first it was a little weird riding through tight trees, but after a bit you get used to it. In reality it is only an inch (each side), which besides perception is really not that much wider. Also, if you look at someone in a turn there inside shoulder is generally outside the end of the bar anyway. Riding straight is different, but at some point it is kind of the same faulty logic of the tight pants hipster fixie guys cutting their bars down so they can 'split' traffic. Unless they cut their shoulders off it doesn't make any sense.... Just my opinion...

charlesparps

· #9 · Jun 27, 2009

ya'll got me curious, so I just measured mine out at 24"... I ride a lot of tight tree areas though and wanted cleaner lines. I really did not see much diff cutting them down- thoughts? I really don't miss the schoolbus feel.

hitechredneck

· #10 · Jun 27, 2009

I run 29" bars on my 6" bike at first a little odd at slower speeds but you get used to it. Worth it if it feels odd going from the trail bike to the big bike and you get stuck on how things feel odd.

charlesparps

· #11 · Jun 27, 2009

I guess I should have specified, I run 24" bars with 7 in the front and 9 in the rear.

Ojai Bicyclist

· #12 · Jun 28, 2009

24" bars are, in my opinion, WAY too narrow for just about anything. Get some 27-28" bars (maybe wider than that eventually) and I would pretty much guarantee your riding will improve unless you're sub-5' with the shoulders of a small woman.

seanzombie1336

· #13 · Jun 28, 2009

24"?

Llo (fingg margarita and taqiolla lime shot)

aKore

· #14 · Jun 28, 2009

they are too wide when they are uncomfortable

neverwalk

· #15 · Jun 28, 2009

and when you don't fit in the start gate.

1 - 15 of 15 Posts

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