ponyopo

They came with a bike second hand. I didn't notice it till I took the bar tape off. I haven't ridden them.
It looks as though the broken and cracked areas may just be fairings that wouldn't affect structural strength but I don't know for sure. I have seen carbon bars that don't have this bit.
Can anyone shed any light on this? Can I do a strength test at home?

https://imageshack.com/a/img923/3896/crYh66.jpg
https://imageshack.com/a/img923/2861/sWFf1K.jpg
https://imageshack.com/a/img923/9954/cID1Ji.jpg
https://imageshack.com/a/img921/3108/Bl3zeg.jpg
https://imageshack.com/a/img923/7339/XTJoU1.jpg
https://imageshack.com/a/img922/7231/K9TGHI.jpg
https://imageshack.com/a/img921/1668/2sJHbA.jpg
https://imageshack.com/a/img922/5262/YpWv6s.jpg
https://imageshack.com/a/img924/5940/JF62Df.jpg

wschruba

Toss 'em. They're not worth a new set of front teeth.

SquidPuppet

All these questions. All these worries. All these concerns. So easily avoidable.

NYMXer

I am certainly no expert on carbon fiber and lately have a big concern of the material for use on a bicycle but you handlebars look okay to me. What I think I am seeing is an insert filler piece that allows you to grip the handlebars without feeling the hidden cables that run under that piece. Since it is a "drop in" part and not really a part of the handlebars, I would think the bars are okay.

That is my opinion and I am very curious what more experienced members have to say. Like I said, that is my non expert opinion and I am only commenting to learn a little more about carbon fiber use on a bicycle.

FBinNY 

Then damage SEEMS to be limited to the covers over the cable groove. I'd expect a bar of this kind would have the structure to be continuous along the grooved area, with the covers simply a bonded on addition. But I don't have the bar in my hands so can't give the structure a close enough look to form an opinion.

Plus even if the covers are an add on, you have to determine if the cracking issue goes deeper into the bar's structure.

In the end, while I might opt to ride them, you have to make your own call. In doing so, consider how you ride. In a toss up, things like a whether you work the bars hard sprinting or powering up short hills would move the decision toward the scrap side.

BTW - while it's fairly to say if/when a problem represents a hazard, it's impossible to say anything less than perfect is safe. In fact, it's impossible even to say new and perfect stuff is safe.

P_M

My reconstructive work was about $17K. Insurance covered about $4K of that.

It was not due to cycling, but facial trauma nonetheless. Mosh pit in the early 90s. That turned out to be one expensive concert. I'm inclined (albeit already traumatized and more than slightly biased) to think it's not worth the risk. Much like I should have stayed far at the back of the crowd that fateful Saturday night.

migrantwing

It all depends on who the band was!

dksix

It doesn't look structural to me and I wouldn't use them. I have a brand new set of China CF bars that sounded crackly when I mounted them and was just seeing how they felt, I never risked riding on them. The kind of injury that could occur when a handle bar breaks is not worth the risk for me.

Moe Zhoost

Agree that the damage does not appear to be structural, so they are probably ok. How do they feel? Like they are solid or not? I've broken a couple of alloy bars while riding with just some minor drama (breaking a crank while climbing was much more exciting).

sch

My two CF bars have warning sheets sent with them by the maker saying they should be replaced in 3 yrs.
Since handlebar failure at even 3 mph is an instant fall I concur with the nay sayers: ruin the bar and
throw it away. One problem: the white coating can hide any cracks and of course bar tape does as well.

joejack951

Mount them up and then, while stationary and with your face and hands positioned so as not to collide with anything should the bars break, push, pull, yank, etc. on them and see if they give. If they do, toss 'em. If they don't, ride 'em.

No handlebar is 100% guaranteed not to break and even if they were, there's still the stem, fork, and/or frame waiting to break and send you face first into the pavement. Either you accept these facts (while maintaining and inspecting your equipment to avoid it as best you can) or you don't ride a bike, and get fat and die on your couch. Or even worse, run.

Moe Zhoost

Other threads have discussed how CF frames should be replaced frequently, too. Given the current (inflated IMO) prices of such equipment, I wonder if casual riders should seek equipment with a bit more longevity.

fietsbob

When in Doubt, replace it.

Sure, with the Jack that lifts your car you can make up a test Jig and push as hard as it takes to Break them.

Its the instrumentation to get actual Data that will be more difficult ..

Ever do Science?

AlexCyclistRoch

Do what everybody else does: sell 'em on EBay....

WizardOfBoz

What does a new set of replacement bars cost? I've had dirt dug out of my jawbone and spit out the grit that had been 13 teeth. I can guarantee that if you feel it's worth saving the money ($150?) and trying to use them now, you won't feel so after the face plant. Get a good pair of Alloy bars and don't worry about it.

migrantwing

Carbon bars, stems etc are just not worth the weight saving (some alloy components are actually as light or even lighter) and the cost for something that is potentially dangerous. Get thicker bar tape and/or thicker gloves and the slight difference in road buzz between carbon stem/bars and alloy bars is non existent.