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Toko
Dusty
Joined: Apr 02, 2007
Posts: 70
Location: Seoul, ROK
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 Posted: Fri 18th Jul 5:49pm Post subject: Tell Me About Riser Bars |
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So I gather that flat bars were all the rage for a while, now most bikes have risers, how come?
Is it just a bike-fit thing, or is there some sort of advantage to having risers?
I need to get more weight over the front wheel so I can climb the really steep stuff.
I tried turning the stem over, and I could move the spacers, but it all seems a bit pointless when my current bars have a 5cm or so rise.
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Nick_K
No frills, just hardcore
Joined: Oct 05, 2004
Posts: 9,783
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| Posted: Fri 18th Jul 5:57pm Post subject: |
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The reason you see risers on most bikes is fashion more than anything else. Personally I prefer flat bars (with more up and backsweep than regular flats) or bars with very minimal rise. Many people claim risers give greater control but its really a personal preference thing.
You will find you are able to keep the front weighted better with a lower front end. Conversely it may be slightly sketchier on steep downs.
Imho riding with an inverted stem and risers is up there with using barends on risers or having red hubs as far as fashion failures goes.
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radical_edward
Flogged
Joined: Mar 10, 2004
Posts: 3,817
Location: The not too distant future...
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| Posted: Fri 18th Jul 6:00pm Post subject: |
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I think it was partly fashion, people riding much smaller frames and fitting long seatposts and risers, partly stupid light late 90s components, giving the xc end of things a bad name.
I am just back from Europe and it seems they never stopped riding flat bars there. You can still buy them, so if you need them, and they make you fast, fit them!
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konaking
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Joined: May 28, 2006
Posts: 2,374
Location: Northshore Auckland
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| Posted: Fri 18th Jul 6:33pm Post subject: |
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u can get real small risw bars like half an inch
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dh_winner
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Joined: Feb 25, 2003
Posts: 3,768
Location: CHCH
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| Posted: Fri 18th Jul 6:36pm Post subject: |
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most riser bars are also wider than flat bars so they give more control. (680mm-ish vs 710mm+)
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konaking
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Joined: May 28, 2006
Posts: 2,374
Location: Northshore Auckland
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| Posted: Fri 18th Jul 6:57pm Post subject: |
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i run half and inch rise race face diablos bars that are 720mm wide and i reckon are better than higher rise bars
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JohnnyC
Staying Put
Joined: Jan 31, 2003
Posts: 10,889
Location: Christchurch
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| Posted: Fri 18th Jul 7:05pm Post subject: |
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| dh_winner wrote: | | most riser bars are also wider than flat bars so they give more control. (680mm-ish vs 710mm+) |
Flat bars are usually more like <600mm, but they're the way to go on an xc hardtail, anything else takes all the weight off the front wheel and is an esra on the climbs.
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pulsar
I'm the moon!
Joined: Sep 01, 2005
Posts: 2,103
Location: Hurtling towards a tree...
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| Posted: Fri 18th Jul 7:09pm Post subject: |
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I've just bought some new wider bars at the recommendation from gabby at a skills clinic I've just done, and they kick ass for handling! Funnily enough they are almost flat bars which makes my 6 inch trail bike look like a single speed wannabe so it will take a while to get used to the look, but i wouldn't change back for nuffn. 
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MattV
Chill'n down with the fire gang
Joined: May 29, 2005
Posts: 9,621
Location: New Plymouth
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| Posted: Fri 18th Jul 7:18pm Post subject: |
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I've found that going back to riding a bike with flats feels more nervous and skittish than a cat on P
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XCrider
Mangled
Joined: Oct 22, 2003
Posts: 8,941
Location: On ya Left
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| Posted: Fri 18th Jul 8:41pm Post subject: |
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i only went to risers about a year ago and thats on my trail/huck bike. All my other rides have flats i find the risers are to slow in the steering at first i was nearly running of corners.
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danose
Mangled
Joined: May 27, 2004
Posts: 10,725
Location: Nose City
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| Posted: Fri 18th Jul 8:57pm Post subject: |
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| dh_winner wrote: | | most riser bars are also wider than flat bars so they give more control. (680mm-ish vs 710mm+) |
and of course now you can also get 'DH' flat bars (effecitvely DH risers with 0mm rise - but same width and backsweep as a proper DH bar)
things like the Kore BFD 'race flat' (710mm wide and full big hit rated) - so if you want a low front end on your xc/trail bike but don't want to be stuck with a 580mm xc flat bar, they're an option (maybe cut down to 680mm or 640mm)
be aware it's a balancing act - wide bars and short stems balance out, as do long stems and narrow bars - now a 120mm xc stem with a 710mm wide bar is going to be badddddddd
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sherdforlife
Scuffed
Joined: Aug 09, 2006
Posts: 361
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| Posted: Fri 18th Jul 9:00pm Post subject: |
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the closer the bar bass is to the forks the more control ther is, but it fells bloody werd to ride with your hands way down ther so they inventid risers
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danose
Mangled
Joined: May 27, 2004
Posts: 10,725
Location: Nose City
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| Posted: Fri 18th Jul 9:01pm Post subject: |
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| JohnnyC wrote: | | dh_winner wrote: | | most riser bars are also wider than flat bars so they give more control. (680mm-ish vs 710mm+) |
Flat bars are usually more like <600mm, but they're the way to go on an xc hardtail, anything else takes all the weight off the front wheel and is an esra on the climbs. |
depends if you also got sucked into the 'any stem longer than 90mm is uncool' fad too - I'm running low risers (20mm) on the xc hardtail - but with a decidedly uncool 120mm stem (not totally mad given it's a 19" frame). With flats I either end up putting 20mm of spacers back under the stem, or having to run an ugly riser stem (the curse of having weirdly long legs - even with the current setup it's a lonngggg way down to the bars)
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Owen
Failing.
Joined: May 06, 2003
Posts: 3,074
Location: Welly town
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| Posted: Fri 18th Jul 9:55pm Post subject: |
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Flat bars with upside down stem FTW. Cannondale steez.
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JohnnyC
Staying Put
Joined: Jan 31, 2003
Posts: 10,889
Location: Christchurch
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| Posted: Fri 18th Jul 10:28pm Post subject: |
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| danose wrote: |
depends if you also got sucked into the 'any stem longer than 90mm is uncool' fad |
I know I should probably run something alot longer but it handles so good with the short stem! I'll definitely be trying something longer soon though
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