[Tully]

I've heard from on a few different occasions that aluminum handlebars need to be replaced every year. Is that true? If it matters, I have fairly lightweight aluminum handlebars, which are two or three years old, but haven't suffered too many crashes.

 

[cali4niabiker]

I've heard from on a few different occasions that aluminum handlebars need to be replaced every year. Is that true? If it matters, I have fairly lightweight aluminum handlebars, which are two or three years old, but haven't suffered too many crashes.

You don't need to replace aluminum handlebars every year. As long as the handlebar isn't warped or bent, you are in good shape. However, if you do have carbon fiber handlebars... its another story. I'd stay away from 'em since my buddy got hurt real bad when his snapped in half...

 

[zedro]

You don't need to replace aluminum handlebars every year. As long as the handlebar isn't warped or bent, you are in good shape.

whoa there...misleading and potentially dangerous advice. Aluminum has a fatigue property, meaning a limited lifespan where it'll eventually crack and most times with no warning. It may not warp or bend, it can just outright fail.

The life of the bar depens on the durability (duh...), it varies from model to model, depending on the material and geometry. A good indication is the warranty offered. A year may be necessary with some bars, a few years with others. A bar can still fail without ever having been crashed.

 

[Rik]

Hah, isn't that the other way around?
Shouldn't you should replace an aluminium bar every year or few, but don't need to replace a carbon bar unless it's suffered damage. That's what I've gathered from other threads.