Folding Bikes - North Road Style Handlebars

It seems to me that most of the new folders come with flat style handle bars! I prefer the more upright riding position that I have with my 1971 Raleigh Twenty! Are Northroad handlebars available that are appropriately sized for the new folders such as Downtubes, Dahons, etc? If not, is there a reason? Is it feasible to install them on said folders?

Thanks, Al

It depends on the bike. Dahon placed the Nitto Moustache bars on their Hon Solo Special Edition bike http://www.dahon.com/us/honsolo.htm and it adds a similar charm and upright postion of the old Northroad handlbars. All my family's folders have the upright postion handlebars on each bike. My Boardwalk has the straight bars, but the stem is long enough and the handbar is wide enough for me to ride upright just like I do on my old Phillips three speed dating from the late 1960's. The Brompton has the classic "M" style handlebars-which is similar to your bike's. And my new Piccolo has a more sportier, racier riding position that is while it is still a upright one, I do lean a little more over, yet I still remain quite upright.

Keep in mind that it is really a combination of handlebar shape, stem length, and top tube length that determines the riding postion. See my Flickr website for the photos of most of my bikes-except for the Piccolo which will be added soon.

The Nashbar Easy Rider bars (http://www.nashbar.com/profile.cfm?category=92&subcategory=1049&brand=&sku=8040&storetype=&estoreid=&pagename=Shop%20by%20Subcat%3A%20ATB%20Handlebars) uses the 25.4mm clamp diameter standard on most folding bikes. The only problem is you may not be able to fold the bike after installing one of these bars.

"it is really a combination of handlebar shape, stem length, and top tube length that determines the riding postion."

This is a valid point, and may be the simple answer to my query! Since I am mostly interested in the DT 8H, I guess my question becomes, would the DT 8H adjust to provide the upright riding position that I prefer?

However, The Northroad bars do have "the look" that I like, so I continue to wonder about mounting the stock DT brake levers and the SA shifter on a set of Northroads! The Nitto Moustache bars on the Hon Solo Special Edition bike really did look good (as did the whole bike) and, with enough adjustment of the HB stem one would not need the additional rise afforded by the Northroads!! It sure is fun to dream!!! ;-)

Thanks for you input!

Al

Dahons use proprietary handleposts, and many of them are non-adjustable and set way too high for those types of bars. I believe you will compromise the fold on most bikes with bars like that. But, on the plus side, many Dahons will put you into a very upright position anyway, depending on your height. I think DT's are adjustable.

Swifts and Bike Fridays use a lot of standard parts, so you can put almost anything on them.

would the DT 8H adjust to provide the upright riding position that I prefer?
Al
Yes, the DT's handlebar is adjustable up and down with a quick release lever. Very handy for changing to your riding position of choice on any given day.