Originally Posted by HillRider
Well, I don't think any reasonablely light handlebar will outlast a frame and, even it it might, failure has much more severe consequences. I've gotten 20,000 miles and more out of light-but-not-stupid-light bars (240 - 260 gms Al bars in 42 cm c-c length road type) and never had one break so I'm confident they will last that long.
Well I've seen plenty of broken frames (well, several anyhow), but never a broken handlebar on any 'real' bicycle...
(including a really scary looking front fork that sheered right off when someone couldn't make a sharp turn and flew off into the ditch on the side of the road... I suppose the fact that the owner was getting it repaired boded well for the health of the owner)