So whats the best combo, light and strong, like a Thompson X4 stem and 31.8 carbon bars, or shine the carbon bars and go Aluminum like Answer Pro-tapers. What do you guy's think about the 31.8 bars, worth it or not? Does the 31.8 have a real advantage over the standard stuff? There's still some 25.4 stems and bars out there but it looks like the 31.8 is going to take over someday, there's more new 31.8 stems coming out than new 25.4 stems, and it looks like the bars are starting trickle in.
Whats the best handlebar/stem combo,
- Thread starter dlb
- Start date
31.8 is the bomb.
I used to bend bars all the time. I could feel them flex while I rode.
no more.
I used to bend bars all the time. I could feel them flex while I rode.
no more.
I'm reallllllly happy with my Diablos ThirtyOneEight Bar and stem. Definantly not the lightest combo on the market, but really beefy, and take some SERIOUS abuse.
I have crashed HARD on those things, and they dont even flinch.
As far as riding, I can tell a slight difference between that, and my old Power Tools standard bar and stem (which has been retired to my HT
) It just feels... better. Hard to explain, but the bigger Diablos stuff feels like it has somthing behind it, and will hold up to whatever I put it through. I don't know if its because its stiffer or what, it just feels good when I ride 
I have crashed HARD on those things, and they dont even flinch.
As far as riding, I can tell a slight difference between that, and my old Power Tools standard bar and stem (which has been retired to my HT
) It just feels... better. Hard to explain, but the bigger Diablos stuff feels like it has somthing behind it, and will hold up to whatever I put it through. I don't know if its because its stiffer or what, it just feels good when I ride protaper!
best bar ever!
i got normal protaper and 35mm atomlab stem. so nice... so get protaper, meaby OS and some nice stem: rf diablous,thomson,atomlab,easton mag...
best bar ever!
i got normal protaper and 35mm atomlab stem. so nice... so get protaper, meaby OS and some nice stem: rf diablous,thomson,atomlab,easton mag...
too personal to say what's best but for me Pro-taper bars are the Best shape (mine is cut down though) and seem to be strong enough.
Stem's again have to suit the Bike/rider/rise/reach etc. so it's imposiblr to say what's best. Avoid anything with an internal grip type clamp (coz they FCUK steerers) or those stupid Tioga stems separate steerer clamp plate. nothing too light either, Azonic shorty's are too light for me, I twisted one by about 20 degrees.
Stem's again have to suit the Bike/rider/rise/reach etc. so it's imposiblr to say what's best. Avoid anything with an internal grip type clamp (coz they FCUK steerers) or those stupid Tioga stems separate steerer clamp plate. nothing too light either, Azonic shorty's are too light for me, I twisted one by about 20 degrees.
I've got the Easton ea70/vice stem combo, looks pretty good, and in my book that's what's really important 
I don't think there's that much difference if oyu buy a proper set of bars. I'd run easton bars with one of those SIC stems if I knew where to get 'em! 
I don't think there's that much difference if oyu buy a proper set of bars. I'd run easton bars with one of those SIC stems if I knew where to get 'em! 
The FSA stuff is nice...a little heavy but really nice. Sooner or later I'll be moving over to easton stem and bar.
31.8 is the devil. Bars are SUPPOSED to flex a little.
Truvativ makes a 1 inch rise 31.8 DH bar best thing ever...
Diabolus stem, EA70 bars?
must say i m a big fan of pro tapers and thomson... that combo has just been retired to my hardtail (chameleon is gone - waiting on an evil DOC).. i m now running a truvativ OS holzfeller and an 888 direct mount stem... the jury is out on that set up...
partsbara
partsbara
I would have to say Thompson with an FSA freeride bar, the FSA bars just have a great feel
31.8 by the way. Not a big fan of the protaper...
31.8 by the way. Not a big fan of the protaper...
Thomson Elte & Protapers on my bikes.
Haven't tried OS yet - but I'm a lightweight guy and not a hucker, so I probably won't for a while.
-r
Haven't tried OS yet - but I'm a lightweight guy and not a hucker, so I probably won't for a while.
-r
Handlebars/stems don't really need to be strong.
All the force pushing them is rotated away by the headset/headtube.
You're never on the bike when you fall, thus they don't have to deal with rider weight.
You don't land on them in normal use.
But they do need to be stiff.
So the larger diameter the better for bars. (light+stiff)
I run Kona DH*Primo Bars and 'zoke integrated stem.
I would like one of those evil integrated ones though!
31.8
All the force pushing them is rotated away by the headset/headtube.
You're never on the bike when you fall, thus they don't have to deal with rider weight.
You don't land on them in normal use.
But they do need to be stiff.
So the larger diameter the better for bars. (light+stiff)
I run Kona DH*Primo Bars and 'zoke integrated stem.
I would like one of those evil integrated ones though!
31.8
Bars are supposed to flex a bit. It takes the edge off of high freq bumps and lessens rider fatigue.
Protapers are the shiz. They have more room for controls than any other bar I've tried. Great for 1 finger brake setups.
And you can't say enough good things about Thomson stems.
Light, strong and bling
Protapers are the shiz. They have more room for controls than any other bar I've tried. Great for 1 finger brake setups.
And you can't say enough good things about Thomson stems.
Light, strong and bling
obviously you ve never broken any bars ?? trust me... it isn t pretty...ioscope said:
Although I like 31.8 and think it is both stronger and lighter, just because 28.6 bars can flex doesn't make then inherently bad, flex can be good but obviously bendind is a bigSirChomps-a-Lot said:
I have had no issues with bending or breaking alloy bars and I think the slight flex is nice for vibration damping.If I were buying a new setup I'd go Thomson and 31.8 carbon for my everyday bike and Thomson & 31.8 aluminum (or thick Easton DH carbon) for DH...
I have a 31.8 EA 50 on my Shiver direct-mount stem. It replaced a 25.4 Pro-Taper. Big upgrade in stifness, but the Easton is 1" narrower. I am sensitive to the bend of bars and really like the sweep of the Easton. Same factory (I think) as the Pro-Taoer. But I agree that 31.8 is here to stay. Even roadies use it.
me tooMaD666MaX said:Protaper with Thomson stem, Lightest and strongest combo ever
I've got one of the new Thomson X4's, it's like a Diabolus on a diet. Right now, the bars are Diabolus but I'm replacing them with protapers or EA70's to save weight.
I have a 31.8 SIC (Super Inovative Concepts) bar and stem combo on my P2 ad SIC bars w/integrated marz stems on my Bullit and Yeti. The bend is 12 degres, more like a motorcross bar than a MTB bar. they are awesome !
Thomson/ProTaper is the combo that just about everybody at the shop and on our team runs. A few guys run the Easton bars because the standard diameter is available in three rises at 28" wide instead of just 2x28 or 1x26 with the ProTaper.
Repack said:
Roadies invented it.
You can make a super light carbon road bar lighter with a 31.8 dia
seems to be a popular combo... mine is still kickin, or at least it will be when my ht is built up again...SuperSlow said:
partsbara
Parts, what happened to ya cro-mo gack gear?
I have SIC Livin' Large Bar/ Stem combo. They are nice and stiff, light and the 12 degree bend feel so natural.
i'm a big fan of the protapers too; i've got 'em on most bikes i own. right now i've got a woodman stem on my DH bike but it's a bit heavy, so i'll nick the wife's thomson stem once she gets the e13 direct mount stem.
I've got a Titec blockhead stem w/ Hellbent DH bars.
Thomson Elite
EC70 Monkeylite DH
I'm lovin' it.
EC70 Monkeylite DH
I'm lovin' it.
I have the same Planet X DH bar and it's (almost 500gr)...and in combination with my Planet X meteor stem it's just 'heavy'.scurban said:
My 4x had that notorious Tioga Cube stem, with the seperated back plate that ovalises your steerertube when you tighten it 'just a little too much'.
I changed my combo to a 31.8 Easton Vice 50mm stem and a Funn Fatboy Slim bar and it feels more solid and is just a tad lighter than my previous combo. In terms of flex, I can't feel a big difference to be honest.
I don't know what combo is "the best" for you....but the 31.8 gives me a 'secure and safe feeling' and for that reason alone, I would buy the 31.8 combo again.
B
bighitfsr
Guest
I'm running 31.8 diabolis bar and stem on my DH rig and a tioga cube and protaper on my 5" dually.
After running 28" wide bars on all my bikes for ages I was concerned protapers would feel too narrow (I'm 6'2").
I now notice a huge diff going from 27" protapers to 28" RF diabolis.
I'm not sure which I perfer, currently leaning toward the protapers.
31.8 rocks.
Before the RF diabolis my bars would be lucky to last 3 months on the DH rig before I'd clip a tree and bend them slightly.
If I had unlimmited cashish then I'd go for an FSA 31.8 carbon bar + Thompson 4 X 31.8 stem. However the best bang for you buck performance bar + stem IMO is RF diabolis 31.8 and protaper 31.8.
After running 28" wide bars on all my bikes for ages I was concerned protapers would feel too narrow (I'm 6'2").
I now notice a huge diff going from 27" protapers to 28" RF diabolis.
I'm not sure which I perfer, currently leaning toward the protapers.
31.8 rocks.
Before the RF diabolis my bars would be lucky to last 3 months on the DH rig before I'd clip a tree and bend them slightly.
If I had unlimmited cashish then I'd go for an FSA 31.8 carbon bar + Thompson 4 X 31.8 stem. However the best bang for you buck performance bar + stem IMO is RF diabolis 31.8 and protaper 31.8.
NYCFreeride Blox Stem w/ Azonic Doublewall bars.