Could you choose for yourselves the best MTB handlebars?
For many years, MTBs have mounted bars or straight-bar handlebars. These items come with unique diameters and a straight, narrow shape. With passing time and the evolution of MTB, the handlebars have changed. Now, they come with a much wider diameter. It chooses the handlebar to become a more complex operation.
It is vital to understand which handlebar to buy for your mountain bike because it is one of the most important elements. Besides, the handlebar determines the comfort in the saddle. Compared to past years, we have more choices today. This article will show you the list of 6 best MTB handlebars on the market nowadays. Let’s take a look!
Contents
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Top 6 Best MTB Handlebars
Top 1: Easton Havoc 35 Handlebar
The Havoc 35 MTB carbon handlebar combines the Haven 35 Carbon 35-millimeter clamp with a 75-centimeter handlebar. As result, it is more accessible and maneuverable. Thanks to the careful selection of materials, it can reduce the weight while the bar offers a wider and more solid structure. The most striking features are the strength and comfort of this handlebar.
The handlebars strike the perfect balance between stiffness and damping, thanks to the mix of hard and light composite materials. This unit has a nine-degree sweep and a five-degree upward sweep. So, it will put your hands in an ideal position for attacking any kind of trial. The aesthetics are unique to an elegant design, a high-quality matte black carbon finish, and a variety of colors to match the predominant color of your bike.
Finally, this handlebar is available in two different heights, 20 and 40 millimeters. If you are looking for a more aggressive stance, you will need to take the 20mm handlebars. But if you want a more upright or more comfortable stance, your choice should be 40mm.
Pros
- Accessible and maneuverable
- Lightweight and solid
- Striking design
- Suitable for all trails
Cons
- Expensive
Top 2: Easton EA50 AX Road Handlebar
This model is like the previous one, except that its size is smaller. Its thickness is 31.8 centimeters and its length is 74 centimeters. You could think of this handlebar as a double-height handlebar because it marks the top in the middle part.
This handlebar is the most marketed by Easton within its range designed for enduro and mountain. Its design was a total revolution. With this recent version, the construction has gone from 711 millimeters to 740 millimeters and came with a weight difference of only 25 grams.
Besides its weight, the characteristics that dazzled us about this model are its firmness, durability, and resistance. In terms of geometry, its design has a nine-degree rear sweep and five-degree elevation. These measures ensure a perfect position for your hands and facing many slopes. The low rise of 20 millimeters completes the front elements of the trail bikes with an innovative design.
Easton manufactured this handlebar with Taperwall technology. This system allows the handlebars to be made with a double internal thickness. It generates a handlebar with an excellent balance between weight and resistance. So, we have focused on characteristics such as its lightness and firmness.
Pros
- Small and compact
- Innovative and advanced technology
- Suitable for endura and mountain rides
- High firmness, durability, and resistance
Cons
- Just enough performance
Top 3: Renthal FatBar V2 Handlebar
Renthal FatBar Lite Carbon handlebar is famous for its lightness. Thanks to its carbon construction, this handlebar offers great rigidity and resistance without compromising the weight of the bike. The length of this handlebar is 74 centimeters and has a height in the central part which is reduced by 20 millimeters.
The back tilt is seven degrees, and the up tilt is five degrees. This handlebar has a diameter of 31.8 millimeters and weighs only 180 grams. But you can put aside the size and weight characteristics of this handlebar and focus on the technologies and innovations that it incorporates. The arrangement and orientation of the carbon fibers on the handlebars ensure the strength and rigidity of the handlebars.
This handlebar is perfect for enduro and XCO (Olympic Cross Country) disciplines. The rigidity of the FatBar carbon allows excellent control of the bike on a good deal of terrain with great technical difficulty. Finally, the handlebar comes with a grille in the central area that allows you to adjust the position of the handlebars on the bike.
Pros
- Durable carbon construction
- Great rigidity and resistance
- Perfect for endura and XCO
- Change allowance
Cons
- Heavyweight
Top 4: Easton EC70 AX Handlebar 44 cm
Easton’s EC70 handlebars are one of the company’s most popular products thanks to the high-performance aluminum alloy with the patented Taperwall system. As we explained a few lines above, this technology allows greater density and more contrasting stiffness than in the other models. Despite incorporating the aluminum alloy, the predominant material in this handlebar is carbon.
This handlebar has two clips, 20 and 40 millimeters. Its length is 685 millimeters, and the width is 31.8 millimeters. Another outstanding characteristic that defines this handlebar is its lightness. With only 265 grams, it is an ultra-resistant handlebar.
As for the geometry, the EC70 model has a nine-degree back sweep, while the upsweep is five degrees. For now, it is only available in black. Users who have tried it say that it is a handlebar that allows for good pedaling efficiency. It also offers no flexibility when sitting, standing, or on technical terrain.
Pros
- High-performance aluminum alloy
- Taperwall system
- Excellent durability
- Ultra-resistant
Cons
- Cannot adjust the length
Top 5: RaceFace SIXC DH Handlebar
The RaceFace SIXC handlebar comes with high-quality carbon compounds, resulting in excellent strength and low weight. Here, the handlebars are 785-millimeter wide and 31.8-millimeter thick. The height difference between the center and the ends is 19 millimeters.
The handlebar has an eight-degree rear sweep, while the upward rise is four degrees. With the launch of this model to the market, SIXC was the culmination of many years of research, design, and development. The result was more than spectacular. The RaceFace range offers the best performance and rigidity. It is strong and light enough for all-mountain disciplines.
Pros
- Excellent strength
- Low weight
- Best performance and rigidity
- Suitable for all terrains
Cons
- Expensive
Top 6: UPANBIKE MTB Extra Long Handlebar
For cyclists who like to spend long hours pounding their bikes on rough terrain, UPANBIKE has your back. UPANBIKE is an aluminum bar with a special foam injected in the center that absorbs trail vibrations to prevent hand fatigue. UPANBIKE fabricates the alloy used with a micro-grain finish, making the bar strong and light. And the light-alloy balances the extra weight added by the foam.
The 760mm width is perfect for trail use and next to the reference marks on the grip point. There are cut marks on the ends of the bars. We have a modest 5mm rise and six degrees of back sweep keep the weight relatively low. Finally, there is a forward posture on the bike for an aggressive stance.
Pros
- Suitable for rough terrains
- Special foam
- Prevents hand fatigue
- High balance
Cons
- Low durability
Why Should Buy MTB Handlebars
Poor quality handlebars can cause arm pain every time you take a long trip. To solve this problem, you need to go for better quality handlebars that minimize pressure as much as possible. MTB carbon handlebars are the best handlebars that can solve your problem and provide you with the best comfort.
This handlebar has a carbon fiber that filters vibrations to lighten your arms. If you are racing in mountainous areas or rough terrain, this handlebar will be very comfortable for you. Besides, the carbon MTB handlebar is more light than any handlebar, it weighs half of the aluminum handlebars.
You can see the advantage of a light handlebar when riding on less level ground. Whether you are an amateur or professional cyclist, choosing a carbon MTB handlebar is the most realistic choice you can make to improve your comfort on the road. However, when mounting the handlebars, you need to be careful, because carbon is fragile.
Who Should Buy MTB Handlebars
The choice of handlebars, especially for those who experience the bicycle as a genuine passion, is not something to be done on impulse. It needs to be carefully calibrated and takes all the aspects seriously that can influence the driving of the vehicle.
The general guidelines can be useful suggestions to offer excellent suggestions for evaluation. Your physical characteristics, your habits, and the use you make of your bicycle will influence your choice. A handlebar is not simply a bent tube that serves to direct the mountain bike. It allows you to calibrate all the various phases of your ride.
For all these reasons, beyond the theoretical choice, it is important to evaluate the purchase of your handlebar that best meets the set of driving and use needs. Preferring one handlebar rather than another is closely linked to a subjective choice that must be commensurate with the budget at your disposal.
There are excellent products on the market at fairly affordable prices. The advice is to weigh the purchase by informing yourself about the equipment at the many specialized stores and MTB forums. Finally, consider the possibility of buying online or taking into consideration the equipment used.
Best MTB Handlebars FAQs
Which material to choose between carbon, aluminum, or titanium?
The major materials are mainly aluminum and carbon. For both carbon fiber or aluminum, there are many variations of MTB handlebars on the market with variable dimensions. So, it depends on the needs of the individual cyclist.
The carbon alloy versions, thanks to the lightness of this material, have the characteristic of having a lower weight. However, this feature does not prevent their resistance and robustness. Aluminum is more rigid than carbon.
What is the sufficient handlebar width?
The wide handlebars are the most popular. An indicative standard width of 53cm allows you to have excellent control of your bicycle.
Which is better? Rise or flat handlebar?
When we mention the rise, we refer to the difference in height between the center of the handlebar. Some handlebars are completely flat, used all by XC cyclists. It facilitates the aerodynamics of the bike and improves performance when riding.
Handlebars with a large rise were famous in the past thanks to advances in technology. The suspensions will make the fork travel longer, allowing a higher ride.
