Mountain Biking - Why are Riser Handlebars so popular?

I'm assuming for comfort reasons only, but I thought I would ask anyway. It's been 4-5 years since I've owned a bike and just recently bought one from a forum member. Back when I used to ride all the time it was mainly flat bars and risers were generally for comfort type bikes. So can anybody fill me in?

Beau

Risers bars are a FASHION before FUNCTION item! I roll a flat bar with bar ends, and ride aggresive XC. I have thought about getting a lowrise bar, but I could never give up all the benefits of the bar ends...

One advantage that I could think of is possibly allowing the rider to lean back further for downhill riding.

Originally posted by Beau
One advantage that I could think of is possibly allowing the rider to lean back further for downhill riding.

And how would a riser bar be any different than a properly set up bar/stem combination in this respect?

It does change the geometry of the bike. That is helpful during freeriding and especially dh. It also allows for different geometries to be ridden differently. I bought a very small bike for my size due to the type of riding I do. Riser bars allow for more adjustability in sizing. They are also more confortable than flat bars. Some of us don't want to be over the bike but more sitting back in the bike. (raises hand) it allows for a whole slew of different riding styles that are more difficult when in the 'racer' position.



Risers bars are a FASHION before FUNCTION item


Thats like me saying as a dhiller that bar ends are useless and are only a mental thing. They aren't useless or just fashion they do serve a purpose.

I'm with Maelstrom on this one. Riding styles differ and so equipment will too. Riser bars hold little benefit for hardcore XC racers, but are well suited for other terrain and riding types.

Originally posted by MiniBullitRider
I'm with Maelstrom on this one. Riding styles differ and so equipment will too. Riser bars hold little benefit for hardcore XC racers, but are well suited for other terrain and riding types.

I guess to me it's all about where you want the handlebars positioned. So wouldn't a proper rise/length stem and steerer height work just as well at putting a set of flat bars in the correct relative location as a riser bar?

But then you would need a bigger rise on the stem. So yes you could do it but most dhillers use a very stocky short stem with short rise for strength. I do see you point but writing it off as all show no go just isn't right. (I know you didn't do it) A riser bar is simply a preference. I don't like clipless so I don't use them. Why? because on most of the trails I ride being strapped in would suck and besides you have more variety in foot positioning.

The bar might be a leverage thing to. Wheelies, wheelie drops, comfort. Either way I don't know any dhillers or freeriders using flat bars :)

Originally posted by Maelstrom
A riser bar is simply a preference.

I would agree with that. Although the one victim in the whole riser-bar movement is the availability of wide and/or greater-angled flat bars. I guess it's another marketting catch-22. Somewhere along the line, people probably decided that riser bars were where it's at (again... remember that riser-style bars used to be the norm before) possibly because people didn't want to replace their stem/steerer and thus risers were a cheap way to fix a problem. Then it became fashionable so the variety of flatbars started to deminish. People wanting a more upright position found they couldn't achieve it easily without riser bars. Another factour here may have been the introduction of the threadless steerer. It used to be you could achieve greater handlebar height simply by loosening the stembolt, raising the stem and then retightening it. Now, if you want to raise your handlebar height, you're looking at a new stem and/or steerer which might even mean a whole new fork if you can't replace the steerer.

Used to be you could get 28" wide and up to 10 deg. swept flat bars that could be trimmed to suit. Now it seems that 24" and 3-5 deg sweeps is the norm. I personally don't run them that wide or as swept but I think having alternatives to riser bars would be nicer given the strength-weight ratio being higher with a flatbar.

In short, I think riser bars have their place today simply because the alternatives have gone away. I think one factour leading to the alternatives going away was a rise in popularity of the riser bar.

Ahh, but riserbarsgive 1.2-2 extra inches in which to stop your face from planting on the bar/stem combo after messing up that huge drop. Having the entire bar/stem combo higher means more missing teeth. ;) :p

But khoun,

There are a lot of companies that make flat versions of their bars. Well maybe not a lot but the only two companies I buy from raceface and Easton anyways.

okay, okay...

Why don't you run Bar Ends on Riser Bars???

Originally posted by Maelstrom
But khoun,

There are a lot of companies that make flat versions of their bars. Well maybe not a lot but the only two companies I buy from raceface and Easton anyways.

Yeah... I swear by Easton and Race Face. My bar and seatpost are Easton... hell.. my swingarm and forks are made by Easton too. My cranks, BB and headset are Race Face. However, Easton only makes a 23" wide flatbar. It's fine for me since I'm mainly an XC guy but it leaves people who want a wider width with no choice except to go to a riser bar. My point was that the necessity of the riser bar these days is because wider flatbars no longer exist.

Originally posted by Hawkphoto
okay, okay...

Why don't you run Bar Ends on Riser Bars???

I don't know...personally I don't use bar ends :)...Is there a reason not to though?

Why don't you run Bar Ends on Riser Bars???
Bar ends make little sense on a DH or DS bike. Can't shift/brake from bar ends. Also, they only seem to come in handy on long rides and hills to vary hand/body placement. Again, not something DH or DS is really concerned about.

As far as trailriding goes, I can't think of any real reason not to run bar ends either. Personally, I don't use them because i've landed on them in crashes that otherwise wouldn't have been too bad . . ..

Alright, I guess my opposition stems from my cycling history...

My riding style is suited to bar ends and an aggressive position on the bike. I ride an aggressive hardtail. If I had a freeride bike, I would run a low-rise bar w/o bar ends.

BUT, if you do any kind of climbing on a bike, it is ignorant to ignore the fact that barends let you climb more efficiently! And, what I was getting at, was people who know they want barends, but don't want to bust a cycling fashion foe-paw.

Mike

Originally posted by MiniBullitRider

As far as trailriding goes, I can't think of any real reason not to run bar ends either. Personally, I don't use them because i've landed on them in crashes that otherwise wouldn't have been too bad . . ..

I have riser bars with bar ends, well should I say used to have bar ends. I find that they are a nice way of hooking trees when you're riding about 15mph around a corner.

I've tried both a flat bar with bar ends, and a riser. I prefer the riser, mostly due to personal preference.

One of my main reasons for going with a riser is because I have long legs for my height, so I tend to sit up higher on a bike. I'm at 5'10" with a 34 1/2" inseam. I have the legs of a 6+ footer. Not only do I have 30mm of headset spacers and a rising, short (100mm) stem, the riser puts the bars where they should be for my seat height. I feel more balanced on those uphills and downhills. As far as seat height, I'm more of an xc rider who likes uphills, so I like the seat as high as it will go.

Plus, I like the look of a riser.;)

Sounds crazy, but it works for me.

Originally posted by Hawkphoto
okay, okay...

Why don't you run Bar Ends on Riser Bars???

I have had a similiar experience as ritalin. I never had bar-ends on a riser, but risers are usually wider than flat bars. There are times where I cut my lines pretty tight and the handlebars barely miss (in some cases, they've actually caught) trees. Having bar-ends on a riser will increase the chances of hooking a tree.

Having bar-ends on a riser will only narrow the lines I can take. In addition, risers are usually wide enough to get good enough torque on climbs. The only thing I like about bar-ends is the variation in hand position. When it comes to pros and cons, I found that I can do without bar-ends.

Your point is well taken, however for the simple sake of argument:

Imagine a flat bar w/ a bar end.
now, imagine a WIDER riser bar w/ no bar end.

If your worried about HOOKING a tree, I doubt that you will be any better off with the latter...

BTW, I have only hooked a (small vine like tree) ONCE in my life! You can't tell me that that is a legitimate excuse for not using bar ends...even said you like the variable hand positions... WHAT GIVES?

Mike

Originally posted by Hawkphoto
Alright, I guess my opposition stems from my cycling history...

My riding style is suited to bar ends and an aggressive position on the bike. I ride an aggressive hardtail. If I had a freeride bike, I would run a low-rise bar w/o bar ends.

BUT, if you do any kind of climbing on a bike, it is ignorant to ignore the fact that barends let you climb more efficiently! And, what I was getting at, was people who know they want barends, but don't want to bust a cycling fashion foe-paw.

Mike

If you are like me. You climb for the descent. Bar ends while useful and increasing hand positions and even torque get in my way for half my ride ;)...

If and when I ever buy a pure xc bike I would ensure the ability for bar ends. For now my riding doesn't include that option.

can't believe how opiniatated we are about ****in BARENDS! Haven't seen this heated of a thread since we talked about...Marijuana!

:lol:

Originally posted by Hawkphoto
can't believe how opiniatated we are about ****in BARENDS! Haven't seen this heated of a thread since we talked about...Marijuana!

:lol:

Boredom...damn snow putting a damper on things until spring. Opinions will get more extreme over the winter I believe ;)

Riser bars: for freerideing and down hill, changes body position so there is more weight on the rear tire. Puts the rider in more of an upright position for technical riding, jumping and doing drops.
The proper stem for this type of riding is one that is short (anywhere from 0 to 80mm) so you have quicker stearing and are able to get your weight farther over the rear tire when doing steep descents. Also, depending on your fork, a riser bar will clear the rebound and compression adjusters since the bar is right over the fork.

Barends: For strickly xc or trailriding are great to assist when climbing. I have used barends on my xc bikes for 10 years and have never had a problem snaging branches or bushes. Espacially if you use the newer style like Cane Creek's Ergo barends.

It all boils down to the style of riding and personal preferance .

Slainte:beer:

For me being nearly 40 it is all about comfort,they allow me to sit more upright ,relieving some lower back pain which I got from riding from flat bars bent right over the front wheel xc style,I also had more faith in my front tyre traction back then.

Originally posted by Maelstrom


Boredom...damn snow putting a damper on things until spring. Opinions will get more extreme over the winter I believe ;)

Ha Ha Ha, we just rode today!!!
J/K
Listen guys.... do what you like, ride a 50lb Huffy with streamers out the bar-ends..at least we all love riding and go riding. Saying bar-ends are better or risers are better is like arguing about vanilla tasting better than chocolate. Both are good, and some people like one better than the other. Does it really matter to anyone what someone else has on their bike? Not to me! Just my opinion.

Just keep yer' damn chocolate off of my barends alright?...

:p

Risers are wider, have more "rise" and more sweep. They also have that moto-look. Those are the only differences.

People like the comfort compared to straight bars or the style.

Risers with barends are not used often because there usually is too much sweep for barends to be comfortable. They also take away from the wider grip and usually feel more awkward with the more upright position. That and it looks severely GHEY.

Ahah!

i think there is much legitimate use of riser bars, particularly in DH, but also in offering different riding positions on the bike and/or changing geometry -- i had a bike fit on my old hardtail and as i had bought a small frame for handling the bike fitter recommended a riser bar (still with bar ends) to improve my ride position.

on the other hand i think it has become TRENDY:
* to use riser bars just because
* not to use bar-ends b/c they're old-school or whatever

i rarely hook a tree with my bar-ends (i have the ones that go forward and then curve in) and in the cases where i have i would have hit the tree with my bar/hand and probably crashed anyway. actually, quite often the bar-ends serve as a hand protector for me -- which is important as finger inquries are about my most common injury : my right pinky is black/purple from yetserday's crash and my right index figer is still swollen from July/Septemebr/October crashes

in the end it's personal preference, but for XC bar-ends are generally a good idea and for major downhill bar-ends are often a good idea.

it's the posers who don't know what they're talking about that annoy me when they say "bar-ends are dumb" or "risers are cool" when they don't do any extreme riding

The advantage that I see in a riser bar - over a flat bar with a higher stem is ... adjustability. Becasue of the angle of the bar, you can adjust your reach by simply rotating the bar. You cannot do this with a flat bar without replacing the stem.

Oh yeah, and they look cool. :D

Originally posted by Hawkphoto
Your point is well taken, however for the simple sake of argument:

Imagine a flat bar w/ a bar end.
now, imagine a WIDER riser bar w/ no bar end.

If your worried about HOOKING a tree, I doubt that you will be any better off with the latter...

BTW, I have only hooked a (small vine like tree) ONCE in my life! You can't tell me that that is a legitimate excuse for not using bar ends...even said you like the variable hand positions... WHAT GIVES?

Mike

You're right. I am making a poor choice here. I've only been riding for 5 years. That's not long enough to make an informed decision. I have realized that I only go with the riser because of its looks.

Guys, it's not that serious. I don't race. I just do it for fun. I'm not trying to convert people to a riser. I just thought I'd post why I choose a riser over a flat bar. It may not make sense to you, but it makes perfect sense to me. I really don't feel the need to justify myself here.:beer:

Easy Buddy!

It's all in fun here... I meant no harm.

Everyone's got in a opinion.

Mike

Originally posted by Hawkphoto
Easy Buddy!

It's all in fun here... I meant no harm.

Everyone's got in a opinion.

Mike

My bad for overreacting. Originally, I laughed. Then as I wrote the response, I just started to get a little defensive:mad:

I know what you mean... ;)

BUT, if you do any kind of climbing on a bike, it is ignorant to ignore the fact that barends let you climb more efficiently!

If your bike is setup properly, barends aren't necessary. Strong legs and good technique will get you to the top faster than anyone else every time. ;) A riser bar significantly alters the handling of ones bike. As others have pointed out, it's good for some applications and a hindrance in others. Personally, I prefer the quick handling and fast body position of a flat bar - but I've seen guys with riser bars and baggy shorts smoke up hills.

another thing is that bikes today come OEM with riser bars, even entry level, low-end hardtails with which one cannot do extreme DH/drops anyway.

for me it's all about a flat bar with L-bend bar ends. and it does look rather awkward to see riser bars equipped with bar ends :D (no offense to anyone with that setup), but then again it might be the best of both worlds:p .

Originally posted by tFUnK
another thing is that bikes today come OEM with riser bars, even entry level, low-end hardtails with which one cannot do extreme DH/drops anyway.

It used to be that most mountain bikes had riser bars... Then came the triangle bull-moose bars with integrated stems... Then came the flat bars. Now we're back to riser bars again although I'm seeing a resurgence in integrated stem/bar combos as well. The universe is cyclic. |8^)

Funnily enough, during the early/mid-90s when flat bars were more common on pure MTBs, the riser bars were usually only seen on the low-end MTBs or comfort bikes. I remember my brother buying a 1990 Specialized Hardrock and asking the shop to swap the riser bar for a flat bar. At the same time, I was buying a 1990 Nishiki Ariel and it came with a flat bar.

Originally posted by tFUnK
it does look rather awkward to see riser bars equipped with bar ends :D

The real fashion faux pax would be to add aero-bars to riser bars. |8^)

I remember the "aero" flat-bars that Scott used to market (they may still do). However... use whatever works... fashion be damned.

yes i agree. back in 95 when i first got interested into mtn bikes it was all about flat bar, bar ends, and a long flat stem. havent kept up with mtb for a few years, and now in 2002 i am indeed noticing some changes. riser bars?? didn't like them back then, don't like them now haha. but that's just me. i missed out on the trend.