Terrapin Ben

Just put some on my bike last weekend. Couldn't be happier. My bike resembles a bull now, but man, an alternative hand position while climbing is so nice. Do many people use them still? I live in an area with lots of climbing and nice hard pack single track. it blows my mind that i do not see more people equiping their rides with them. Happy trails and happy discussion.

edit for typos

pinkrobe

I had them on my last 4 mtn bikes, but the handlebars on my current ride are too thin to take the clamping force. Regardless, if your terrain is hardpacked or you simply like to stand and hammer on the pedals, barends kick ass.

I wouldn't worry too much about geting speared by your barends. In my experience, the main part of the handlebar is what causes the most damage, since it just has to turn 90 degrees to stab you in the gut. The pointy end of a barend is directly away from you, unless you spin the bars around 180-degrees or go over the bars, in which case it won't be as bad because you only have to worry about the weight of the bike, not the bike and rider. Having crashed alot, my barends caused far less damage than the handlebar, chainring, stem, pedals, tires, trees, etc.

Evilbee

I went without barends for the last 3 years, and I reckon my climbing suffered a bit. They're definitely a helpful bit of kit. Never had a barend related injury riding with them for about 7 years (plenty of lack of skill and judgement related injuries to compensate though).

Flak

Don't listen to the nay sayers. The primary reason you don't see them anymore is fashion.

If you like em, run em. If you dont, dont.

Simple. Enjoy

wez312

I have 'em and love 'em

Peek the Geek

I have bar ends on my Marin, and I really like them. My single speed bike uses riser bars instead, which are almost as good for climbing and mashing, but I find myself missing the extra hand position on straight flats. In general, I like the variety my bar ends provide (similar to the drop bars on my road bike), and I'll be keeping them on my geared hardtail for a long long time.

gattm99

I can think of only one drawback, a tree snag will throw you down when it gets hung in the right angle the bar ends make.

I just mounted some on my new hardtail with a flat bar, I found myself constantly switching to the position, partially because I don't care much for flat bars but also because it just felt so good.

My brother mounted some on his big ol riser bar with lots of sweep, it looks dumb, but he likes it.

cyccommute 

A tree, or bush, snag can be a problem but you just have to be careful. Some models have a bend around the hand that acts as an effective bush basher however. I've caught mine once or twice but I'd rather have the hand positions...even on risers

Peek the Geek

The only times I've hooked something with my bar ends, I caught the obstacle far enough in so that even without bar ends I would've gone down. Most bar ends angle inward and actually do more good than harm in a collission by brushing the obstacle out of the way.

On the other hand, I wouldn't use them on riser bars. The larger rearward sweep of most risers would negate the inward angle of the bar ends, causing the "hook-ups" most anti-bar end folks warn about.

LowCel 

I use and swear by them. Not only is it nice to have another hand position it also really resembles climbing on the hoods of a road bike. I do a lot of my training on the roadie so a familiar hand position is a nice bonus.

KrisPistofferson

I think they kind of suck compared to bars that actually have more than one hand position,such as butterfly, moustache or drop bars. If you don't like flat bars, why not just get better bars? Nashbar sells it's "trekking" bar for $10, quite a bit cheaper than silly old bar-ends.

TRaffic Jammer

I like 'em, and my wrists say they appreciate the variety.

Pamestique 

A number bikes ago, I had bar ends. I stopped using them when I fell down a short but steep drop, was able to clear myself (I thought) of the bike, but when I landed, my inner thigh came right down on the bar end. The bar end went to the bone and within an hour I had a hematoma on my inner thigh (yes it was so lovely) about the size of a grapefruit. It did not go away for almost 8 - 9 months. I now have a permanent dent in my thigh. No more bar ends for me!!!

TRaffic Jammer

Ouch!!!

free_pizza

I love mine

mikejo

Love them. But I'm and old fart with purple anodized parts on my bike, so what do I know.

Peek the Geek

It could've been worse.

HSV Madman

That is a great picture. That looks like it would really hurt, but at least it is on the back and not the front side.

Roxter

I bet they weigh a whole lot more than "silly-old bar ends" too , and i've never seen anybody that races XC using drop bars, you know how hard that would be in a technical situation...?

ed 

That's true, but I rarely see anyone anymore who races with bar ends either.

With bar ends, I feel cramped. I feel like there's someting there holding my hands in. It's probably mostly mental, but I just don't like the feel especially since riser's got to be so popular. I have been running risers since 1996 on my XC bikes b/c I like the more upright position w/o needing to install a high rise stem that looks goofy. I have always liked the added width.

ghettocruiser

Haven't used them since the late 90s. I may go back sometime soon.

LowCel 

That's weird. I imagine about 1/4 of the racers in WVMBA use them. I imagine a lot more would use them but they run carbon risers so it isn't really the best idea.

schnitz011

I have 'em and love'em! Never been hurt by them. If you found yourself in a situation where just the bar end could hurt you I would be shocked there are a lot of other things to impale yourself on ie rocks, trees, etc.

sgtsmile

Mine bit the dust on the trail side right after I bit the dust after a hooking crash. I dont miss them one bit (and that was 5 years ago, more or less). I also dont find that their absence affects my climbing at all.

here and there

I have bar ends on riser bars and love 'em. I had the Serfas stabilizer bars on, but the threads on one of them stripped (currently waiting to hear from Serfas to see if it's covered under warranty) so I put some stubby bar ends on.