[scottishmark]

My Easton EA70 bars have had a good life and, due to the under-grip area looking polished now, I've decided it's time for change.

I'm looking at getting 750mm Funn Fatboys as a replacement but wondering if it's worth moving up to 31.8mm diameter at the same time? The new breed of uber-wide but light bars makes me think it's probably a good idea, does anyone else have any input on this?

Would I actually notice a difference? Or are the 25.4s suitably beefed up to compensate?

Cheers,

Mark

 

[buildyourown]

It's worth it to move up because all the wide bars are 31.8
For pure part selection alone, I would make the move.

 

[HAB]

It's worth it to move up because all the wide bars are 31.8
For pure part selection alone, I would make the move.

I made the jump on my big bike a couple years ago just because I needed to to get something suitably low and wide. I'm still running a 25.4 on my XC and DJ bikes.

 

[trib]

You tend to get less flex on the 31.8 bars, which is definitely desirable if you want to run superwide bars where the bending forces are higher. Burgtec ride wide bars look the part if you want a choice other than the funn bars

 

[luckie8]

I upgraded from 25.4 to 31.8 and never looked back

 

[djjohnr]

If you can find a wide bar you like in 25.4 stick with that. Unfortunately 25.4 options are becoming very limited. I run 31.8 on my DH bike and 25.4 on my AM bike right now, but I'm going to have to switch to 31.8 to run a wider bar that's still low and light. I've never been able to tell a difference in the stiffness between the two.

 

[- seb]

I'm not sure if 31.8 feels any different to 25.4, but mentally it certainly inspires confidence when you look at it, imho. Fat is good.

 

[Brian HCM#1]

It's not always the length that matter, it's the width

 

[mtbrider106]

i got a new fork in the mail im stepping up to the 31.8 bars as well 800mm wide with 50 mm rise and 5 degree back sweep.

 

[DirtyMike]

thed 31.8 stem/bar combo is stronger all around, requires less torque to hold the bars in place, and is noticably stiffer when you ride.

 

[JDA]

I rode EA70 for 3 years DH racing then went to funn full on 710mm for about 6 months, I have just ordered the raceface atlas FR bars but will probably cut them down a bit.

 

[Chaingangster]

I've never been able to tell a stiffness difference between 31.8 and 25.4 bars/stems. Sure, some bars/stems are stiffer than others, but it usually comes down to more aspects of their construction rather than simply the diameter. Just because its bigger doesn't mean its better. Go check out moto handlebars.
The main reason to switch is if the bar width/rise/sweep you want is only available in 31.8 (which is increasingly likely) or you like the look of it.