The Finest Mountain Bike Handlebars of 2024

Your mountain bike handlebar is an often-overlooked part that may rework the way in which your bike handles and feels. As the first dealing with interface of your bike, your handlebar is vital not just for management however can have a major impression in your consolation as nicely.

Whereas mountain bike handlebars all look comparatively related, there are some fairly vital variations among the many myriad choices in the marketplace. Working with fashionable supplies and development strategies, manufacturers have been capable of design handlebars with totally different efficiency traits to swimsuit nearly each want and choice, and that’s an amazing factor. It seems that the handlebar is, actually, a efficiency part that may present various advantages, whether or not you’re looking for one thing stiff and exact, compliant and forgiving, or in the event you’re attempting to loosen up your trip or dial within the match of your cockpit.

As of late, there are such a lot of totally different mountain bike handlebars in the marketplace it may make your head spin. Created from supplies starting from carbon fiber to aluminum – even titanium, coming in 31.8mm and 35mm clamp sizes, and a complete vary of various rise and sweep choices, it may be laborious to determine which is one of the best handlebar for you. It doesn’t assist that each handlebar is claimed to be one of the best for (insert adjective right here) by their respective producers. So how do you select the correct one?

Final 12 months, we teamed up with Faction Bike Studio to do a first-of-its-kind group compliance check of 42 totally different handlebars of their lab, adopted by rider testing to see how these findings translated to make use of out on the path. Armed with the data gathered throughout lab and rider testing, together with months of testing the bars included right here in the actual world, we’ve acquired suggestions to swimsuit each want and finances.

Our favourite mountain bike handlebars are listed under, together with one of the best of the remaining that are additionally nice choices worthy of significant consideration. Our useful comparability chart reveals all the fashions we examined and their specs at a look. Our detailed shopping for recommendation has all the data in the event you need assistance deciding what you want, adopted by our FAQ part with solutions to frequent questions.

The Finest Mountain Bike Handlebars of 2024

Better of the Relaxation

Comparability Chart

Why You Ought to Belief Us

To say that the crew at Bikerumor is gear-obsessed could be an understatement. Writing about biking gear is greater than only a job, driving bikes can also be our ardour, and we’re at all times on the hunt for merchandise that may enhance our expertise out on the paths. Through the years, we discovered that even a part as seemingly easy because the handlebar can improve our consolation and management whereas mountain biking. And, we’ve been lucky to check out plenty of totally different handlebars to search out what we like finest. Nonetheless, there are such a lot of handlebars in the marketplace with numerous claims about their efficiency traits, that it may be tough to search out the proper handlebar for you.

To be taught extra, we teamed up with Faction Bike Studio to do compliance testing of their lab to get some actual information on the stiffness and compliance of 42 totally different handlebars. Then, we rider-tested a collection of these handlebars to see if the variations in stiffness/compliance had been noticeable on the path and what impression it had on our consolation and management. We discovered that there are notable variations among the many bars we examined and that the lab findings lined up with the rider expertise. Evaluate creator, Jeremy Benson, was one of many check riders for the handlebar testing challenge. As somebody who has struggled with numb palms and arm pump whereas driving, Jeremy has spent years trying to find the proper handlebar that gives the perfect stability of forgiveness and responsiveness, and he has tried over 30 totally different fashions previously few years.

We began our testing by gathering 42 handlebars and having them despatched to Faction Bike Studio in Granby, Quebec for compliance testing of their lab. Every handlebar was put by means of the identical compliance check to measure the deflection, or flex, beneath a predetermined quantity of weight utilized. These numbers gave us information to check the handlebars when it comes to stiffness and compliance, as there may be in any other case no customary ranking system or scale. After the lab testing, we selected 4 fashions for rider testing, and you may take a look at this text and the accompanying video to see how we examined and what we discovered. Along with testing the handlebars within the lab and on the path for our video challenge, Jeremy examined all twelve of the handlebars included on this purchaser’s information to get a really feel for the way every mannequin performs out on the path. Our suggestions are primarily based on his real-world testing expertise and are knowledgeable by the outcomes of the Faction Bike Studio lab testing.

Shopping for Recommendation: Methods to Select Mountain Bike Handlebars

For such a seemingly easy part, there’s a shocking quantity to contemplate when selecting a brand new mountain bike handlebar. Within the following sections, we’ll talk about vital components like totally different supplies, geometries, stiffness/compliance, weight, and extra that can assist you wade by means of the multitude of choices in the marketplace in the event you’re on the lookout for one thing new.

Materials

The 2 supplies which are mostly utilized in mountain bike handlebars are carbon fiber and aluminum. In lots of circumstances, some manufacturers even make the identical handlebar in each choices. There are additionally a small handful of handlebars comprised of Titanium in the marketplace today. One of many major components that differentiates these supplies is value, however there are different variations we’ll cowl under.

Carbon Fiber

Carbon fiber is broadly used within the development of mountain bike handlebars as a result of it has a wonderful strength-to-weight ratio and it may be manipulated into totally different shapes and layups to tune them to provide desired efficiency traits, notably with reference to stiffness/compliance. One of many major advantages of carbon handlebars for a lot of riders is that they’re dramatically lighter than their aluminum counterparts, typically weighing within the neighborhood of 70 to 100 grams much less (relying on the fashions in query). Whereas that won’t matter to everybody, it is among the less expensive methods to shave that a lot weight off an entire bike. Moreover, carbon fiber has a superb means to soak up high-frequency vibration, comparatively talking.

It’s value noting that within the compliance (flex) testing on the Faction Bike Studio lab, the typical stiffness of the carbon handlebars we examined was barely larger than the aluminum competitors. After all, that’s a median taken from our pattern of handlebars and doesn’t inform the entire story, notably given carbon’s vibration-absorbing properties. In actual fact, we’d argue that many of the carbon handlebars in the course of the stiffness compliance spectrum really do a greater job of dampening vibration and muting suggestions than equally compliant bars comprised of aluminum.

The first disadvantage to carbon fiber as a handlebar materials is that it has a better manufacturing value that leads to costs that may be as a lot as double, or extra, than an equal aluminum choice. And, whereas carbon fiber handlebars are extremely robust, they are often extra inclined to wreck from blunt impacts, crashes, or probably even the over-tightening of stem bolts or bar clamps in your controls. We at all times advocate utilizing a torque wrench when tightening something in your bike, notably when coping with carbon elements.

Aluminum

Earlier than the industry-wide adoption of carbon fiber as a cloth to be used within the development of nearly every thing, aluminum was nearly the one sport on the town for mountain bike handlebars. Comparatively talking, aluminum is inexpensive as a cloth, and producing elements like frames and handlebars is simpler and subsequently less expensive. Nonetheless, it may be manipulated into a wide selection of styles and sizes, though it is a little more restricted when it comes to tunability in comparison with carbon fiber. And, whereas it’s pretty light-weight, aluminum handlebars nearly at all times weigh fairly a bit greater than their carbon counterparts.

The outcomes of the Faction Bike Studio compliance testing within the lab confirmed us that, on common, aluminum handlebars are barely extra compliant than their carbon counterparts. That could be a very broad generalization after all, as some aluminum bars are tremendous stiff, however total, aluminum bars are a bit extra forgiving when it comes to stiffness. That mentioned, past the flex of an aluminum handlebar, the fabric itself doesn’t soak up vibration fairly as readily as carbon fiber, in our expertise.

Titanium

Titanium is the least frequent materials utilized in mountain bike handlebars, however manufacturers have been making frames and handlebars out of it for a lot of a long time. In actual fact, I’ve an excellent slender Bontrager Titec handlebar on my classic ’93 customized hardtail out in my storage. Titanium has lengthy been utilized in high-end bike frames, because it has a novel and forgiving trip high quality in comparison with metal or aluminum. Not surprisingly, that interprets fairly on to handlebars, and the Roost Titanium bars we examined are roughly 30% extra compliant on common in comparison with each the carbon and aluminum fashions we examined. If you happen to’re after essentially the most forgiving bar, notably for larger impacts, the Roost Titanium bars are it.

Not surprisingly, Titanium is sort of costly, and the fashions we examined are a number of the most spendy handlebars in the marketplace. That mentioned, Titanium additionally has a status for being extremely sturdy, so the upper value could also be justified by its lengthy lifespan.

Clamp Diameter

Mountain bike handlebars are available in both 31.8mm or 35mm clamp diameters, and fairly a couple of are provided in each sizes. If you happen to’re getting a brand new handlebar to interchange your current one (and also you don’t wish to exchange your stem too), then you definitely’ll wish to ensure you get the identical clamp measurement. The dimensions is often printed someplace on the handlebar, often within the clamp zone that will get coated by the stem, but when not, you may measure the diameter with a caliper.

For a few years, the 31.8mm clamp diameter was thought of the “customary” till a number of manufacturers began making bars and stems with a 35mm clamp interface. Initially, the transfer to 35mm clamp diameters was to extend each the stiffness of the bar/stem interface and the handlebars themselves, and the final notion was that each one 35mm clamp bars had been stiffer than 31.8mm. Whereas that will have been true for a short while, it’s in no way a tough and quick rule and we’d name it an oversimplification. As of late, the stiffness of a bar is dictated extra by its design and development than by its clamp diameter, and there are tremendous stiff and really compliant bars in each sizes.

That mentioned, we did discover within the outcomes of our lab testing within the pattern of bars we examined, that the typical stiffness of these with a 35mm clamp was, actually, simply barely larger than these with a 31.8mm clamp. Once more, it is a broad generalization, however a notable pattern nonetheless. No matter clamp measurement, most riders ought to have the ability to discover a handlebar that fits their preferences.

Stem

The stem of your mountain bike is a fairly simple part that merely attaches your handlebar to your fork’s steerer tube. As such, alongside along with your handlebar, your stem is a part of a system that’s used to manage your bike. Mountain bike stems are available in a wide selection of styles and sizes that may play a task in your bike match (bar top and attain), and ranging ranges of stiffness that may have a minor impression on the responsiveness of your dealing with. Relying on the stem, some can have a little bit of flex, whereas others are ultra-stiff, so that may be an element that’s value contemplating when upgrading your handlebar, particularly in the event you’re going to a special clamp measurement and must buy a brand new stem anyway.

On the subject of motorcycle match, altering the size of your stem is a straightforward technique to successfully improve or lower the size of your attain, which might play a big function in your consolation in addition to your bike’s dealing with.

Geometry

Mountain bike handlebars are available in an enormous assortment of rises, sweeps, and widths, all of which might play a task in your physique place, wrist alignment, and total consolation on the bike. And, by making modifications to any of these dimensions, you may alter the ergonomics and match of your cockpit to dial it into your particular wants.

Width

Over the previous couple of a long time, mountain bike handlebars have (fortunately) trended wider which has helped enhance each stability and dealing with leverage for our more and more succesful bikes. Whereas it varies considerably by model and mannequin, most handlebars for path or gravity driving come within the neighborhood of 780mm to 800mm of their uncut, inventory width. Handlebars on XC bikes are typically a bit narrower, and the light-weight Race Face Subsequent SL is an efficient instance that is available in a 740mm width. Whereas the inventory width of a handlebar may be an amazing match for some riders, our our bodies are available in all totally different styles and sizes, and most of the time, most riders may gain advantage from trimming a brand new handlebar to a extra acceptable width to get a greater match.

Handlebars which are too slender can lead to much less stability and management, whereas bars which are too large can stretch your arms out too far and negatively impression your dealing with or consolation in different methods. Figuring out the correct width could be a little tough, however if in case you have a handlebar that you simply already know is an efficient match for you, it may very well be as straightforward as measuring that one and trimming your new bar to match. In any other case, we propose utilizing a calculated method as a result of reducing your handlebar is everlasting. Keep in mind, you may at all times make it narrower, however you may’t put materials again on, so begin slowly except you’re assured that it’s proper.

Handlebar producers anticipate that their bars will likely be getting trimmed and most come marked with measurement strains on the ends to make it somewhat simpler. It isn’t too troublesome to trim a handlebar by yourself (there are some nice ideas on-line), however if you’re not sure or don’t have the instruments, any native bike store ought to find a way that can assist you out.

Rise

The rise of a handlebar refers to how excessive a handlebar rises over its size out towards each ends and it’s sometimes measured in millimeters. Rise is comparatively vital to contemplate as your handlebar top can have a big impression in your physique place, weight distribution, and total consolation on the bike. For that reason, many handlebars are provided in a number of rise choices to swimsuit various wants and preferences, whereas others are solely provided in a single rise.

Like anything, there isn’t a one-rise-fits-all, and what works finest is often a matter of non-public choice or probably the kind of bike that you simply’re driving. If, for instance, you’re feeling extreme strain in your palms whereas driving, it may very well be that your handlebar is somewhat low and that strain may very well be relieved through the use of a bar with a better rise that shifts your physique place barely extra upright. Conversely, if the entrance finish of your bike feels too excessive, vulnerable to wandering, otherwise you’re looping out on steep climbs, reducing your bar top with a lower-rise handlebar may assist repair the issue. It’s additionally value mentioning that adjusting the place of the spacers above or under the stem can have an identical impact in your bar top.

The correct quantity of rise might also be influenced by the kind of driving you’re doing. Cross-country racers who prioritize pedaling velocity and effectivity will typically trip in a extra aggressive, forward-leaning place, so it’s not unusual to see flat or 10mm rise bars on light-weight XC bikes. Conversely, those that trip tremendous steep terrain incessantly will typically go for a higher-rise handlebar to lift up the entrance finish of the bike and assist forestall their physique weight from being too far ahead whereas descending steeper pitches. Once more preferences fluctuate, however discovering the correct rise for you is a crucial facet of getting your cockpit setup dialed in for consolation and efficiency.

Again Sweep and Upsweep

Transferring out from the middle of the handlebar, the ends of handlebars are angled each up and again, and these angles are known as upsweep and again sweep. These angles are supposed to offer higher alignment of the palms and wrists when gripping the handlebar within the driving place. There aren’t actually “customary” upsweep and again sweep angles, though the candy spot for many riders is round 8° or 9° again and 4° or 5° up as evidenced by the truth that nearly all of handlebars in the marketplace fall into that vary. There are outliers, after all, just like the Hope Carbon Handlebar with a barely extra aggressive 7° again sweep or the PNW Vary Gen 3 which has a considerably extra relaxed 10° again sweep.

Some riders can profit from extra improved ergonomics and wrist alignment provided by handlebars which have extra again sweep than the traditional vary talked about above, and happily, a couple of manufacturers provide merchandise to satisfy that want. One such handlebar is the SQlab 30X Carbon (or aluminum) which may be bought with both 12° or 16° of again sweep. Whereas that a lot again sweep isn’t essentially very best for everybody, it could be precisely what some riders must trip extra comfortably. It’s value noting that growing again sweep successfully shortens attain, so these choosing extra excessive angles like 12° or 16° may have to contemplate adjusting stem size to compensate.

Bar Roll

Immediately associated to again sweep and upsweep is bar roll. When establishing your handlebar, you wish to place it in order that the again sweep and upsweep are aligned within the place that feels finest for you, and that’s executed by “rolling” the handlebar ahead or again within the stem. Even slight modifications to bar roll can play an enormous half in your wrist alignment and the way a handlebar feels in opposition to your palms. Adjustments to bar roll are fairly straightforward to make, so that is comparatively straightforward to experiment with to search out out what works finest. Simply you should definitely reposition your controls and grips to the right angles if you’re making modifications to the bar roll.

Management Setup

Organising your controls (shifters and brake levers) correctly also can impression your wrist alignment and impression your consolation. Ideally, you need your shifter paddles and dropper lever to not intrude along with your thumb whereas gripping the handlebar however nonetheless be shut sufficient that you simply don’t have to achieve excessively to press on them. Equally, the lateral place and attain of your brake levers must be adjusted to swimsuit the size of your fingers so to attain them simply. And, let’s not overlook your alternative of mountain bike grips as that may impression your consolation as nicely.

The angle of your brake levers is arguably a very powerful right here as it’s more than likely to impression how your wrists are aligned when gripping the handlebar and reaching for the levers. In case your levers are too flat or too steep it will possibly trigger your wrists to bend an excessive amount of in someway. After all, what works finest is a matter of non-public choice and might also be dictated by the kind of driving that you simply’re doing. Identical to bar roll, adjusting the place and angles of your controls is fast and simple, so attempting various things to dial it in is fairly simple.

Stiffness vs Compliance

Compliance is a well-liked buzzword within the biking {industry} that’s used to explain elements that present some forgiveness by means of flex, and it’s utilized by many handlebar producers to characterize the efficiency of their merchandise. Compliance is basically the other of stiffness, and it refers to a cloth or object’s means to flex beneath load. Whereas flex could not sound like essentially the most fascinating trait in a handlebar, compliance can work to soak up a number of the forces from impression which may be useful and enhance rider consolation.

Developments in supplies and development strategies have allowed manufacturers to tune handlebars to realize desired efficiency traits whether or not that’s tremendous stiff, very compliant, or someplace in between. With out an industry-wide compliance check “customary”, nevertheless, it’s laborious to know the place totally different handlebars line up on the stiffness/compliance scale in contrast to one another.

So, in 2023, we partnered with Faction Bike Studio to do a first-of-its-kind mountain bike handlebar compliance check. We examined 42 totally different handlebars in Faction’s lab with a standardized flex check to see how they fluctuate when it comes to stiffness and compliance (see the graph under to check), after which we did some blind rider testing to see if the lab check outcomes are noticeable in use and the way that interprets out on the path.

As you may see, there are some fairly dramatic variations when it comes to stiffness, and in our testing, we decided that these variations are, actually, noticeable whereas driving. Consider it or not, there are some handlebars that may present enhanced consolation by means of impression and vibration absorption, however, similar to anything, how stiff or compliant your handlebar must be comes right down to rider choice.

Stiff handlebars are recognized for being tremendous exact and supply responsive dealing with, however generally it comes at the price of consolation. However, compliant handlebars are recognized for offering extra consolation, however generally at the price of dealing with precision. Handlebars in the course of the stiffness scale will sometimes present essentially the most balanced traits, the place they supply somewhat additional consolation with out sacrificing a lot when it comes to dealing with.

Many fashionable handlebars, notably these comprised of carbon fiber, are being constructed with particular layups that permit for some vertical compliance to soak up impression whereas remaining horizontally stiff for dealing with and management. These efficiency traits may be laborious to stability, however some manufacturers and fashions of handlebars are doing it fairly successfully. Carbon fiber, and notably all the interfaces of composite constructions, does a greater job of absorbing vibration and serving to to dampen high-frequency suggestions that will in any other case be transferred to the palms in comparison with different supplies. However, as you may see within the graph above, lots of the stiffest bars we examined additionally occur to be comprised of carbon. Nonetheless, certainly one of our favourite carbon handlebars is the OneUp Parts Carbon as its distinctive ovalized form and carbon development present a tremendous stability of compliance, vibration absorption, and dealing with precision.

Identical to carbon handlebars, these comprised of aluminum fluctuate fairly dramatically when it comes to stiffness/compliance, however on common, we discovered them to be barely extra compliant within the lab testing. Regardless, there’s a big selection from tremendous stiff to extra compliant which may be seen within the graph above. Six of the ten most compliant bars are aluminum and two of the ten stiffest bars are aluminum, so you will have the choice to decide on your most popular stiffness. It’s value noting, nevertheless, that aluminum doesn’t soak up high-frequency vibration fairly in addition to carbon fiber can, typically talking, though the bars on the extra compliant finish of the spectrum do assist soak up larger impacts fairly successfully.

Titanium is far much less frequent as a cloth for handlebars, principally as a result of it’s costlier, however it’s recognized for offering a novel, comfy trip really feel when used as a frame-building materials. This interprets fairly on to the handlebar software, and our lab testing confirmed that the three titanium fashions we examined had been essentially the most compliant in comparison with aluminum or carbon fiber. On the path, that distinction is noticeable they usually positively do soak up a number of the impression forces from bigger hits. And, whereas we discovered the dealing with to really feel a tiny bit imprecise initially, it didn’t take lengthy in any respect to get used to it. The uncooked titanium additionally seems to be superior, which doesn’t harm both.

Weight

The burden of a handlebar most likely shouldn’t be a very powerful consider deciding what to purchase, however for the weight-conscious amongst us, it’s doable to avoid wasting weight in your bike with an improve in the event you select. With most aluminum handlebars weighing in round 300g to 340g and most carbon bars starting from round 200g to 250g, it’s doable to cut back the general weight of your bike by round 100g (3.5 oz) or so. Whereas that will appear insignificant to many riders, there are many of us who may admire the advantages of getting a lighter total bike weight, and in comparison with another elements, the price-to-weight distinction between a carbon bar and an aluminum one is simpler to abdomen.

For these riders trying to save essentially the most weight on a light-weight XC race bike, for instance, there are a number of tremendous mild handlebars in the marketplace. The lightest one we’ve examined is the Race Face Subsequent SL which is available in at a scant 167g at its untrimmed 740mm width. Whereas that width gained’t attraction to everybody, it’s nicely chosen for the XC software the place bars are typically a bit narrower than these utilized by path and enduro/gravity riders. Transferring up barely in weight, lots of the wider, burlier carbon bars are nonetheless very mild with fashions just like the Hope Carbon handlebar (222g), Oneup Carbon (228g), Chromag BZA (230g), and the FSA Gradient carbon (237g) weighing shockingly little in comparison with comparably sized aluminum choices.

Worth

You don’t have to spend so much to get a handlebar that will likely be a efficiency improve over the inventory aluminum handlebars that come on loads of full mountain bikes. The aluminum fashions we examined vary in value from $69 to $109, and there are many different choices in the marketplace which are priced equally and can outperform the essential choices that many producers spec on bikes to save cash. The price of a handlebar rises as the fabric will get fancier and the load comes down, and carbon fiber handlebars fall in a value vary of round $150 to $200. Whereas that’s clearly costlier than the aluminum choices, the load financial savings is pretty vital and we really feel the efficiency helps to justify the upper price ticket. Going up a value degree, area of interest merchandise comprised of unique supplies like Titanium or which have particular options like additional again sweep appear to command more cash. Whereas a Titanium handlebar or 12-16° again sweep gained’t attraction to everybody, they exist for many who want or need them, simply know that you simply’ll be paying somewhat additional to get it.

Steadily Requested Questions