Mountain Biking - Riser or Flat Bar?

I just got back into biking and I noticed a lot of bikes come with riser bars now. Personally, I think they look ugly and don't really do all that much so I'm looking to replace mine with a flat bar. Anyone out there care to share what they think? Also if you have gone from riser to flat, is there a bar you'd reco.?

They have a point. The raise the front end of the bike into a more relaxed position AND allows you to get over the bike more instead of riding it (this protects the dangly bits). A racing position is not the best position when riding in 'freeriding' style areas. Risers also tend to be quite a bit wider (thank god) as well the stems are usually 30-40mm shorter all of which makes steering more touchy and reactive imo.

I can only share what I think as I am glad to see flat bars have been left for xc only. I was never confortable before and all I ever did before last year was commute.

I vote for raiser. Gives me more control, but it’s only me. Some people like it flat others like it bent. I say try it before u buy it. If you like it get it.

Originally posted by Chuvak
I vote for raiser. Gives me more control, but it’s only me. Some people like it flat others like it bent. I say try it before u buy it. If you like it get it.
ya I think I'll take it for a few rides before I swap it out. I personally don't like sitting so high all the time.

Riser Bars. They are much easier on my elbows and back. They are a personal preference though.

I like riser bars, but I don't go too high with it, 1in. rise on both my mtn. bikes....tom

flat bar for me... although to me there's a bigger difference with the geometry of today's bikes as opposed to that 5 years ago that bothers me more. i prefer to lean over my bike with a long toptube and long stem with flat bar and bar ends. climbs quicker but not as comfortable as an upright position.

Totally run a flat bar on my XC race bike... BUT, can't wait to get a dually with a nice nent bar to work on trials and manuals and some big air with...

Mike

does it matter what bar I buy if I do buy a flat? I noticed Eastons are a pretty big name.

Easton makes GREAT bars! (flat or riser). BUT, when it comes to bar-ends (which you will if you run flats...), get some LP Composites! (really back their products).

Mike

I have an old set on Onza's on my 92 Rockhopper that I'm kind of attached to. We'll see if I find some new ones out there I like.

Raceface also make strong bars as well. I generally buy canadian so I am biased :D

I'm not sure I could say "risers r teh besT!!!11" or otherwise. I really just consider them an option to get a bike just the way I like it. When I buy a bike I'll usually try it with both, and whichever I feel better with I keep. For both the bikes I ride that turned out to be a riser. However, when I was looking I rode a few bikes that really didn't feel right with a riser. It made the bike's handling seem awkward.

Originally posted by DiL
I'm not sure I could say "risers r teh besT!!!11" ...snip... Most of us here would thank you if you didn't. At least not like that.

Ive got a flat on my Stumpy, it has a lot of back sweep, so I like that much better than previous bars. and I dig having bar ends, Well now I do, I thought I could live without until my first 2 hour ride this year, but Im allowed to change my mind arent I? :)

Risers

Anothe vote for risers - Comfort, control of the bike....just better all-around for me, my riding style, and my bike setup.

-Moab

Originally posted by Raiyn
Most of us here would thank you if you didn't. At least not like that.

Woe is the fool who falls into one of Raiyn's many pet peeves.

Risers for me.

Definately risers. When I first started riding I had a lot of lower back pain with my stock flat bar. Since putting on a riser I haven't had any problems.

Originally posted by DiL
Woe is the fool who falls into one of Raiyn's many pet peeves. Who me? :D I'm known as a soft touch around here.

Flat. Risers make the bike look too tame and comfortable. I like the racy look and feel of the flat bars. My bike's got a raised stem, so I'm in the process of getting a straight longer stem to complement my riding style. If you have occasional problems with comfort, get some bar-ends and angle them up so that you can ride relaxed intermittently.

I have been using a riser handlebar on my bike for a while now, the bike originally came with a flat handlebar. I just swapped the bars to see what it feels like again.

The flat bars are better for twisty singletrack and the risers are better for cross-country riding with dips and drop-offs, reason...the risers put the rider in a more upright position so that they don't feel like they're going over the bars.

I like a riser bar for its adjustability. You can rotate a riser bar in the stem and get a variety of differing hand positions. Try that with a flat bar. ;)

Originally posted by dubMON
The flat bars are better for twisty singletrack and the risers are better for cross-country riding with dips and drop-offs, reason...the risers put the rider in a more upright position so that they don't feel like they're going over the bars.

If you were using a riser with a traditional stem (80 to 100mm) you might find this to be true but match a riser with a 50mm and your steering will be twitchy and responsive...Its length might affect a bit but I don't notice. :)

What does a riser do that a different stem can't? I can seen the adjustability of a riser, but once you're dialed in, how often to people actually move the riser around? I've always used flat. Flats tend to weigh about half as much as a lot of risers do.

And cost less too, don't they?

For me its strenght...I use a super thick short stem with risers...while I could simulate my body position with a longer more angled stem and a flat bar it really affects my steering in technical spots or steeps. Flat bars and the xc stem put you to the front of the bb while short stem and risers place you to the rear of the bb...

Yes flats cost less. as long as they aren't carbon fibre

I can see the strength argument, but can you explain to me how your position is any different if you gain the same height and distance regardless of flat or riser bars? I can't quite picture a difference. Steering differences are probably mostly due to the length of the stem and not the bars, but a riser allows a shorter stem, if you prefer that steering. Even steering though seems like it would be very similar --- more of a perceived difference than a real one.

The biggest thing with riser bars that is an advantage for me, is the WIDTH, and the SWEEP. I could never get comfortable on a flat bar, but when I switched to a riser, it felt great! BTW, I'm a BIG guy! Shoulder width for me is huge. I wear a 48R coat! My upper arms have 17.5" diameter.

L8R

Originally posted by 520commuter
I can see the strength argument, but can you explain to me how your position is any different if you gain the same height and distance regardless of flat or riser bars? I can't quite picture a difference. Steering differences are probably mostly due to the length of the stem and not the bars, but a riser allows a shorter stem, if you prefer that steering. Even steering though seems like it would be very similar --- more of a perceived difference than a real one.

I know the steering is affected byt the stem. But typically riser bars=short stem while flat bars=longer stem.

If you can't picture the body position difference I really can't explain any better. With a longer stem you are pulled forward into a racing position (the sweep of the bars doesn't come directly to the rear most people place the sweep a little vertical) making the cockpit shorter placing your body in a standing position much further back. If I stand my ass (centre of balance) ends up over the rear hub...Just imagine going downhill (STEEP) you position your body to the rear (I hope) and stick your butt out as far as possible. My ass will always be farther back allowing for more control and technical lines (that and the chance of you endoing is a lot higher than mine). However if you on a flat bar with long stem hit an uphill I can't get as far forward without loosing traction in the rear.

Maybe all of this is perceived but I doubt it. I can take a xc bike out and feel 'ok' on it and get way more speed and power on flats and especially on uphills but I always feel too far forward on dh sections (which we have a lot of even on basic xc trails). I would rather sprint up a really steep section if I can't mainain traction instead of missing out on a dh section. The difference in the ride is signifigant for ME. :)

That and I love the width of bars. I am a wide guy myself and like the wider feel of sweeping bars.

I've had both at the same time, the bike with the riser bars had lesser components but I actually prefered to ride that one over my more expensive bike with flat bars. And for some odd reason I thought that the riser were easier to bunny hop with.