Mountain Biking - Handlebar width?

Hello,

How wide should the handlebars be on a mountain bike? I picked up a used one and the bars feel kind of narrow. I find myself holding the bar ends whenever I can unless I have to shift or brake.

Thanks.

How wide should the handlebars be on a mountain bike? I picked up a used one and the bars feel kind of narrow. I find myself holding the bar ends whenever I can unless I have to shift or brake.

How wide are your shoulders? FWIW, I tend to run narrower bars. Mine is a 23" flatbar. It all depends on what you're comfortable with. Also remember that barends can kill some of that width by about 2".

with bars a little change in width makes a lot of difference. i run a 23" flat bar and i tried a 22" one, and the difference was night and day; the 23" felt so much better.

I run 26.5 on each bike with a 1.5 to 2 in rise. I could go (and have gone) as small as 25.5 but didn't really like it.

And yes I have wide shoulders :)

I run 26.5 on each bike with a 1.5 to 2 in rise. I could go (and have gone) as small as 25.5 but didn't really like it.

And yes I have wide shoulders :)
Don't have wide shoulders but went 27", was going to cut them down, but now fantastic, Riding a bike with less than this is now twitchy, so the Tandem now has 28" bars

How wide are your shoulders?

My shoulders are about 18 inches. The bars on my bike are 21 inches including the bar ends.

My shoulders are about 18 inches. The bars on my bike are 21 inches including the bar ends.


I use uncut specialized low rise. I think they are over 26". I was going to cut them, but I like the feel of wide bars while climbing. There is only one spot on my rides where it has interfered, and the trees were thin enough that they moved to the sides when I wacked them.

However, an easy answer to your question is that if you feel like you need a wider bar (and from the sounds of it you do), then you need a wider bar. If you buy a new bar, buy a wide one (Ithink most of them come wider than 21"). Ride around on them for a while until you find out where you like to hold on naturally and then cut them.

I hope this was helpful.

If you buy a new bar, buy a wide one (Ithink most of them come wider than 21"). Ride around on them for a while until you find out where you like to hold on naturally and then cut them.

One other suggestion... If you do buy a bar and one with a riser profile with the intention of eventually cutting it down, be aware of the profile and where the rise happens. You don't want to end up with a cut bar that has too little an appropriate section to mount your handlebar furniture after you've cut it.