Bicycle Mechanics - Flat Bar or Riser Bar?

I have a flat bar road (hybrid/comfort) bike. I would like to go from a 23 inch width handlebar to a 26 inch width. Would there be a problem using a riser bar on a non-mountain bike? Would a "riser" bar provide any advantage over a "flat" bar?
Thanks!

I have a flat bar road (hybrid/comfort) bike. I would like to go from a 23 inch width handlebar to a 26 inch width. Would there be a problem using a riser bar on a non-mountain bike? Would a "riser" bar provide any advantage over a "flat" bar?
Thanks!

Riser bars are nicer-looking.:D

a riser will raise your shoulders and sit u up more, if thats what you want. Just make sure that you have enought cable for the extra height and width

Riser bars often have more sweep (the angle the bars bend back towards the rider) which is easier on the wrists. Salsa makes the Pro Moto flat bar in an 11 degree sweep version, which is what I use on my mountain bike. Very comfy although it does mean that your effective hand position is closer so you might need to get a longer stem.

You will surely have to replace all of your control cables and housings. That wouldn't be a deal breaker for me.

I ordered a Sette F/X2 Carbon Riser Handlebar from Price Point:. http://www.pricepoint.com/detail/13020-195_SETFC4-3-Parts-62-Handlebars/Bar-Ends/Sette-F_x2-Carbon-Riser-Handlebar.htm Thank you all for your help!

If you have lots of extra gadets and gear on your straight bar, the riser bar limits how many can go onto it due to the rising portion of it.

You might not have to replace your cabels. I just installed a riser bar yesterday and i didnt.

I want to put THIS (http://www.nashbar.com/profile.cfm?category=92&subcategory=1049&brand=&sku=9756&storetype=&estoreid=&pagename=) handlebar on my hardtail trek 3500. Will that require me to change cables and housings?

i think flat bars look cooler. plus, you can put bar ends on flat bars, whereas someone once told me that it's prfoundly uncool to put bar ends on riser bars (don't ask me why).

I want to put THIS (http://www.nashbar.com/profile.cfm?category=92&subcategory=1049&brand=&sku=9756&storetype=&estoreid=&pagename=) handlebar on my hardtail trek 3500. Will that require me to change cables and housings?

I just got one of these, and haven't installed it yet.

However, based on looking at it, I don't expect I will need to replace cables or housings when I put it onto my Sedona DX.

My suspicion for most bars that these would be used to replace, the controls will be closer to the stem laterally (left/right) but further from the stem front/back. This should offset to about the same in my case, ymmv...

If nobody answers definitively here, you may want to check in the Commuting or Touring forums, as I know people in those forums have installed these trekking bars.

dgregory57, check my thread regarding this in commuting section and also "karate monkey" thread. They have pictures from someone who put this handlebar on their bike. I just ordered one as well.

Riser bars are nicer-looking.:D Now that's a matter of opinion.

KeatonR, I heard the same thing about Riser Bars with Bar Ends, which I did for a few months, didn't get any weird looks or anything :)

I finally dropped it lower by chopping some of the steerer tube, getting a 7 degree stem (vs old 25 deg), and a flat bar.

I like :D

i think flat bars look cooler. plus, you can put bar ends on flat bars, whereas someone once told me that it's prfoundly uncool to put bar ends on riser bars (don't ask me why).

My roommate doesn't seem to have gotten this memo. It looks fine to me.