Downtube handlebar replacement

[PhotoByBike]

I currently have a 2009 9FS, and I'm considering swapping the handlebars to a drop bar (road bar).

Has anyone done this? How do I go about finding out what size I need, and will it require changing the stem? If so, what size stem will I need? :)

Thanks in advance.

[PhotoByBike]

For anyone interested, I called Yan about this and this is what I found out.

The default handlebar is "mountain bike sized", which is bigger than a road bike mount. He didn't know the mm size off hand (and these come in different sizes).

So your options if you want different type of bar is to get a mountain bike handlebar, or replace the stem with one that's threadless and has a 1 1/8" fork clamp on one side, and the size required for your handlebars on the other.

[James H Haury]

Bar ends are available that can efectively make mountain bars into (The name is Newk?) drops. Gaerlan Bicycles may have them if not Google Newk.

[SesameCrunch]

For anyone interested, I called Yan about this and this is what I found out.

The default handlebar is "mountain bike sized", which is bigger than a road bike mount. He didn't know the mm size off hand (and these come in different sizes).

So your options if you want different type of bar is to get a mountain bike handlebar, or replace the stem with one that's threadless and has a 1 1/8" fork clamp on one side, and the size required for your handlebars on the other.

It's the other way 'round. Road size handlebars are larger diameter than mountain bikes. The big issue is with brakes and shifters. If you change to the bigger size road handlebars, you'll have to change your brake levers and shifters. That could be pricey.

I bought a pair of Origin8 drop bar-ends to approximate the drops position onto my mtn handlebar.

http://www.amazon.com/Origin-Bicycle-Drop-Ends-Black/dp/B0013G6PB8

Here's what it looks like on a bike:

http://i39.photobucket.com/albums/e157/sesamecrunch/Dahonsm2.jpg