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Carbon DH bars

1181 Views 21 Replies 14 Participants Last post by MK_, Nov 21, 2005

MK_

Discussion Starter · Nov 21, 2005

I would imagine the Easton Monkey DH with CNT would be one of the toughest out there. The Mokely Lite XC has been treating me well with the DUC.

_MK

1 - 20 of 22 Posts

Aquaholic

· #2 · Nov 21, 2005

Do any of you run a carbon DH bar? I'd like to get back to running something that is a bit less punishing on my hands than the aluminum FSA riser that I'm currently sporting.

The bar that I'm looking at is a 25.4 carbon DH from FSA. I'm limited to 25.4 with the Maverick stem, BTW.

The carbon DH bar is substantially thicker than the XC model. Does it provide that much of a diffrerence over an aluminum bar?

My hands are getting somewhat punished after a long day.

I really miss my Ti bar.

Jeremy R

· #3 · Nov 21, 2005

Aquaholic said:
Do any of you run a carbon DH bar? I'd like to get back to running something that is a bit less punishing on my hands than the aluminum FSA riser that I'm currently sporting.

The bar that I'm looking at is a 25.4 carbon DH from FSA. I'm limited to 25.4 with the Maverick stem, BTW.

The carbon DH bar is substantially thicker than the XC model. Does it provide that much of a diffrerence over an aluminum bar?

My hands are getting somewhat punished after a long day.

I really miss my Ti bar.

I don't know if I can help here but here goes,
I ran the FSA Carbon DH bar for an entire DH season, and it held up fine, and it was very comfortable. At one point, I had an Azonic Carbon bar on my 5-spot and it was crazy how much more material the FSA bar had on it. Of course it was a DH bar, so it should have, but still. For my riding style, I would only trust a carbon DH bar even on my 5-spot.
I would get the FSA Carbon again in a heartbeat.

The Squeaky Wheel

· #4 · Nov 21, 2005

I have a 25.4 Easton DH CNT bar which I used for 2 months before switching to 31.6. It's cut from 710 to 660 mm. Has a few cosmetic scratches from mounting the controls but is in otherwise fine condition.

Drop me an email if you're interested & we can discuss further.

FM

· #5 · Nov 21, 2005

I run a monkeylite DH on my XC bike... I agree, I would only go for the DH models.

Aquaholic

· #6 · Nov 21, 2005

Rise?

The Squeaky Wheel said:
I have a 25.4 Easton DH CNT bar which I used for 2 months before switching to 31.6. It's cut from 710 to 660 mm. Has a few cosmetic scratches from mounting the controls but is in otherwise fine condition.

Drop me an email if you're interested & we can discuss further.

Squeaker:

That's a 1.25 rise, eh? I need 1.5.

Fo Putzle advised me against doing business with you. I'm just sayin'.

The Squeaky Wheel

· #7 · Nov 21, 2005

According to the Easton website it's 1.25 rise.
Specs here

Fo told you that? You know that he's serious about riding these days? His new found seriousness is clouding his already impaired judgement.

SSINGA

· #8 · Nov 21, 2005 (Edited)

Aquaholic said:
Do any of you run a carbon DH bar? I'd like to get back to running something that is a bit less punishing on my hands than the aluminum FSA riser that I'm currently sporting.

The bar that I'm looking at is a 25.4 carbon DH from FSA. I'm limited to 25.4 with the Maverick stem, BTW.

The carbon DH bar is substantially thicker than the XC model. Does it provide that much of a diffrerence over an aluminum bar?

My hands are getting somewhat punished after a long day.

I really miss my Ti bar.

Carbon where you ride? I would say no way. I can't believe the rest of the Homers recommend it. IMO... it's too fragile (must be Italian) for the rocky terrain you ride. Dump it just once on those rocks and put a gouge in it and you are out loads of $$. Have you tried an Azonic Double wall alu bar? http://www.azonicusa.com/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=52_34&products_id=84

BikeLust

· #9 · Nov 21, 2005

The Squeaky Wheel said:
I have a 25.4 Easton DH CNT bar which I used for 2 months before switching to 31.6. It's cut from 710 to 660 mm. Has a few cosmetic scratches from mounting the controls but is in otherwise fine condition.

Drop me an email if you're interested & we can discuss further.

Sorry to hijack, but out of curiosity, what did you go with for a 31.6 clamp?

BL

FM

· #10 · Nov 21, 2005

Yeah, I gotta agree with that.

I got my monketlite DH for $40 new from a local shop that was closing down... otherwise I would have never touched carbon bars again, having seen a few break. I went from a 300g alu DH bar to the carbon bar, on a steel hardtail, and noticed no improvement in the ride at all.

If you are looking for less "hand punishment", why not change your fork, instead of looking for the handlebar to compensate? I'm not hating on your fork, but it does seem out of it's league for your riding style. Adding flex to the handlebar is not going to replicate the feel of a coil sprung fork...

SSINGA said:
Carbon where you ride? I would say no way. I can't believe the rest of the Homers recommend it.

The Squeaky Wheel

· #11 · Nov 21, 2005

1. Stiffer
2. Ergonomically, the Easton 31.6 bars are a bit different than the 25.4 and I liked the way the 31.6 felt on my friend's bike
3. Bad case of UGI & felt the need to spend some cash

Dusty Bottoms

· #12 · Nov 21, 2005

No carbon

I would not recommend carbon for the riding you like to do, not even a dh version. Be sure to up your dental insurance if you go that route. We're not talking urban legend here, I have a friend who snapped one and ended up with a separated shoulder and broken collarbone.

Just have your pal JJ twist you a new ti bar to your exact specs.

Renegade

· #13 · Nov 21, 2005

SSINGA said:
Carbon where you ride? I would say no way. I can't believe the rest of the Homers recommend it. IMO... it's too fragile (must be Italian) for the rocky terrain you ride.

origami handlebar for an origami fork.

Aqua, your pretty face won't be pretty no mo' if your face plants itself into your stem. Not that that skort thing you occasionally wear does wonders for your appearance.

We'd all feel better if you bought a metallic one.

Aquaholic

· #14 · Nov 21, 2005

The voice of reason!

Renegade said:
origami handlebar for an origami fork.
Aqua, your pretty face won't be pretty no mo' if your face plants itself into your stem. Not that that skort thing you occasionally wear does wonders for your appearance.
We'd all feel better if you bought a metallic one.

Finally the voice of reason, steps in. As a professional model, I can't afford any more of this!

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davosaurusrex

· #15 · Nov 21, 2005

I'm in the same boat with wanting a bar to take a bit of sting out of the trail but not trusting carbon. I read that the scandium azonic b52 has a springy feel so i've got a pair arriving tomorrow, be riding it thursday night. Bit pricey at £75 over here but weighs 280-ish grams, comes in both clamp sizes, 2' rise 28' wide. I'll let you know how it rides

ozlongboarder

· #16 · Nov 21, 2005

I had a Easton XC monkeylite carbon for 3 years or so on my salty with many crashes with no problems. I have a Maxm6 carbon bar on my rigid 29er for over a year with no problems. I also have a Easton DH carbon bar on the Spot for over a year with a few crashes with no problems. I am about 225+ gear.

jBailout

· #17 · Nov 21, 2005

Aquaholic said:
Finally the voice of reason, steps in. As a professional model, I can't afford any more of this!

Was that the shot of you after "Widow Maker"? I think Rex showed me that once before.

I run an Answer Pro taper 31.8 carbon 1" rise...but I wear roadie shorts so what the hell would I know?

t66

· #18 · Nov 21, 2005

Just got the FSA K-FORCE DH. The bar is appears to be very tough. I'd trust it every bit as much as the Azonic Double Walls. Got a retired MAXM MX-6 it's nice and light 175g, used for about 8 months. Took 'em off cause my bar light woudn't mount on them.
http://classifieds.mtbr.com/cgi-bin...sults_format=long&db_id=94940&query=retrieval

El Chingon

· #19 · Nov 21, 2005

Aquaholic said:
Finally the voice of reason, steps in. As a professional model, I can't afford any more of this!

Why the long face?

But seriously, you shouldn't be considering a handlebar change, but a fork change. You get the right fork (Z-1), and your tired achey hands will disappear. Trust me...after getting rid of that Talas 36, and back onto a Z-1, I was in heaven. Keep a strong trusty aluminum bar, and get a super plush fork like the new Z-1 Light ETA. I just sold mine 05 Z-1 FR1 to Lycra FR, and he is in heaven.

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Aquaholic

· #20 · Nov 21, 2005

5

"headbanger"

jBailout said:
Was that the shot of you after "Widow Maker"? I think Rex showed me that once before.

I run an Answer Pro taper 31.8 carbon 1" rise...but I wear roadie shorts so what the hell would I know?

It was about 3 years ago out on Noble Canyon. I was on my first Turner (XCE).

It was an unreal day. I was in a zone and really pinning it hard. I came into that long steep dowhill with a hard right hander at the bottom that leads into the "Widowmaker". I was in the big ring and really pumping the bike. The rear end started to dance and then the lights went out. My bud, HucklerMark found me sometime later in the creekbed... out cold.

I had apparently augered hard into a good sized boulder face first and my sunglasses exploded causing massive carnage.

We cleaned me up as best we could and then I staggered/rode out.

We stopped for burritos before going to the ER. You should have seen the looks I got in that restaurant!

We call that setion of Noble Canyon "Headbanger".

SBG

PS Note the red paint from my sunglasses on that boulder!

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