[Bikael Molton]

Hi there-
I ride the 2" ProTapers and love 'em. However, I'd like to try something shorter, since forks are getting taller year by year.
the 1" ProTapers are too skinny for me. I have 'em on my XC bike, and they are too narrow.

Anyone have suggestions for a 1"-1.5" bar that is in the same strength/weight class as the trusty ProTapers? That is: sub-300 gm and 27-28". Carbon need not apply.

Here's a 2nd question: Who is running the newer bars with a deeper sweep (10-12+ degrees). How do they feel / what are they better for compared to the traditional 8-9 degrees?

thanks!
-rob in NY

 

[dexterq20]

I'm a fan of the Azonic World Force bars in a 1.5" rise. 27" wide and only 275 grams.

 

[davep]

I just got a new pair of azonic double wall 1.5 inch risers with slightly different graphics... maybe '05.. but they truely measure 29 inches!!

 

[DßR]

Easton EA70, 1" rise, 230ish grams 27" wide. I think the Protaper is actually an EA70, but they don't do the low-rise in full width. Easton does. BTW the way easton measures their stuff, the 1" rise is more like other folks' .5" or so. It's basically a flat bar with a little more bend....

 

[Acadian]

Easton EA70, 1" rise, 230ish grams 27" wide. I think the Protaper is actually an EA70, but they don't do the low-rise in full width. Easton does. BTW the way easton measures their stuff, the 1" rise is more like other folks' .5" or so. It's basically a flat bar with a little more bend....

yeah...either the E70 Low-Rise or Mid-Rise. Both meet your criteria.

 

[BigStonz]

Just in case you're interested in OS - RaceFace Diabolus OS 28" 1.5 rise. FSA DH400 710mm wide 40 mm rise. Holzfeller 710mm wide 25mm rise.
-another Rob in NY

 

[Leethal]

Truvative makes there higher end DH bar (which is only available in 31.8 Dia.) in 1 inch rise and I 28" + width... Its the shiznit.

 

[AlberTop]

Easton EC-70 (carbon) Monkey Lite DH - 1.25" / 28" wide.

I am using then.

 

[bizutch]

I've always loved the "back and up" sweep of my 2" rise Azonic doublewalls and World Force bars (28 inches WAY WIDE so I cut a 1/4 inch off each end down to 27.5). I talked to Chris the other day and for '05 they have a new Scandium bar that is pretty frickin' pimp on their site. It's up on their site (available in 25.4 and 31.8) and the same goes for their new '05 CARBON DH bar.

Both are in a 1.5" rise. He said the new carbon bar is lighter than their current CF1 carbon bar and stronger(also in 31.8 & 35.4). Better donate blood first though if you want the carbon bar.....$159.00!!! I tried running a 1 inch rise Doublewall riser but it didn't sweep up and back and felt less natural.

edit: I actually liked my 2" rise World Force & Doublewall aluminum bars over that CF1. With the advent of the newer flex free stems, direct mount 888 stem and forks, the aluminum feels more comfortable overall when you throw the bike around. Call me crazy but myself and my teammate both felt like the CF1 was more rigid to your arms and almost "hurt".

 

[Acadian]

Easton EC-70 (carbon) Monkey Lite DH - 1.25" / 28" wide.

I am using then.

read the first post again...

 

[AlberTop]

read the first post again...

NO CARBON!

sorry...

 

[Gary]

Just use a lower stem

 

[Bikael Molton]

Thanks for the replies guys! My "no carbon" rule is because I can't afford to be buying a new bar every time I crash hard and scrape the bar.

RE: lower stem: I already have a zero rise stem and think negative rise stems look pretty dumb.

Does anyone know if the Easton EA70 really is the exact same as the ProTaper - as in, they come from the same factory and just have different graphics? I know Easton makes good tubing, but have stayed away from their products after those crummy seatposts they made a couple years ago.
Is the EA70 1" rise the same rise as the ProTaper 1"? (I wish all companies would measure their products the same way.)

I will definitely look into all these suggestions. I'm not familiar with some of 'em (I thought all the Azonics were uber-heavy, for instance).

Keep 'em coming if there are other options I should check out.

-r

 

[bizutch]

Here's the link.
http://www.azonicusa.com/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=52_34&products_id=155
the Scandium bar in 1.5" rise

Uber-heavy??? how much do you weigh?? neaky:

 

[Bikael Molton]

Thanks for the link! No - I meant *before* this thread, I wasn't too familiar with Azonic bars. I always think Ultracross with a bmx pad when I think Azonic... but that Scandium one looks cool!
Does Scandium feel just like aluminum (stiffness/damping)?

-r

Here's the link.
http://www.azonicusa.com/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=52_34&products_id=155
the Scandium bar in 1.5" rise

Uber-heavy??? how much do you weigh?? neaky:

 

[James | Go-Ride]

The ProTaper is manufactured by Easton, but it's not just an EA70 with gold ano and different stickers. They are different bars, but the sweep and rise are pretty darn close. If you like the way your ProTaper feels but just want to get your hands lower, I'd go Easton for sure (the bend difference between the Eastons/Protapers and the Azonic bars is pretty serious and immediately noticeable). They list in low, mid, and hi rise as 1.5", 2.0", and 2.5" respectively, although they actually measure 1.0", 1.5", and 2.0" by most other manufacturer's standards. Basically the mid-rise is a 1.5" bar, and the low-rise is the 1" bar. 1" is pretty low, the 1.5" makes a fairly big difference over the 2 incher.

 

[Bikael Molton]

Good info here James... one question: Does the ProTaper 2" correspond in height to the mid or the high EA70?

thanks
-r

The ProTaper is manufactured by Easton, but it's not just an EA70 with gold ano and different stickers. They are different bars, but the sweep and rise are pretty darn close. If you like the way your ProTaper feels but just want to get your hands lower, I'd go Easton for sure (the bend difference between the Eastons/Protapers and the Azonic bars is pretty serious and immediately noticeable). They list in low, mid, and hi rise as 1.5", 2.0", and 2.5" respectively, although they actually measure 1.0", 1.5", and 2.0" by most other manufacturer's standards. Basically the mid-rise is a 1.5" bar, and the low-rise is the 1" bar. 1" is pretty low, the 1.5" makes a fairly big difference over the 2 incher.

 

[James | Go-Ride]

The 2" Protaper is the same height as the high-bend (labeled 2.5) EA70. I don't know why Easton chooses to label their bars by height rather than by rise like everybody else on the market, it makes for a bit of a mess. At least they're going low/mid/high now instead of trying to to the number thing.

Anyway yeah, 2" Protaper = high-bend EA70, height-wise.

 

[bizutch]

the Scandium is in between carbon and aluminum. It has the resilience of the Aluminum and vibration absorption fo the carbon. The weight is a itty bit more than the carbon, but way lighter than the aluminum.

Hey James, have you seen the Scandium or Carbon Azonic's and the sweep on them?

 

[James | Go-Ride]

I haven't seen much from AZ lately besides Double Wall and World Force bars. I ran DW bars for a long time, pretty exclusively, but once I got a ProTaper that was the end of my relationship with Azonic. It's kind of a bummer, the DWs are mega strong and I never worried about them failing, whereas I replace my ProTapers every year, but I like the bend and sweep a lot more with the Answer/Easton stuff, and they weigh a good bit less.

Carbon bars are cool and I'd have them on my bike if I was going for maximum style points or a 38 pound DH bike, but as it is the only one we stock is the Easton. The Scandium stuff is cool too, but too pricey for not much of a difference between it and regular aluminum IMO.

 

[JRogers]

the Scandium is in between carbon and aluminum. It has the resilience of the Aluminum and vibration absorption fo the carbon. The weight is a itty bit more than the carbon, but way lighter than the aluminum.

Hey James, have you seen the Scandium or Carbon Azonic's and the sweep on them?

Scandium bars are the same rise and sweep as other comparable eastons. Only, your info seems a bit off. According to Easton's listings, the Scandium riser is 660mm/245 grams while the EA70 in 25.4 is 685mm and 250 grams. An inch wider and 5 g heavier in the regular Al. I also doubt that there is any more shock absorption in the Scandium than in the regular bar; it's just stronger.

 

[sayndesyn]

I got a new 200mm 888 and even with Risse crowns I have had to look for a lower rise bar than my Diabolus. I scoured the net for the EA70 low rise in 31.8 that the new Iron Horse Sunday comes with, but I can't find it anywhere. Ended up getting a 1 inch Holzefeller. Good enough I suppose...

 

[partsbara]

I got a new 200mm 888 and even with Risse crowns I have had to look for a lower rise bar than my Diabolus. I scoured the net for the EA70 low rise in 31.8 that the new Iron Horse Sunday comes with, but I can't find it anywhere. Ended up getting a 1 inch Holzefeller. Good enough I suppose...

yeah i m kinda wishing i d got the 1" holz... bastids didn t have it in stock when i ordered mine... crabs

 

[SuspectDevice]

1" bars are so badass. I've been running the "low" Ea70's since last winter on the DH bike and I just love 'em. I've had the same pair of mid rise ea70's for 6 years now, 3 years on an xc bike and 3 years on my metalhead/dna. I still trust them. The fatigue cycles that those things go through in testing is far greater than the amount of use they've seen from me, and they aren't scratched or nicked, so I feel safe.

 

[JRogers]

1" bars are so badass. I've been running the "low" Ea70's since last winter on the DH bike and I just love 'em. I've had the same pair of mid rise ea70's for 6 years now, 3 years on an xc bike and 3 years on my metalhead/dna. I still trust them. The fatigue cycles that those things go through in testing is far greater than the amount of use they've seen from me, and they aren't scratched or nicked, so I feel safe.

I've had the same EA70 mid-rise on 4 different bikes. I think I bought them maybe 4-5 years ago. Awesome bar. I should probably replace it, but I never feel unsafe and I do mind parting with 60 bones if I can avoid it.