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Downsides?

vtrider

vtrider

Monkey
Apr 11, 2005
150
0
vermont
what are the possible downsides of using carbon bars for dh/freeride? i just got offered a pair of answer protaper carbons, the OS ones for really cheap.
ive heard that crashing and carbon dont go well together, is this true? Ive never run carbon bars before, so i have no idea.
 
Kntr

Kntr

Turbo Monkey
Jan 25, 2003
7,526
21
Montana
Run Protapers or EA70s. Ive broke carbon bars and its not fun. The weight difference in hardly anything
 
Zutroy

Zutroy

Turbo Monkey
Dec 9, 2004
2,443
0
Ventura,CA
vtrider said:
what are the possible downsides of using carbon bars for dh/freeride? i just got offered a pair of answer protaper carbons, the OS ones for really cheap.
ive heard that crashing and carbon dont go well together, is this true? Ive never run carbon bars before, so i have no idea.
Click to expand...

I don't seen a problem with them, just check them before every ride for damage or after you take a hard bail.
 
OGRipper

OGRipper

back alley ripper
Feb 3, 2004
10,655
1,129
NORCAL is the hizzle
Well not to be a jerk but the "possible downsides" include catastrophic breakage when you want it the least. But that is also a possible downside to an aluminum bar.

Lots of people, including many engineers, say carbon bars are actually stronger. Personally I'm not convinced, I use aluminum and change 'em up almost every year. But that's just me, lots of folks use carbon and love 'em.
 
S.K.C.

S.K.C.

Turbo Monkey
Feb 28, 2005
4,096
25
Pa. / North Jersey
...I think I've actually had a conversation about this topic before in another thread - can't remember where tho -

Carbon fiber bars scare the hell out of me... Metals have a tendency to deform slightly - as a warning sign - before a failure point is reached. I check my bars after every ride, and look at them every which way to see if they have bent. I also make sure not to over-tighten the face-plate on my stem - Thomson in particular is adamant about this.

Having a carbon bar blow a right or left side off after a hard drop in the steeps just freaks me out...
 
Velocity Girl

Velocity Girl

whack-a-mole
Sep 12, 2001
1,279
0
Atlanta
I've been running my FSA carbon bars for just over 2 seasons now without any problems. I am replacing them this season though just to be on the safe side....just like with aluminum, they can only take so much abuse. They sometimes can look like damage is worse than it actually is because the clear coat can take a beating. The guys at FSA told us to check them by removing the front wheel, putting the fork on the ground, and put pressure on the bars....if they don't creak, you're good to go...if they creak, time to replace 'em.
 
H

Homey

Monkey
Oct 27, 2004
136
0
The O.C.
The manufacturer should be the best source of info, since they paid the engineers to design the product. If the carbon bars are made for DH and they specifically state that, then you should be okay. If the bars are x-country bars, then they probably weren't designed to take the constant abuse of DH. You can engineer certain properties into carbon fiber (to an extent) but the manufacturer is who I would ask about the application.
 
E

entropy138

Chimp
Feb 16, 2005
10
0
Me and some friends (3 of us) bought carbon skateboard decks several years back when they were the hot unbreakable deck on the market....

While they were damn strong one of my friends managed to shatter the hell out of his. So I sold him mine - which he shattered - so my friend sold him his - which he also shattered...

Lesson I learned - while carbon is damn strong, watch out when it breaks because there is no warning and it doesn't stay in tact at all....
 
James

James

Carbon Porn Star
Sep 11, 2001
3,559
0
Danbury, CT
I have a set of those same bars on my Reign, though I haven't ridden it yet, still need the stupid adaptors for the Mavic wheels.
I'm sure they're enough, but for me, it was that little thought in the back of my mind, "what if," so I went back to alloy for my DH bike.
For a trail bike, I'm all about 'em. ESPECIALLY in 31.8mm.
And I believe that the strength/weight of the Hamms is pretty much the best in the industry, until it's downed. Which is ususally fast...

Hamm Commando!
 
Duzitall

Duzitall

Monkey
Jun 20, 2004
452
0
San Diego
schweino1 said:
or a brand spankin 38.1 truvativ hollzfeller for 40.....
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I remember you, you're the guy who told me you have a VP Free for sale but was just jerking around. You left me walking around with a wad of money in my pocket for over a week until I gave up on you. I don't like that very much.

Have a nice day :mumble:
 
me89

me89

Monkey
May 25, 2004
839
0
asheville
me i dont trust the stuff period. i dont like the fact of having to replace a 100$ set of bars after every crash (and if you know me you know i crash quite a bit). so alluminumm for the dh and xc bike. the weight diff isnt that much diff and id rather ride something that is a little bit more trustworthy and has some warning signs to it. ive seen way to many carbon bars brake or be replaced with a little scratch from a hard crash. so alluminum for me.
 
Bicyclist

Bicyclist

Turbo Monkey
Apr 4, 2004
10,152
2
SB
I would much rather have my bars bend than shatter suddenly. I also don't like the idea of having to be really careful with stem faceplate/lever/shifter torque. Plus, Aluminum bars are damn light.
 
James

James

Carbon Porn Star
Sep 11, 2001
3,559
0
Danbury, CT
I want Hamms as my Avatar! Make it happen! Make this Giant logo GO AWAY!
It's all about the land of Sky Blue Water!
 
James

James

Carbon Porn Star
Sep 11, 2001
3,559
0
Danbury, CT
Brian HCM#1 said:
Here shrink it down.

Click to expand...
Someone smart for me who knows how to do this stuff do this for me.
I'll (or CurbHucker, probably him), will love you forver.
holy crap! A 24oz! I'm ALL around finding that next year!
Hot damn!

JJames
 
H8R

H8R

Cranky Pants
Nov 10, 2004
13,959
35
Cro.

Mo.



Bontrager Crowbar XXX DH - 4130 cromoly.

If you can find a pair of these, they are the best bars ever. Bontrager stopped making them I think. You can use them with mtn or BMX stems.
 
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