steppinthefunk 

Anybody know of a handlebar manufacturer that can recreate a short run of handlebars for me?
I plan on creating a short run of vintage style bars for resale but I am having trouble finding someone who will actually make them for me. I've tried Tradekey and other foreign source manufacturing sites with no luck and I am about to loose hope.

I am a graphics designer with a heavy industrial design and technical design background. I have full working drawings for the handlebars ready to go. All is need is someone to make them!

Thanks for any help,
Jason

Bianchigirll 

why does it have to be a handle bar manufacturer? I am certain that in this day and age most any company that deal with custom tubing can help you. maybe there is a motorcycle builder near you who can use the work

what kind of bars anyway?

DieselDan

Find a custom metal fabricator and/or machine shop. Give them the specs and see what they can come up with. Some bikeforums.net members would like a nice set of USA made bars.

DMF 

Liability issues? Any flaw could be life-threatening. One assumes a handle bar manufacturer already has insurance and can demonstrate expertise if needed.

fuzz2050

I can't tell you where to get these made, but please tell me these are the lauterwasser bars.

bigvegan

If you're OK with Asian manufacturing, try contacting some of the folks on alibaba.com. They might be able to build some for you.

HillRider

The only "domestic" manufacturer I know of is Easton. Try contacting them.

Bianchigirll 

I am no legal expert but wouldn't stepinthefunk be the person with the liability? after all he would be the seller

DMF 

Nope. Everyone involved is exposed. Since the easiest allegation is a defect and the manufacturer has (relatively) deep pockets, the manufacturer has the most to lose.

exRunner

Except that all manufacturers have insurance regarding that already. Making 25 handle bars would be a blip on the screen for most bigger than a mom and pop. Also, we would require a "build to print" contract that further reduces our liability. IE: We made what the seller asked for, complain to him. For us to be found at fault would require proof that we varied from print, or were contracted to evaluate the design. In those cases, what is called design control, the rules are significantly different.

joejack951

You want to find someone who can do CNC mandrel tube bending. This isn't an uncommon thing. A big volume handlebar manufacturer would never consider a 25 piece run. Keep in mind that wherever you get these done, expect to pay about a $500 setup charge. You may want to make more than 25 bars to spread out the setup charge unless your selling price can accomodate that much of an increase to the cost.

DMF 

Thanks. I wondered how that worked.

Don't neglect, though, that if a lawsuit is filed then everyone in sight can be named and be forced to bear the expense of defending themselves - at least for the early events - even if the suit is ultimately shown to have little merit.

steppinthefunk 

Thanks for the help guys and gals...
As for what kind of bars they are, let's just say that there seems to be a high demand for them and a very short supply.

I've tried a U.S. based shop that specializes in stainless steel and they seemed very enthusiastic at first but suddenly became quiet. I guess I can try to give them another call.
THere is another U.S. manufacturer that actually makes handlebars that is willing but the shortest run that they can do is 700 units. That's a bit more than I am ready to swallow as of the moment.

DMF 

Hey, maybe BF can get up a group buy and get your initial quantity up that way. Can you show images of what you want to produce, and set a group price?

steppinthefunk 

That right there isn't a bad idea!
Stay tuned while I get all the details worked out. I don't plan on getting things officially rolling till after I receive my tax return (which should be significant since I bought my first home this year).

24/7biker

maybe give thick bikes a call. https://www.thickbikes.com/custom.php?item=handle

MudPie

I tend to agree with others who suggest industrial machine shops. As far as a design - bend radii, wall thickness, material type, hot or cold bend... all affect manufacturing and cost. There are some basic rules of thumb, and you might want to consult with a manufacturing or mechanical engineer to ensure the part can be bent to your specs and review the basic design to reduce your liability. Bending of pipe, conduit, and hydraulic tubing are very common procedures, and a competent forming shop might be able to give you some basic advice on your design.

You might want to try this site - https://www.mfg.com/en/. Essentially, create an account (free) and post your drawing with specifics. You're likely to get scores of responses from shops mainly in the US (although I believe international supplies can respond). This site is a marketplace that will connect with you with probably hundreds (if not thousands) of machine shops. I use this site for my projects at work.

Good luck, often the gap between an idea and product is the biggest challenge.

Dan Burkhart 

If chrome steel bars are ok for your purposes, maybe these people would help you out.
https://waldsports.com/index.cfm/handlebars.html

velo-orange

What do you need built? I've done some sourcing for a few customers lately. Contact me direct.

and for whatever reason, I needed to generate a new account. I have been unable to post for almost a month.

Jeff Wills

You must have got lost in the Great VBulletin Upgrade. My account got hosed when I got my "Iggy", and it took me a while to get back to where I could use it again.

FWIW: Terracycle makes handlebars: https://www.terracycle.com/Merchant2/...ategory_Code=H but they're intended for above-seat-steering recumbents. I dunno if they would want to take on parts for "upright" bikes.

bkaapcke

I bought the bending dies for the small tube bender at my friends muffler shop and he made me a set of bars to my spec. $110.00 for the dies, $125.00 for the bending, welding and tubing, and $125.00 for polishing and anodizing. Expensive, yes. But they fit me and corrected reach and wrist angle problems on easyracers handlebars. bk